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Five natural remedies for hormonal imbalance

By Nini Iyizoba
02 August 2018   |   2:07 am
Whether it is infertility, depression, weight gain, or a variety of other health challenges, the root of most conditions is hormone imbalance. Hormones enable different parts of the body to communicate and control most major bodily functions.

Whether it is infertility, depression, weight gain, or a variety of other health challenges, the root of most conditions is hormone imbalance. Hormones enable different parts of the body to communicate and control most major bodily functions.

The body produces hormones to serve as the body’s messengers to assist in the function and regulation of the body’s digestion, regulating your metabolism and whether or not you have mood swings; they are also in charge of regulating breathing, sleep, movement, reproduction, stress, growth etc. There are many hormones at work in the body, but let’s focus on the female sex hormones, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. To better understand hormone imbalance, let’s first look at the general function of these sex hormones.

Estrogen stimulates the growth of tissue, such as development of breast and reproductive organs, and ensures their function. In the brain, it boosts the synthesis and function of neurotransmitters that affect sleep, mood, memory, libido, and cognitive factors such as learning and attention span.

Progesterone is made primarily by the ovaries. The adrenal glands, peripheral nerves, and brain cells produce lesser amounts. Progesterone ensures the development and function of the breasts and female reproductive tract. In the brain, progesterone binds to certain receptors to exert a calming, sedating effect. It improves sleep and protects against seizures.

Testosterone is manufactured in women by the ovaries and adrenal glands and enhances libido and sexual response. It strengthens ligaments, builds muscle and bone, assists brain function, and is associated with assertive behavior and a sense of well-being. Though testosterone does play a role in the balance of sex hormones, the main culprits when it comes to imbalance are progesterone and estrogen.

There are many causes of hormone imbalance, but at the base of the problem is something called Estrogen Dominance. Estrogen and progesterone are needed in a delicate balance to perform their functions efficiently, so, when estrogen levels become too high, the balance of progesterone is also disrupted, and that’s when estrogen dominance results.

Estrogen dominance is becoming an increasingly common health condition. This is because we’re constantly being exposed to estrogen through the foods we eat, and in our environment.The symptoms of hormone imbalance are numerous and so varied, but some common symptoms include night sweats, irregular periods, hot flashes, unexplained weight gain, thinning hair, mood swings, and painful intercourse etc. Here are five natural ways that can help hormone balance:

1.Nutrition: Always opt for organic, grass-fed animal products. Also include foods such as dark leafy vegetables to help detoxify the liver. Your liver is responsible for helping to remove all of the excess estrogen from your body therefore, including liver supportive foods will help liver function.

2.Sleep: Poor sleep is one reason for hormone imbalance and sufferers must improve sleep by taking these steps:
Aim to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day.
Use your bed for sleep and romance only – not reading or television.
Avoid caffeine – it may seem to help you stay awake but actually makes your sleep worse.
Avoid alcohol – it helps you get to sleep but causes interruptions in sleep and causes poor-quality sleep
Eat no later than three hours before bed; eating a heavy meal prior to bed will lead to a bad night’s sleep

3. Exercise: Now, this can be a tricky one. Most people shy away from any kind of workouts because they feel that it disrupts hormone balance. The trick is not to overdo it. Keep it short and sweet. Shorter strength training exercises over longer, endurance type exercise for the best hormone balance.

4.Acupuncture: is a great way to bring the female sex hormones back into balance. Modern research has found acupuncture can improve ovarian function, adjust thyroid gland function, balance the estrogen and progesterone, promote ovulation, increase the blood flow in the uterus to improve the chance of conception. It can also relieve stress to ensure a better ovulation and conception

5.Stress Management: Stress is a factor when it comes to hormone imbalance. In every stressful situation, the body releases stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline. With Chronic Stress, the body will constantly be releasing these hormones, which may create an imbalance with the rest of your hormones over time. Activities such as Yoga and Meditation are often recommended as a stress reliever which, in turn, helps to balance the body’s hormones.Incorporating these natural methods into our lifestyle would effectively manage hormone balance and reduce the risk of several health conditions.

Disclaimer: The medical information provided on here by Dr. Nini Iyizoba is provided as an information resource only. This information does not create any patient-physician relationship and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.

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