Heather Weddell Nutrition

Your Joy & Vitality Expert

cortisol

Adrenal Fatigue – The Stress Connection

Hormone Health

Adrenal Fatigue is Real

Adrenal fatigue is rarely recognized in western medicaine, yet adrenal fatigue is very real and stress definitely plays a role. Your adrenal glands sit just on top of your kidneys and play a large regulatory role in stress response as well as metabolism and immunity. It is the release of cortisol and adrenaline from the adrenals that is largely responsible for regulating these functions.

During the stress response (fight or flight) both adrenaline and cortisol play important roles. Basically, when you feel threatened, your nervous system shifts into high gear to help you manage the perceived threat.

Adrenaline is the hormone that helps you prepare to either fight the threat, or flee from it. As adrenaline is released, your heart rate increases to ensure your brain and muscles are ready for dealing with the threat. Also, more adrenaline increases the level of sugar in your blood to provide your body with enough energy to use quickly while either fighting or fleeing from the stressor. The problem is that in today’s world there is no real fighting or fleeing that occurs from our stress. So that extra sugar gets moved to fat deposits.

At the same time cortisol helps the body convert stored energy into readily usable energy in the form of glucose. This is helpful in activating your body to deal with a real threat. However, when cortisol levels remain high, it can lead to undesirable outcomes, like overeating, weight gain, and anxiety.

Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue

As you can imagine, too much stress for too long can wear down our adrenal glands and cause us to not feel so great. Some signs that your adrenals may needs some support include:

  • sugar cravings
  • need or love for coffee or anything caffeinated
  • being jumpy or easily startled
  • not sleeping well and/or not awakening feeling rested
  • retaining fluid
  • feeling tired but wired
  • feeling like everything is urgent
  • difficulty relaxing
  • experiencing “low moods” that are unexplained
  • difficulty losing weight

What can you do?

Effectively managing your stress can go a long way in supporting your adrenal function. Check out Stress Busting – 8 Simple Strategies to Try Now.

Adrenal support is a big part of your overall health. Your adrenal glands produce hormones that help regulate your metabolism, immune system, blood pressure, response to stress and many other essential functions. That means that is your adrenals are out of balance, your health is going to start to suffer. If you are concerned about your adrenal glands, the good news is that there are a number of ways to lovingly support them through nutrition. I encourage you to book a complimentary Clarity Call with me to explore this further if you are concerned.

Genetics partly determines our methods of responding to stress. Although we can’t change our biology or plan for all of life’s everyday stressors, here are a few things we can consider that are within our control:

  • By planning our time, prioritizing tasks and trying to anticipate events that may be stressful, we can switch from just coping to implementing management strategies.
  • Incorporate breathing exercises throughout the day. Taking time to develop this habit in stress-free moments, will make it readily available during stressful times. Breathing deeply and exhaling fully can help slow our heart rate and bring us into the present moment.
  • Healthy relationships can support our mental and emotional well-being when life gets tough.

We live in a stressful world, and the pressure can be stifling. Take this opportunity to consider how stress is affecting you. Stress is a major contributor to the health issues many of us face. It can be debilitating and painful, both physically, mentally, and emotionally.

The good news is that there are a number of ways to lovingly balance your adrenals through nutrition. Recipes like the one below are a great place to start. Plus adaptogens like ashwaghanda, rhodiola and maca root help to beautifully balance out your adrenal function.

Check out this recipe for my Adrenal Support Smoothie Bowl.

Stress Busting – 8 Strategies to Try Now

Hormone Health, Metabolic Health

Stress – we all know it and we all feel it. Some days are better than others. Yes, it is part of our daily life, but why has it become such a focus in recent years? How come we are all searching for stress management techniques?

Did you know that the American Institute of Stress found that about 33 percent of people reported feeling extreme stress? And check this out:

  • 77 percent of people experienced stress that affects their physical health
  • 73 percent of people had stress that impacted their mental health

No wonder the World Health Organization called stress the “epidemic of the 21st century.” Plus, many research studies have shown that mismanaged or ignored stress can lead to serious issues.

Do you need to do some stress busting?

Signs and Symptoms of Stress

There are many signs and symptoms of stress. Often, we experience these symptoms clustered together. Frequently, they overlap because they are interrelated. According to the Global Organization for Stress, symptoms can be physical, emotional, psychological, and behavioural. 

Stress symptoms can be physical, emotional, psychological, and behavioural.

Physical symptoms can include:

  • various pains
  • muscle stiffness
  • rashes
  • digestive issues
  • blood pressure issues
  • weight issues
  • immune system imbalances leading to more colds, flu and infections.

Emotional symptoms you may notice include:

  • anxiety
  • fear
  • depression
  • irritability
  • anger
  • frustration

Psychologically you may notice:

  • memory loss
  • an increased inability to concentrate
  • confusion
  • a racing mind

Stress can affect your behaviour too. You may notice yourself:

  • drinking more alcohol
  • arguing more
  • yelling
  • crying
  • isolating yourself from others
  • developing nervous habits like nail biting

Stress and Your Hormones

To simplify it, consider stress as a physiological response that often feels emotional. Whether we are running around trying to meet all our obligations, or we are unhappy, frustrated, angry, nervous, or actually in real immediate danger, our body has the same reaction. Our adrenals are programmed to help protect us from physical danger. Therefore, they respond by releasing the hormone adrenaline to provide extra energy and strength. This is the “fight or flight response”.

Unfortunately, our body does not know the difference between physical danger, or striving to make a deadline, or just being super busy. The hormone cortisol increases during “fight or flight”. And this is the very hormone that can cause many of our health problems when it gets out of balance.

Normal cortisol levels are necessary. Cortisol is our “awake” hormone and allows us to function and be alert. But when we are stressed, our cortisol levels rise. Too much cortisol has been linked to many health concerns such as:

  • heart disease
  • cancer
  • diabetes
  • depression
  • anxiety
  • weight gain
  • headaches
  • and more

Why does it feel emotional?

The adrenal glands interact directly with the nervous system. When it is agitated it can make us feel moody, depressed, anxious, jittery, and fatigued, and can cause headaches. The adrenals also affect:

  • the gastrointestinal system
  • the circulatory system
  • the respiratory system
  • the immune system.

Seriously! The adrenals are connected to every activity in the body. Why? Because if you were in real physical danger, the adrenals need to be able to control every aspect of the body. This is how it prioritized functions to maximize your ability to defend yourself against a saber-toothed tiger – by either “fighting” or “fleeing”.

Here are 8 Stress Busting Strategies you can try NOW

Exercise, especially outdoors is a great stress buster

1.  Take a short break and get some fresh air. Taking a walk outside is a great way to do this.

2.  Find tranquility by listening to classical music.

3.  Reduce your screen time and shut it off completely at least 2 hours before bedtime. This will also help you to get a good night’s rest.

4.  Exercise gives you a break, produces endorphins (helpful hormones in your brain) and can help you decompress.

5. Clear your mind by talking it out with a close friend or by journaling. Listening to and helping a close friend is also super beneficial because it focuses your energy away from your stresses and onto solutions.

6.  Eat a well-balanced diet of fresh whole foods. Did you know that 95% of your serotonin (chemical linked to happiness) receptors are in your gut? Also cut back on caffeine. It can spur feelings of anxiousness and restlessness. Oh, and stay hydrated with 6 to 8 glasses of water a day.

7.  Watch a comedy. Laughter can shrink stress responses and stimulate your heart, lungs and body muscles

8.  Chew gum. Chewing gum can help reduce anxious or down feelings, fatigue, and put you in a better mood.

A Holistic Approach to Stress Management

Managing stress effectively requires a personalized plan based on all the main pillars of health. A holistic approach to stress management, based on the pillars of health, is widely considered the most effective because it recognizes the interconnectedness of various aspects of well-being. When one pillar is neglected, it can negatively impact the others, leading to an imbalance that makes an individual more susceptible to the damaging effects of stress.

As a Registered Holistic Nutritionist, I focus quite a bit on Physical Health: This pillar focuses on the body’s physiological needs.

  • Nutrition: A balanced diet provides the necessary nutrients for optimal brain function, mood regulation, and overall physical resilience. Poor nutrition can lead to energy crashes, inflammation, and exacerbate stress responses.
  • Physical Activity/Movement: Regular exercise helps reduce stress hormones, boosts endorphins (mood elevators), improves sleep, and strengthens the body’s ability to cope with physical and mental demands.
  • Sleep: Adequate and quality sleep is crucial for the body and mind to repair, restore, and recharge. Sleep deprivation significantly impairs cognitive function, emotional regulation, and increases susceptibility to stress, anxiety, and depression.

Other pillars I support my clients with are:

  1. Emotional Health: This pillar deals with recognizing, understanding, and managing feelings.
    • Emotional Awareness and Regulation: The ability to identify one’s emotions and respond to them constructively is key. This includes learning healthy coping mechanisms for stress, rather than allowing emotions to overwhelm or control you.
    • Mindfulness and Relaxation: Practices like meditation, deep breathing, and other relaxation techniques can significantly reduce stress and anxiety, improve focus, and promote a sense of inner peace.
  2. Mental/Cognitive Health: This pillar relates to our thoughts, learning, and cognitive function.
    • Cognitive Function: Engaging in mentally stimulating activities, managing thoughts, and fostering a positive mindset contribute to mental clarity and resilience.
    • Stress Management Techniques: Beyond emotional regulation, this includes developing skills like time management, problem-solving, and reframing negative thoughts to reduce cognitive load and stress.
  3. Social/Spiritual Health: This pillar emphasizes connection, purpose, and meaning.
    • Social Connection: Fostering healthy, supportive relationships provides a crucial buffer against stress and loneliness. Human connection reduces emotional strain and offers a sense of belonging.
    • Sense of Purpose/Spirituality: Having meaning, direction, or a connection to something larger than oneself can provide inner peace, resilience, and a framework for navigating life’s challenges. This can be through religious beliefs, community involvement, or personal values.

Why this holistic approach is the best for stress management:

  • Interconnectedness: Stress isn’t isolated to one part of your life. Chronic stress impacts your physical body (e.g., increased cortisol, inflammation), your emotions (e.g., irritability, anxiety), your thoughts (e.g., difficulty concentrating), and your relationships. Addressing all four pillars simultaneously creates a synergistic effect, where improvements in one area positively influence the others. For example, better sleep can improve mood and cognitive function, making it easier to engage in physical activity and manage emotional responses.
  • Root Cause Addressing: A holistic approach aims to address the root causes of stress and build overall resilience, rather than just treating symptoms. If someone is constantly stressed due to poor sleep and an unhealthy diet, simply trying to “think positive” will be less effective than also optimizing their sleep and nutrition.
  • Sustainable Well-being: By building strong foundations in all areas of health, individuals develop a more robust and sustainable capacity to handle life’s inevitable stressors. It’s about creating a lifestyle that inherently reduces vulnerability to stress and promotes overall flourishing.
  • Empowerment: This approach empowers individuals to take control of their well-being across multiple domains. It recognizes that personal choices in these four areas have a profound impact on stress levels and overall health.
  • Comprehensive Resilience: Life throws many challenges our way. When all four pillars are strong, an individual has a greater capacity for resilience, bouncing back more effectively from adversity and maintaining a balanced state even in demanding circumstances.

In essence, thinking of health as a table supported by four legs is a powerful metaphor. If one leg is weak or missing, the table will wobble or collapse. By intentionally nurturing each of the four pillars, you create a stable and resilient foundation for managing stress and living a more balanced and fulfilling life.

Book your complimentary Clarity Call with me to discover which of my programs or services would be best for your unique needs.

Heart Healthy Hormones – 4 Actions to Take

Hormone Health, Metabolic Health

Being Heart Health Month, February is a time to bring attention to the importance of heart health, and what we can do to reduce our risk of disease. In Heart Healthy Hormones – What you Need to Know, we discussed the role your hormones play in your heart health. We covered a number of hormones and systems:

  • Insulin from the pancreas
  • T3 and T4 from the thyroid
  • Adrenaline and cortisol from the adrenals
  • Estrogen and testosterone from your sex organs

Now that we can clearly see the importance of healthy, balanced hormones to maintain good cardiovascular function, let’s look at what we can to do love and support these key systems.

1. Keep your blood sugar levels stable

Stable blood sugar is one of the keys to healthy, balanced hormones

To keep your blood sugar levels in check and maintain your cells’ sensitivity to insulin, work on including these tips into your lifestyle:

· Ditch the simple sugars and processed, packaged foods. Focus on eating nourishing whole foods that include lots of vegetables, some fruits, a good amount of protein and some healthy fats. This will help provide a slower rise in blood sugar and give you more stable energy levels. 

· Eat at regular intervals throughout the day to avoid highs and lows in your blood sugar levels. This will also help keep your energy stable throughout the day.

· Exercise regularly – this includes both cardio and weight-bearing exercise. This is great for your cardiovascular system and will also help keep you at healthy weight which is beneficial to maintaining stable blood sugar.

· Are you a smoker? Quit. Smoking is a risk factor for insulin resistance, and diabetes.

· Get enough sleep – ideally 7 to 8 hours each night. Insufficient sleep is also a risk factor for insulin resistance and diabetes.

2. Help your thyroid function well

Your thyroid is a key player in heart-healthy hormones.

Iodine is supportive of good thyroid function to help with the production of the hormones T3 and T4. Make it your goal to include more iodine rich foods in your daily diet:

  • Seaweed: try combo, kelp, wakame, and nori
  • Cod
  • Shrimp
  • Tuna
  • Prunes
  • Lima Beans

If you have or suspect thyroid issues, consult with your physician for appropriate testing. As a nutritionist, I can create a diet plan for you that addresses the needs of your thyroid in a complete, effective, multi-faceted approach.

3. Support your adrenal glands

Healthy amounts of adrenaline and cortisol depend on the optimal functioning of your adrenals– which also produce estrogen and progesterone

Stress causes your adrenals to shift their attention to pumping out adrenaline and cortisol, shunting production of progesterone and estrogen. That can throw your hormones out of balance. To keep your adrenals functioning well, stress management is key. Here are some strategies to try:

· Shift from coping to management strategies. This often means planning your time, prioritizing tasks, and anticipating events that may be more stressful than others.

· Incorporate breathing exercises throughout your day. Make this a habit in stress-free moments, and it will be readily available for you during stressful times. Breathing deeply and exhaling fully can help slow your heart rate and bring you into the present moment. And deep breathing can actually lower your cortisol levels!

· Foster and lean on a support network. Healthy relationships can support your mental and emotional well-being when life gets tough.

If your adrenals are sluggish, adaptogens may be helpful. Essentially, an adaptogen helps balance adrenal function whether the adrenals are overactive or underactive – pretty amazing, right? My blog post, What is an Adaptogen? will tell you more about what they are and how to incorporate them into your diet.

Adaptogens can support your adrenals - one step to heart healthy hormones

4. Get enough quality sleep

Better quality sleep is key for every aspect of your health

There are plenty of great reasons to ensure you are getting a good night’s rest every night. But many of us find it difficult to get good quality sleep every night. Have a look at some factors that influence the quality of your sleep as well as 7 strategies to help you get the rest you need in my blog post: Better Quality Sleep.

Want some help balancing your hormones? 

Get your FREE Quick Start Guide to Healthy Hormones

Heart Healthy Hormones – What you Need to Know

Hormone Health, Metabolic Health

February is Heart Month. This is a great time to bring attention to the importance of cardiovascular health. More importantly, how can we reduce our risk of cardiovascular disease with heart healthy hormones?

Heart disease affects approximately 2.4 million adult Canadians – that is about 1 in 12 adults. Every hour, about 12 Canadian adults die from diagnosed heart disease. It is the second leading cause of death in Canada, and it is THE leading cause of death in the United States. In the U.S. one person dies every 37 seconds from cardiovascular disease. 647,000 Americans die from heart disease each year – that is 1 in every 4 deaths.

Those are some pretty staggering numbers – a good reason to dedicate the month of February to bringing awareness to cardiovascular disease. You may already be aware that men have nearly double the risk of women for heart troubles. But women in their menopausal and post-menopausal years see their risk increase due to a decrease in estrogen levels. 

Hormones play a role in cardiovascular health, in both men and women

In fact, when it comes to the health of your heart, there are several hormones that play a major role. How well your hormones are functioning directly impacts your cardiovascular system. This means that when your hormones are behaving, they may help prevent heart disease. And when they are out of balance they can contribute to the development of heart disease.

Key Systems for Heart Healthy Hormones

Your cardiovascular system includes your heart and circulatory system (blood vessels that carry blood away from and towards the heart, arteries that carry blood away from the heart and veins that carry blood back to the heart). Your circulatory system carries oxygen, nutrients, and hormones to cells. It also removes waste products, such as carbon dioxide.

Imagine that your circulatory system is a highway and your hormones are vehicles travelling on that highway. If your hormones are vehicles, then we can imagine that the glands that produce them are car makers who are all part of the larger control system – your endocrine system. 

The endocrine system has makers of hormones all through your body: the pancreas, thyroid, adrenals, ovaries, and testes, to name a few. Let’s look more closely at the major hormones associated with each of these important glands and how they can affect your cardiovascular health.

Support your heart with healthy balanced hormones
Support your heart with healthy balanced hormones

Pancreas: Producer of Insulin

Your pancreas secretes insulin. Insulin is the hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. Having insufficient levels of insulin or insulin resistance can cause health issues. If blood sugar levels remain elevated for extended periods of time you may develop symptoms of pre-diabetes. Left untreated, this can lead to the development of type 2 diabetes. This is a major risk factor for cardiovascular problems like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and heart disease. So, insulin is one of the players in your overall heart health. Keeping your blood sugar levels stable is key to your hormone health and your overall wellness. Check out Heart Healthy Hormones – Take Action for tips to help you keep your blood sugar in check.

Thyroid: Maker of T3 and T4

Your thyroid makes and releases several hormones into the blood. The most prominent ones are Triiodothyronine (T3) and Thyroxine (T4). These are hormones that play a key role in your metabolism, normal heart and digestive functions, mood and bone maintenance.

T3 and T4 work together to regulate metabolism and heart rate. So balanced levels of these hormones are key to your overall good health. If levels are low it can affect digestion and contribute to constipation. It can also cause a slow heart rate resulting in circulation issues. If levels are too high it can result in an overly active metabolism leading to unhealthy weight loss and an increase in heart rate. This, in turn, could cause issues with body temperature regulation, anxiety, and more. 

You can see how thyroid hormones have a direct effect on the heart. Also, hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Learn how to best support your thyroid in Heart Healthy Hormones – Take Action.

Healthy adrenals are important to heart health
Healthy Adrenals are important to heart health

The Mighty Adrenals: Producers of Adrenaline and Cortisol

Your adrenal glands play important regulatory roles in several body functions. These include stress response, immunity, and metabolism. All of these are regulated by the release of adrenaline and cortisol (among others) from the adrenals. During the stress response (fight or flight) adrenaline and cortisol both play important roles. Adrenaline is the hormone that helps you prepare to either fight or flee. As adrenaline rushes into your systems, your heart rate increases, ensuring your brain and muscles are primed for dealing with the perceived threat. But, it also increases the level of sugar in your blood to provide your body with instant energy. Recall the effects of elevated blood sugar on your heart health. Yes, everything is connected!

Cortisol is meant to help the body convert stored energy into readily usable energy in the form of glucose. So, during a stressful moment it is helpful. However, when cortisol levels remain high, as they often due in our fast-paced society, it can lead to anxiety, overeating, and weight gain. And we are all familiar with the fact that being overweight is another risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Dealing with stress in a healthy manner is key to our adrenal health. Discover some key tips and strategies in Heart Healthy Hormones – Take Action.

Estrogen: an important heart health hormone
Estrogen – an important heart health hormone

Reproductive Organs: Makers of Estrogen and Testosterone

Ovaries, the primary female reproductive organ, are responsible for secreting the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Both of these play a role in menstruation and an overall healthy reproductive system. Estrogen represents an entire class of hormones that affects almost every tissue or organ, including the heart and blood vessels. Here are some of estrogen’s known effects on the cardiovascular system:

  • Increases HDL cholesterol (the good kind)
  • Decreases LDL cholesterol (the bad kind)
  • Promotes blood clot formation (also causes some changes that have the opposite effect)
  • Relaxes, smooths and dilates blood vessels so blood flow increases
  • Soaks up free radicals (naturally occurring particles in the blood that can damage the arteries and other tissues)

The testes are the sex organ in the male reproductive system responsible for the secretion of testosterone. This is the hormone responsible for the development of male physical sex characteristics. Its influence is clearly exhibited during puberty when males start to notice: lower voice, increased body hair, general growth, and muscle development. Testosterone also plays a vital role in healthy sperm production. Studies on the effects of testosterone on cardiovascular health are still inconclusive. Some find that higher levels have negative effects and other find that lower testosterone levels have negative effects. The safest bet is to maintain optimal, balanced levels of hormones.

Keep in mind, though, that men’s endocrine systems also produce estrogen – just in much smaller quantities than women. Research speculates that this lower level of estrogen may be a contributing factor to the statistics of men being more prone to cardiovascular disease than women.

Aging and Hormones

Levels of these sex hormones fluctuate over the lifecycle – for both men and women. As you age, the secretion of these hormones will decline. For menopausal women, the ovaries eventually cease their estrogen-production role, leaving the adrenal glands to take over. This leads to producing much lower levels of estrogen. Men’s adrenals also produce estrogen. So, keeping your adrenal glands happy and healthy is key to your heart health.

Support for your hormone health

Your health is your most valuable resource. Don’t trust it to random, general information on social media or salesy websites. What you really need is to cut through the hype and conflicting information and get personalized recommendations from a trusted professional.

This is why I offer a free Clarity Call. It gives you the opportunity to confidentially discuss your personal health concerns and goals with me. I will provide you with a variety of recommendations to help you get started down the right path for you.

Book your Clarity Call today. Let’s get you confidently taking the right steps for your health.

What do hormones do?

Hormone Health

Hormones are chemical messengers and without them, our bodies can not function properly.

Hormones control everything from reproduction, digestion, metabolism, emotions and even hunger and satiety. When our hormones function properly, we feel great and when they do not, we can have health issues that make us miserable.

A few years ago, I started to experience hot flashes and night sweats. I knew I was approaching the perimenopausal age but these uncomfortable symptoms seemed to be arriving a bit early in my opinion. As a nutritionist, I was able to examine my diet and reduce/eliminate a couple of key foods. I also started using the right combination of flax oil and evening primrose oil in proper timing. I was very happy that with just a couple simple changes my sweats and flashes reduced dramatically.

A short while later, due to some chronic stress I had to deal with, I ended up with chronic fatigue. Again, I took a close look at my diet and lifestyle and made adjustments to support my adrenals. Within a few weeks I noticed significant improvements! These examples demonstrate the power of our food and lifestyle choices.

Let’s look a few key hormones systems and you will get the picture as to how important they are.

Hypothalamus: It signals the production of other hormones and in doing so, helps regulate things like hunger, mood, sleep, body temperature and sex drive. 

Thymus: It produces the hormone thymosin, which helps regulate the immune system. The thymus shrinks as we age but scientists are not sure it is supposed to. So, perhaps, good nutrition could help maintain immune function as we age. 

Pancreas: Insulin produced in the pancreas is a key hormone. Its sole function is to help blood sugar get into the cells so we have the energy we need for our cells to function. However, too much insulin has been implicated in many health issues. 

Thyroid:  Hormones produced by our thyroid are associated with metabolism and heart rate. If you have trouble losing weight – your thyroid may not be functioning optimally.

Adrenals: There are many hormones produced by the adrenal glands but their main function is to help us cope with stress, both physical and mental. Because of this, the adrenals rule the roost in the body. This is because protecting us from danger is considered to be one of the most significant systems in the body. And because of that, when we are stressed, the adrenals can cause all kinds of havoc with other systems.

Pituitary: This is a master endocrine gland that produces hormones that tell other glands and organs to produce more hormones. However, hormones from the adrenals like cortisol or insulin from the pancreas can exert pressure on the pituitary and interfere with other hormones relationships where the pituitary is involved. 

Of course, the reproductive hormones are the ones that often concern most people.

In women, the ovaries produce estrogen, progesterone and small amounts of testosterone before menopause. After menopause, it is the adrenals that must produce these hormones to keep women healthy. This is a big reason why women need to make significant dietary and lifestyle changes in their menopausal years.

For men, the testes produce testosterone and small amounts of estrogen and progesterone. 

These are just a few hormonal relationships – it really is complex and often hormone problems are a result of several hormones exerting influence in a way that causes more than one issue. Food and lifestyle can help immensely to feed the various body parts so they work in a more balanced way. A holistic nutrition professional, like me, can help you do this.

Balanced hormones are the key to a having a body in balance.

You can learn more about hormones and how you can restore balance in my blog post Hormone Imbalance – 7 Keys to Restore Balance and Energy.

Remember, even small imbalances can cause issues. Identifying the root problem is key and from there decisions can be made to help correct the issues.

If you are experiencing issues with your health, your energy, your focus, I encourage you to book a complimentary Clarity Call with me. I will help you to sort through the mountains of conflicting information so you can make informed choices about the steps you take for your health and well being.

6 Signs of Hormonal Imbalance + 3 Holistic Strategies to Help

Hormone Health

Hormones are powerful chemical messengers that reach every cell, tissue, and organ through our body. When signs of hormonal imbalance start to appear we need to pay attention. Having even slightly too much or too little of certain hormones can have drastic impacts on our body and mind. These fluctuations can be caused by many things. Simply having an unhealthy diet or poor sleep can be enough to cause a hormonal imbalance.

Stress—especially long-term stress—is one of the biggest disrupters of a healthy hormone balance. Unfortunately, studies show that women tend to be more stressed than men. Although there are inherent differences in the stress responses of each gender, there’s more to it than that. Due to social pressures and expectations, women often juggle multiple roles like building a successful career while caregiving and raising a family. On top of that, you need to find time and space to maintain your health and personal life. This long-term stress experienced by many women has a major impact on hormones. This makes learning how to support healthy, balanced hormones a priority in women’s health.

Signs of Hormonal Imbalance

When our hormones are out of balance, it can affect practically every aspect of our health and life. Here are some examples of the symptoms you may experience as signs of hormonal imbalance:

Mental Health

Key hormones are directly linked to emotional wellness. Women are more prone to anxiety and depression when certain hormones become elevated.

Social Health

Social behavior is deeply regulated by hormones. Abnormal levels of key hormones can impact your mood, and even cause changes in your personality. This can put a strain on relationships and make social engagement difficult.

Weight Management and Metabolism

Various hormones work together to regulate appetite, metabolism, and even body fat distribution. Fluctuations in hormones can cause weight gain, weight loss, cravings, and other metabolic changes that can make it difficult to maintain a stable, healthy weight.

Energy

One of the most common initial signs of an imbalance in hormones is fatigue. An overactive or underactive thyroid can cause fatigue. Heightened levels of progesterone can make you feel sleepy. And low estrogen can drain your energy levels.

Reproductive Health

Hormone imbalances are the leading cause of infertility. When your hormones are out of balance it can disrupt ovulation, menstrual cycles, and other biological processes necessary for a pregnancy to establish.

Sleep Quality

Estrogen and progesterone, play a key role in the regulation of sleep-wake cycles. During menopause or pregnancy, for example, these hormones can dip and fluctuate which contributes to sleep issues and even insomnia. Hot flashes and night sweats, which are common symptoms of hormonal changes, may also make sleep difficult.

Key Hormones for Women’s Health

You’re probably familiar with estrogen. It plays the most significant role in women’s health. But several other hormones are part of the equation too. Together these hormones regulate metabolism, mood, energy levels, and much more.

Here’s a brief overview of how these hormones work.

Estrogen

A sex hormone associated with female reproductive health and the development of female sexual characteristics. Estrogen mediates the physical changes that a girl goes through during puberty. Aside from its role in reproductive health, estrogen is also involved in supporting cardiovascular, bone, and mental/emotional health.

Estrogen is produced mostly by the ovaries. The adrenal glands, which sit on top of the kidneys, also make small amounts of estrogen along with fat cells. Levels of estrogen in the body fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle, and drop after menopause.

Progesterone

This is another hormone involved in reproductive processes. After ovulation, progesterone prepares the lining of the uterus (endometrium) for the possibility of pregnancy. If a woman does become pregnant, progesterone continues to produce other changes that ultimately help nourish a growing fetus.

Testosterone

You probably think of testosterone as a male hormone. But women make a small amount of testosterone in the ovaries and their adrenal glands. Testosterone supports bone health, muscle health, and a woman’s libido (sex drive).

Most of the testosterone produced by the ovaries is converted into estradiol, a key women’s sex hormone.

Thyroid Hormone

The thyroid gland is butterfly-shaped and located at the front of the neck. It’s responsible for releasing thyroid hormone which controls metabolism, growth, and many other bodily functions.

This is not an exhaustive list of hormones in a woman’s body, but hopefully, by being familiar with these key actors, you’ll better understand the overlapping functions of your hormones.

Now let’s get to the meat of our discussion on hormone health. Exploring what you can do immediately and in the long-term to directly support healthy and balanced hormone levels.

Holistic Strategies for Balanced Hormones

As we’ve already learned, hormonal imbalance can be caused by natural life stages, lifestyle factors like stress or poor health, or in some cases, a medical condition. But luckily there are just as many ways to support a healthy hormone balance. Let’s discuss the spectrum of strategies.

Healthy Diet

Eating well is key for supporting a healthy hormone balance. Not just for your own nutrition but for the health of your gut microbiome, which is a key player in your endocrine system. The microbiota produces certain hormones itself and directly mediates various hormones involved in metabolism.

A poor diet can throw off your gut microbiome—and hormones—rather quickly. Processed meats and sugary foods are notorious for this. On the other hand, when you provide your body the nutrients it needs, and probiotics, the gut microbiome stays strong and diverse.

Eating enough protein and healthy fats are a key part of a healthy diet, but they’re essential for hormone balance. In the body, hormones are made from the amino acids in the protein you consume, and some lipid-based hormones are made from fats and cholesterols in your food.

Cruciferous vegetables provide the fiber, antioxidants, and phytonutrients that your body needs to support the liver in detoxifying hormones like estrogen. Neutralizing oxidative stress and detoxifying hormones is another important aspect of hormone health and balance.

The fiber in vegetables and the protein in your food both directly support a balanced and diverse gut microbiome.

Stress Management

A major cause of hormone imbalance is stress. Which means that developing skills to manage stress effectively can be extremely useful in supporting balanced hormones.

Stress is the result of certain hormones circulating through the body. Stress hormones are released by the adrenal glands whenever the body perceives danger. But if you’re dealing with a stressful job, or juggling multiple roles like caregiving, relationships, and a career, your body may perceive danger often. Cortisol, the primary stress hormone immediately raises blood sugar levels so that you can fight or run in a dangerous situation. But having elevated cortisol levels for extended periods of time can cause health concerns.

Luckily, there are ways to influence your body’s stress response at any given moment. Practicing meditation, deep breathing, yoga, or tai-chi are all ways to reduce the levels of stress hormones in circulation.

Stress management techniques can shift the body’s response to difficult situations, stimulate the endocrine system, and regulate hormones both in the short and long-term.

Exercise

Engaging in moderate physical activity has numerous benefits for your hormones. Exercise stimulates your endocrine system, which helps regulate your hormones. The endorphins released during exercise are hormones themselves and can help boost your mood and relieve stress.

Exercise helps the body draw in glucose from the blood without insulin, which improves insulin sensitivity.

A key part of your endocrine system is the hormone receptors on your cells that mediate all the signals circulating throughout your body. Physical activity increases your cells’ receptor sensitivity. When those receptors are more sensitive, they send and receive signals more efficiently and absorb nutrients better.

Exercise supports healthy liver function. Your liver is responsible for metabolizing hormones. The liver can transform hormones into different or more active forms. It can inactivate hormones and dispose of them. It can synthesize hormones. All these functions are key for a healthy hormone balance. When you exercise, your liver more effectively metabolizes estrogen which can help balance circulating estrogen levels. For women, exercise can even make the menstrual cycle more regular.

There are many other ways to support balanced hormones. Good quality sleep and other healthy lifestyle factors like socializing and spending time in nature can have significant benefits. In some cases medical intervention may also be necessary, especially when hormones are dysregulated because of a disease or condition.

Supporting Hormone Balance and Women’s Health

By focusing on nutrition, stress management, regular exercise, and quality sleep, you can create a foundation for better hormonal health. By embracing all these strategies, and supporting your endocrine system, you’ll achieve a healthier, more balanced state of well-being.

Looking for personalized support? Book your complimentary Clarity Call to discuss your unique needs with me and get professional recommendations to get you on the right track.

Click to book your complimentary Clarity Call with Heather

Reference

Excerpted from https://askthescientists.com/hormone-imbalance/?id=4258756&source=copiedlink

Thyroid Function: the Missing Key

Hormone Health

Thyroid Issues on the Rise

Thyroid function issues seem to be on the rise and health professionals are looking in different areas for a smoking gun. Some blame gluten (it is not a cause). Some assume everyone has an autoimmune condition like Hashimoto’s, even without a proper diagnosis. And most approach the thyroid like it is the problem itself. Therefore they believe that giving it some key nutrients will solve the problem. 

The issue with all these theories is a failure to truly understand what affects the thyroid. The truth of the matter is that for most people with thyroid issues, lack of thyroid nutrients is not the problem. Nor is autoimmunity and it is certainly not gluten. 

The problem is that too many other systems in the body affect how we produce and use thyroid hormones:

  • Excess cortisol from the adrenals can lower thyroid function
  • The liver helps convert T4 to T3 (our active thyroid hormone)and plays a key role in affecting metabolism
  • The gut bacteria also help convert T4 to T3. Gut bacteria also exerts influence on the HPT axis (hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid) which is the main signalling pathway for the production of thyroid hormones
  • Excess insulin adversely affects thyroid function again by influencing the HPT axis

The thyroid’s relationship with the liver, the adrenals, the gut and the pancreas is important and these areas must be supported for good thyroid function. This is not usually part of most thyroid protocols and may explain why so many people fail to see an improvement even when they are prescribed thyroid medications.

So what can you do to improve thyroid function?

  • Eat thyroid-supportive foods such as sea vegetables like nori, kelp, or dulse, seafood and coconut oil.
  • Eat liver-friendly foods such as kale, broccoli, garlic, onions, apples, beets, lemon, limes, berries, Jerusalem artichokes, and regular artichokes.
  • Consume plenty of fiber, probiotic and prebiotic foods to feed the gut and help it function as its best.
  • Reduce stress and support the adrenals. Adaptogens such as maca root powder and schizandra powder can be worked into recipes. Ashwaghanda, holy basil or licorice tea can all be consumed throughout the day. Pick the one you like. 
  • Also, developing a routine that can reduce stress and allow for proper relaxation is important. Lowering stress will also help prevent blood sugar swinging up and down and prevent high insulin. 
  • Eating small meals throughout day as well as consuming many foods good for the gut, adrenals and liver will all play a role in keeping blood sugar stable.

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