7 Habits to Help Balance Your Hormones

In today’s fast-paced world, many women have found themselves struggling with hormonal imbalances. These imbalances are not fun, often impacting mood, energy levels, and changes in overall health.

With high-stress environments, exposure to chemicals in our everyday lives, and poor dietary choices, it’s no surprise that many women are struggling with these issues today.

As a holistic nutritionist for over two decades, I understand this can sound scary—but have no fear. Imbalances are chemical messengers, giving us deeper insight into what our bodies need to thrive.

Balancing your hormones can be tricky, but it’s not impossible. The key to realigning anything that is out of whack in your body is to be consistent with the healthy changes you make.

Common Signs of Hormone Imbalance

Hormonal imbalances do not discriminate; whether you are in your menstruating years or going through menopause, any aged woman can suffer from hormonal issues. The most common hormonal issues include, but are not limited to:

• Irregular periods

• Severe PMS (mood swings, intense cravings, etc.)

• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

• Infertility

• Acne

• Obesity

• Thyroid disease

• Low sex drive

• Poor gut health

• Hair loss

• Hot Flashes and/or night sweats [1]

Hormones 101

Hormones are quite literally the control center of your health—managing everything from your mood to your hormone levels. Hormones are molecules produced by endocrine glands. Within the endocrine glands are your pituitary, thyroid, pancreatic, and adrenal glands which carry hormones through your blood to different parts of your body. From balancing blood sugar levels to hormone production— your hormones truly do it all.

Think of your hormones like a team. Each gland has a specific job to keep your body’s functions running smoothly. The pituitary gland oversees sex hormones and estrogen levels while managing thyroid hormones. Your adrenal glands handle stress hormones, cortisol levels, and metabolism. Your pancreas glands keep your blood sugar stable by controlling carbohydrates and insulin levels. And when it comes to reproductive hormones, ovarian glands control estrogen and progesterone to prepare for pregnancy. Your hormones work together to keep you healthy and balanced [2].

With that being said, when glands overproduce or underproduce hormones, it creates a total imbalance in the body. It should be no surprise that out-of-wack hormones can cause a handful of issues: sleep disturbances, menstrual cycle irregularities, weight gain, high blood pressure, hot flashes, and mood swings, to name a few.

Contrary to what the wellness world says, there’s no magic supplement or probiotic miracle pill on the market when it comes to balancing your hormones, especially if you’re not living a healthy lifestyle. There are no shortcuts or gimmicks when it comes to hormone health, but don’t lose hope— the raw truth is that you can balance your hormones naturally, and the easiest way to do so is with daily greens.

Daily Greens for Hormone Health

Dark leafy greens are a superfood for your overall health and well-being. And they're also great for your hormones. What makes greens so good for you is their abundant chlorophyll content. Chlorophyll gives greens their pigment and is filled with concentrated forms of vitamins and minerals (especially when juiced), like B vitamins and magnesium.

Do intense cravings for salt or sweets, sudden breakouts, bloating, poor sleep, or anxiety sound familiar to you? If so, you might be deficient in greens. These symptoms, quite similar to PMS, often signal a greens deficiency.

Many women, especially those menstruating, find these symptoms all too familiar. But here's the real deal: society normalizes these intense hormonal issues that shouldn't be considered normal. These symptoms could be a sign of nutritional deficiencies, indicating your body needs a little extra love and support.

Instead of reaching for a chocolate bar or a pint of ice cream, reach for The Green Routine®. Flood your system with its daily dose of greens. Combat those unwanted hormonal symptoms before they come around. Your body tells you when it craves nutrients, so next time, listen and reach for what your body is really craving.

Flood My System with Greens

How To Balance Your Hormones Naturally

The idea of any imbalance sounds scary, but there are simple, natural ways to get your hormones back on track. With a few easy lifestyle changes, you can help to naturally regulate your hormone levels and start living your best and most balanced life.

1. Get good sleep - When we sleep, our bodies do their best restorative healing and detox work. Getting to bed at an early hour and rising naturally (without an alarm) each morning is ideal. Prioritizing enough sleep is the goal here.

2. Don’t fear the fat - “Fat Fear” is everywhere, but for hormones to be properly balanced, we need an adequate intake of healthy fats from plants. Raw nuts, seeds, avocado, and cold-pressed olive oil are your best bets here.

3. Eat a Healthy Diet- Eating healthy does so much for your body—hormones included. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Do not restrict carbohydrates; eat plenty of carbs, like potatoes or healthy whole grains. Introduce omega-3 fatty acids from raw nuts and seeds into your diet. Reduce or eliminate refined sugar intake. Avoid alcohol when possible. Stick to the 80-90% rule, where you eat healthy 80-90% of the time and give yourself freedom the rest of the time.

4. Regulate Stress Levels - I know it is easier said than done... But managing your stress levels is important. It’s no secret that stress is bad for your entire body. The more stress hormones you produce, the more likely your hormones will be imbalanced. Make time to decompress. Go for a walk, journal, or run a hot bath to destress and ease your mind. Destress, however, that looks for you.

5. Exercise - Physical activity plays a large role in hormone health. When you exercise regularly, your body releases “feel good” hormones, which naturally help elevate cortisol levels, regulate blood sugar, and reduce stress. Exercising also leads to weight loss, which is crucial for hormone balance in anyone with PCOS.

6. Limit Use of Endocrine Disruptors - Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) do just that—disrupt the endocrine system, causing chronic stress on the body. EDCs block and interfere with hormones. They are absorbed through the skin, air, and diet from everyday products and unhealthy foods. Healthcare professionals may say these chemicals are “safe in small amounts”, but the reality is that nearly every product contains these chemicals and they are used daily. This is no longer within the suggested “small amount” [3].

   Try This: Rummage through your makeup bag or beauty cabinet. Look for the ingredient known as “parfum” or fragrance. This is a common EDC that can be found in beauty products like makeup, perfume, skincare, candles, soap, and more. Opt for more natural beauty products without EDCs.

7. Get in dark greens every day - This one simple habit may have the most profound effect on all areas of your health, from your gut microbiome to your hormones. To get enough leafy greens to see actual results, I always suggest drinking them in juice or smoothie form and having them every day consistently.

   The Green Routine® can make habit #7 much easier for you to stick with. With delicious green juices and smoothies already made for you, there is no need to shop, prep, or plan.  You just choose the flavor you want for the next day, thaw the bottle, and enjoy.

I’m Ready to Try the Green Routine

Let today be the day you start these seven healthier habits so that you can begin feeling better than you have in years…OR now can be the time to get ahead of it to potentially prevent hormone disruption that comes with aging (That’s no fun for anyone).

In my book, a daily greens habit is always a good habit.

Sources:

1. Hormonal Imbalance 
2. The Endocrine System  
3. Endocrine Disruptors