HEALTHY LIFESTYLE · MAY 2018
HOW TO TREAT
HORMONAL
IMBALANCES
F
or ages, doctors
have told us
to listen to
our bodies.
That advice
has never been wiser
than when it comes to
hormonal symptoms. These
are our body’s way of
communicating to us that
something we are doing
needs an adjustment. One
small change can yield
incredible results.
Hormone replacement
therapy is a temporary
band-aid, if you will. It is used
to suppress symptoms and,
therefore, ignores the root
cause of why our hormones
have been thrown out of
whack in the first place.
These hormonal imbalances
can be triggered from any
number of factors, including
chronic stress, poor or
unhealthy dietary habits,
and the buildup of toxins
within our system. Despite
the many factors that can
contribute to the root cause
of hormonal imbalances,
there are simple and
powerful interventions that
can help your system fully
recover and help to resolve
the underlying symptoms
that caused the imbalance.
Here are three strategies
to implement in your life if
you want to achieve overall
balance and good health:
01
Implement a stress management
strategy, even if you don’t feel
like you’re up to it. Stress plays a
major role in causing hormonal imbalances.
Unperceived chronic stress from our modern
lifestyles builds up and produces stress hormones
within the body. These accumulating stress
hormones wreak havoc on our health over
time. Search for ways to minimize your stress
or reverse the levels with stress management
tools. Small changes can make a big impact. For
instance, try simple guided meditations for 2 – 3
minutes per day, then gradually increase the
time as you become more comfortable with the
practice. Measure the difference in your quality
of life after a month of regular practice. Or try
mindfulness training, breathing techniques,
nature walks, dancing, singing, exercising, yoga,
tai chi, CBT, guided visualization, interval training,
smiling, laughing, or seek social support. The
most important thing is taking time for yourself
and really enjoying whatever you choose to do.
02
Clean up your diet by excluding
inflammatory foods such as gluten,
grains, dairy, sugar, and processed
foods. Change your diet to a nutrient-dense
diet that focuses on fresh whole foods with
plenty of minerals, vitamins, and fatty acids to fill
the micronutrient gaps you might have. Anti-
inflammatory foods are abundant and include
wild fish, grass-fed meats, pasture raised chicken,
and organic fruits and vegetables.
“
These hormonal
imbalances can be
triggered from any number
of factors, including
chronic stress, poor or
unhealthy dietary habits,
and the buildup of toxins
within our system.
03
Detoxification is a major
component in combating a
hormonal imbalance. This has to do
with ridding your body of things it doesn’t need
or elements that have been proven to be harmful
to the body. Remember that everything that
touches our skin enters our bloodstream within
three seconds. Give your body a break from
avoidable chemicals and toxins. From solvents,
resins and plasticizers in our nail products, to the
mercury and lead in our cosmetics prove that
toxins are everywhere. To avoid them, eat organic
produce and drink plenty of pure filtered water.
Buy organic cleaning products and cosmetics.
Buy household plants to filter the air inside your
home.
Empower yourself by implementing these three
strategies and help your body restore its natural
balance.
By Elianni Gaio
26 HEALTHY MAGAZINE