What are hormones?
Hormones work as chemical messengers within the body and affect most bodily functions including hunger, reproduction, and even emotions and mood. Produced in our endocrine glands, hormones have the ability to speed or slow down our body’s chemical reactions. Most people when they think of hormones think of sex hormones such as testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone which are produced by the ovaries (in women). However, there are many glands within the endocrine system that produce hormones including the thyroid, adrenals, and pancreas and they all play an important role in how our body functions. A loss of balance plays a large role in the chronic health problems we see today. Although we see a natural decline in hormone production as we age, it can also be due to malnourishment and toxicity.
We often think of hormone imbalances only affecting women of a certain age going through menopause, but truth is we are seeing more and more women of all ages suffering from symptoms of hormone imbalance, in large part due to diet and lifestyle. Unfortunately, the food on our plates is not as nutrient dense as it once was, we are eating more processed foods and less whole foods, and we eat more take out than we do home cooked meals. Women are also more stressed, have little to no time for self care, and consider good quality sleep to be a luxury. The perfect recipe to leave one feeling undernourished, depleted, and like a total wreck. And then to top it off we are exposed to hundreds of toxic chemicals everyday from the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink, and our personal care and household cleaning products. These chemicals are known as endocrine disruptors and can wreak havoc on our health as they mimic our natural hormones and send mixed signals to our cells, throwing everything off balance.
““In just 70 years, nearly 100,000 new chemicals have been released into the environment and more than 85% of these have never been tested for their health effects in humans!” ~ Aviva Romm”
It may all sound like bad news, but we can turn things around and reclaim our health. By eating more mindfully, reducing stress, and choosing our products more wisely we can make a big difference in not just our hormone health but our overall health and wellbeing. My goal with this website is not just to offer my nutrition services but to have a space to share what I have learned with anyone looking to improve their health naturally. I will go in depth on many health topics as well as share some of my favorite recipes and tips for living a more holistic life.
Could you be suffering from a hormone imbalance?? Common signs and symptoms include…
PMS
Fertility Challenges
Digestive Issues
Trouble Sleeping
Fatigue
Low Sex Drive
Weight Gain or Difficulty Losing Weight
Hair Loss/Skin Issues
Mood Swings
Irregular and/or Painful Periods
Night Sweats/Hot Flashes
Are you experiencing any of these symptoms? I can help you get to the root cause and come up with a personalized protocol that covers nutrition, lifestyle, supplements (if necessary), and lab work. Never try to diagnose yourself or jump on some health fad band wagon. We are all unique individuals and what works for one, doesn’t work for all. Always work with a healthcare or wellness professional when addressing health concerns. Contact me today and let’s get started.