Last week I introduced to you the idea of hormonal imbalance and the detrimental impact it can have on your body. Wether its low energy, fertility issues, acne that just wont go away or digestive problems that are driving you mad. Hormones could be to blame.

When in balance hormones are wonderful things that serve our bodies beautifully but when they are out of sync, well then havoc can ensue.

I have been learning lots about how to heal and nourish the body through natural and holistic approaches to food and lifestyle over the last 5 ish years. I have focused mainly on healing my gut through lots of probiotics, eating grain free and making sure I eat in a very natural way . Now I am focusing my attention on my hormones because they have been on a roller coaster ride for as long as I can remember (my poor husband…). With painful and highly erratic monthly cycles and unexplainable fatigue I have decided enough is enough and its time my hormones got happy.

How?

Here are 4 ways I have started to nourish my body to get all my glands (hormone producing) is tip top shape.

1. Diet. Yes I wish there was a magic pill you could take that meant you didn’t need a good diet but there is not and actually how dis-empowering would that be? We would just be like robots! We actually have the AMAZING choice everyday to eat in a way that not only fuels our body but causes it to heal. 
   If you are serious about having a healthy body you need to eat well. I am talking more that 5 portions of vegetables a day ( aim for 8-10), no sugar dependency and no/hardly any gluten in your diet. You have to find your own version of healthy and listen to your body, but eating naturally good food is not an option, no amount of supplement can out do a great diet. (Ranting has now ended!)
2. Rest. Again not a popular one, but  hormone imbalance is basically do to unhappy and tired out glands how do we re-energise anything that is tired out? By resting . Sleeping especially nourishes the adrenals which we often exhaust with our high stress, high caffeine lifestyles. 
   Allow your self to sleep in, put it in your diary, get a babysitter, communicate the importance of it to a loved one so they don’t disturb you – as this is ESSENTIAL for good health. You see your body wants to be well and it is actually really well equipped to heal and restore itself but we need to give it a chance. Sleep, where we lie motionless for hours , is its chance to repair heal and balance out.
   This may mean as first you sleep for hours (I slept until midday the other weekend – totally unheard of for me!) but you have to just go with it and listen. It may sound impractical but there are ways around it, just get creative and organised and aim for 8-10 hours every night and at least one night a week where you wake up with no alarm clock.
3. Maca. I have talked about some of the wider benefits of Maca powder here but in terms of hormones is can be highly beneficial.
   “Maca does not affect human hormones directly. Various studies even show that the herb does not contain plant estrogens or hormones. Rather, it has hormone-normalizing effects, which may be due to the root’s unique nutritional profile. The plant provides optimum levels of nutrients utilized by the body’s endocrine system.This action regulates metabolism, energy levels, growth, sexual development and the sense of well-being and attitude.
   More specifically, Maca has been known to nourish and calm the nerves with calcium, phosphorus, vitamins B1 and B12, and fatty acids, all of which work beneficially on the nervous system. At the same time it supports the adrenal glands so they don’t have to rely on damaging corticol steroids to fuel the body. The sterols, calcium, and vitamin C found in Maca help build muscle mass and it contains starches that aid in physical endurance.” source
   I recommend starting with 1 tsp then build up to 2. You can have it in a capsule or in a powder form (cheaper version) and it great in smoothies, on top of yogurt or just straight with water.
4. Eat good fats. Eating regular amount of quality and organic fats is key or healing and nourishing the body. Chance are you, like I used to be , are fat phobic and rarely eat much quality and natural fats and our bodies desperately need them in order to function properly. Did you know the brain is mostly made up of saturated fat? That signals sent by the brain get communicate through nerves  coated in fat? Conclusion EAT FAT. 
   Aim for organic coconut oil, about 1/2 a cup per day, or if budget is tight, organic/raw butter if you don’t have lactose allergies. Read more about fats here and 25 uses for coconut oil here.
5. Ditch Caffeine. Yes I love coffee and tea too but it can be a disaster for your body. Caffeine impacts the endocrine system massively and causes added strain to you the whole system especially when regularly consumed. Think of it as the straw that can break the camels back! (Please note I don’t think you are a camel…)
   So aim to reduce your intake and eventually cut it out altogether for a season (doesn’t need to be forever) until you feel your body is naturally energised. 

So here are a few way to get you started on balancing your hormones, I will share more with you as the weeks on but its really good to just start with small steps and do what you can manage. Sure lying in bed for day would do you good but if you can only manage one long sleep a week, then brilliant, start there:)

Please let me know any questions you have in the comments below and if you like this little post then use the share buttons and let your mates know and they too, can get naturally healthy:)