Hormonal balance

Painful periods, heavy periods, bloating, tender breasts, not to mention PMS with its irritability, tearfulness, mood

swings, cravings….  Does this sound familiar?  Are you one of the many women for whom these symptoms have become ‘normal’?  Well, this is not  normal! 

 

However, through a combination of factors - such as poor diet, stressful, hectic lifestyles and environmental toxins - our hormones can become out of balance.  This imbalance has led to many women suffering from the symptoms mentioned above as well as more serious health concerns (such as polycystic ovaries syndrome, endometriosis, fertility problems).

 

With the right dietary and lifestyle advice you can learn to rebalance your hormones.  Many women, for instance, have excess  oestrogen circulating in their bodies which can contribute to  the problems mentioned above.  A

nutritional therapy consultation will show you which foods can rebalance your hormones.  It will also show you  how to support the liver and digestion, two organs which are important for hormonal health - the liver detoxifies ‘old’ hormones while the bowels excretes ‘old’ hormones.

 

Tip to balance hormones  Eat chickpeas, lentils and flaxseeds regularly.  These foods contain phyto-oestrogens (or plant oestrogens) which help block the effects of the more harmful oestrogens in the body.  Add chickpeas (tinned or dried) to salads, soup and casseroles.  Try hummous on crackers or make vegetable and lentil soup.  Have a tablespoon of ground flaxseed in your porridge or breakfast cereal.

 

 

Are  you going through the menopause and suffering from any of the following?

 

-         hot flushes                                            - low energy

-         night sweats                                          - joint pains

-         poor sleep                                            - weight gain

-         mood swings                                        - skin problems

-         depression                                            - thinning hair

 

Tip - to reduce sweating and hot flushes:  make sure you get regular exercise, reduce or cut out caffeine (ie., coffee, tea, chocolate, cola drinks), alcohol and spicy foods.  Try sage tea – you can buy it or make your own with fresh or dried sage.