In my last post, I shared that I’d begun a Nutrition Certification Program. Today, I’m excited to share with you some info on hormones from a recent module.
I knew hormones were important for good health, but never really understood just how important until now. In case you’re unclear like I was, I’ll start with a definition: hormones are chemical messengers secreted in the body that travel through the blood, regulating tissue function. They are produced by both our larger organs, like the kidneys, brain, stomach, and liver, as well as our smaller endocrine organs, like the thyroid, pineal gland, pancreas, hypothalamus, and adrenals. All of us, regardless of sex or other differences, share the same hormones, found in different quantities. There are more than 50 total, including estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, insulin, adrenaline, cortisol, human growth hormone, and oxytocin.
When our hormones are working in balance, health is optimal on all levels. But that is seldom, if ever, the case. This fragile system is hindered by lifestyle choices such as poor sleep, stress, & unhealthy foods, as well as chemicals (found in plastics, can linings, nonstick cookware, cosmetics, cleaning products, conventionally-grown food, tap water, & many other sources) called endocrine disruptor compounds. These hindrances can lead to abnormal functioning including cancer & other chronic diseases, infertility and birth defects, nutritional deficiencies, impaired immunity, anxiety, depression, and ever-present fatigue.
Making changes to our daily activities can help correct hormonal imbalances and avoid dire outcomes. Below, I’ve listed some important changes for your consideration.
- Find ways to manage your stress, and practice daily. Sing, write, spend time outside, snuggle with pets, meditate, do yoga, get a massage – whatever works best to chill you out. Stress decreases insulin sensitivity and increases cortisol production, leading to diminished progesterone, a hormone which acts as a powerful antidepressant.
- Prepare for quality sleep. Make your bedroom cool & dark, turn off screens an hour or two before bed, get out in the morning sun, go to bed & get up at the same time each day whenever possible, and minimize caffeine & alcohol. Quality sleep helps stabilize stress-related cortisol and regulates the release of anxiety-reducing progesterone.
- Choose your body’s fuel carefully. Limit or avoid processed foods, fast foods, and factory-farmed meat, eggs, and dairy. Fast and processed foods are not real foods that aid in hormonal balance. And the hormones used in factory farming have adverse effects on animals, including humans. Choose organic whole foods like fiber-rich cruciferous veggies, healthy fats like nuts, avocado, chia, olives & coconut oil, and good proteins like organic tempeh, tofu, and pasture-raised meats, eggs, and dairy products.
- Avoid buying and using plastics whenever possible. Switch out your plastic storage containers for glass. If you purchase water, use large refillable glass or steel containers at a refill machine. Don’t microwave your leftover take-out in its plastic container. A compound called BPA found in plastics has been linked with diabetes, cancer, infertility, obesity, and heart disease.
- Use clean cosmetics, toiletries, and cleaning products. When feasible, buy organic. Otherwise, buy products with mostly natural ingredients. A great way to check the cleanness of a product is by scanning its UPC code on an app called EWG Healthy Living. (EWG stands for the Environmental Working Group, the same folks who bring us the Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen each year.) Over 85,000 chemicals are used in US products, the great majority of which are unregulated, meaning manufacturers can use them as they wish, regardless of the harm they cause our bodies.
I know, I know. The situation is overwhelming and we need to change almost everything. But our new chemically-laden world is dangerous to our ancient biology (as well as that of all forms of life); we must protect ourselves. It is critical for us to adopt new ways of being in the world for the benefit of our health and longevity. (You may have noticed, these changes benefit the planet, as well!)
Hormones are an intricate part of the workings of our entire body, and imbalances are common in our modern world. Making efforts to correct them by managing stress, sleep, food intake, and otherwise limiting chemicals can help us avoid disease, feel better, and live longer.
Blessings for Balance,
Lisa
The content of this article is for educational and informational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult with a qualified health care professional before acting on any information presented herein. Any statements about the possible health benefits of any subject discussed have not been evaluated by medical professionals or the Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or illness.
Micro of the Macro 