Female Hormone Health
Mascari, Brooke. June 4th 2024
Many women live with hormone imbalances that cause discomfort and pain. Often the outcome of long-term hormone imbalance is sickness and disease. New Beginnings OBGYN says that it is estimated that over 80% of women have hormonal imbalances.
I have had struggles dealing with hormonal imbalances in my life, and it can be challenging to know how to manage and heal the imbalance. There is so much information about hormones all over the place. Sometimes contradictory information! Going to the doctor and getting tests done only to learn how to treat the symptoms of imbalance rather than healing the fundamental problem can be very overwhelming and discouraging!
My journey with personal hormonal health has been a long journey and there have been many trials and errors along the way. However, I am beyond delighted to share that I am at a place in my life where I feel better than I ever have and my hormones truly reflect balance and health.
I am going to share some of the practices and habits I have embraced over the past several years that have gotten me to where I am now. I hope to share my experiences so they can help others in their journey with hormonal health and quicken the time so others can experience balance sooner than I did (my journey took 13 years until I learned how to balance my body and hormones!).
Let us begin:
Hormone Healer # 1
Reduction of unnatural and unhealthy food.
I do my best to reduce processed and sugary foods. I believe that many period problems and hormonal imbalances women experience are on account of chronic inflammation. Processed, sugary, GMO and unnatural foods can cause our bodies to react with inflammation. I do my best to reduce my consumption of these foods and am a firm believer that it has helped my body heal and maintain balance.
Certain leafy greens have also been found to help our bodies detox from excess estrogen. Estrogen dominance is a big problem in this day in age (more of this later) and has been linked with many diseases like PCOS, endometriosis, and breast cancer. So eating food that reduces excess estrogen is very beneficial.
We cannot always control circumstances and sometimes must eat food that isn’t the best for our health. But balance is key, and the main thing to remember is to eat nutrient-rich foods the majority of the time. If we can do this, our bodies will respond with resilience and vitality, even if we occasionally must eat less-than-ideal food for a short time.
Hormone Healer # 2
Daily Detox
I believe doing some small detoxing practices every day can have profound benefits on our health. Every morning to help my body reduce toxic load, I scrap my tongue with a copper tongue scrapper and drink warm lemon water. Both of these daily practices are wonderful at removing ama build-up. Warm lemon water is also great at kickstarting the digestion for the day and ensuring a daily healthy bowel movement.
Hormone Healer # 3
Minerals
I drink water every day that has added minerals. I also love taking supplements like magnesium and iodine. The use of magnesium, especially, makes my body feel very healthy and in balance. I take notice if I forget to take minerals, that is for sure. Here is further information on the benefits of added minerals and mineral supplements for hormone and overall health: https://rootfunctionalmedicine.com/best-vitamins-hormone-balance
Hormone Healer # 4
The healing power of herbs
A few days before, and during my period, I take Elix Cycle Balance tinctures (www.elixhealing.com). This product (not a sponsor) has had a wonderful impact on my body. During my period just about a year ago, I used to survive on painkillers. Often taking 10 a day just to be able to get up, walk around, or go to work. After a few months of taking Elix Cycle Balance, I do not have to take any painkillers and I do not have bloating, vomiting, moodiness, fever, lightheadedness, or any of the symptoms I used to have during my period.
I lived with excruciating menstruation pain for over 10 years, knowing that my body was out of balance but not knowing what to do to help my body heal. Doctors tried to prescribe me higher and higher doses of painkillers because they did not know how to help me heal from my symptoms. I am so grateful to be at a place where I do not dread my monthly periods, but I can look forward to that time and know my body will do what it needs to do in a pain-free and healthy way. I am grateful to Elix for helping me get to this point.
Hormone Healer # 5
Healing tea
Before and during my period I also drink a Hormone Balance Tea. Something like the Pink Stork (www.pinkstork.com) PMS Support Tea (not a sponsor). I like to drink tea that has raspberry, ginger, licorice, turmeric, and chamomile. All of these ingredients help to reduce inflammation and balance hormones.
Hormone Healer # 6
Homeopathy
Homeopathy is believed to help the body overcome allergic reactions, sickness, disease, etc. healthily and gently. I often take homeopathy which is targeted at relieving menstrual pain. I believe it has been beneficial for me, but it has taken a few months for me to feel a noticeable benefit.
That is a key thing to remember while on your journey to hormone balance. To use holistic and natural means to help your body heal and balance itself, remember that it can take several months to feel significant benefits. Sometimes people expect immediate results. But depending on the years or level of imbalance in your body, it may take some time for your body to show the results. Sometimes people feel immediate results, but often it takes a while. This is because the body slowly begins to realign into its healthy state. Our bodies are designed to heal and want to heal. So do not become discouraged if you are not seeing results immediately. Stay on the course to healing and balance because, without a doubt, you will feel the results of healthy choices soon.
Hormone Healer # 7
Organic period products
Many years ago I decided to stop using standard period products like pads and tampons, but to switch to organic period products. One of the main changes I have made is the use of organic cotton period panties. The ability to clean them with organic soap and hang them to dry in the sun is something I know is good for my body.
Many people do not know that our bodies have an absorptive ability, so wearing clothes/products that have toxic chemicals allows those toxins to enter our bloodstream and bodies. This is certainly not something that we want; especially when we are menstruating and our bodies are trying to detox.
Using a Flex Cup (www.flexfits.com) (not a sponsor) or other products that are organic and non-toxic can make a huge difference in our hormone health. And the amazing thing about using period panties or a Flex Cup is that they are reusable and can last 10 years or more! This will save you money and help Mother Earth. I have enjoyed using The Period Company panties (not a sponsor) and recommend them (www.period.co).
Taking the extra time during my period to clean and care for my healthy period products is something I have come to enjoy. I have taught myself to love my body and my period. One way I have done this is to take the week of my period to slow down, rest, and do extra self-care. Our bodies detox when we are menstruating. So it is a wonderful time to get good sleep, rest, and appreciate ourselves!
I used to hate and dread my period more than I can describe. But learning to love that time and healthily love myself has been a big part of my hormonal healing journey!
Hormone Healer # 8
Meditation and Pranayama
It might be hard to believe that meditation or pranayama (breathwork) can be good for our hormones. But it truly is! As a matter of fact, I attribute the majority of my hormone-healing journey to meditation.
This is something I learned recently that has changed how I think about hormones: When we are in a stress response for a prolonged time and our adrenal glands are producing cortisol (known as the stress/fight-or-flight hormone) and adrenalin, our adrenal glands will begin turning healthy nourishing hormones - like progesterone - into cortisol. This is huge!
This means that if our lives are filled with chronic stress (or what our bodies interpret as a threatening situation, even if it is just a minor stressor of life) we can enter a cycle of more and more stress hormones that bring us further and further out of balance. Once progesterone has been turned to cortisol, it cannot be changed back to our much-needed progesterone.
And this is why meditation and pranayama are so vital. After just a few minutes of meditation or pranayama, our parasympathetic nervous system kicks on, bringing us into homeostasis. This allows our hormones to be produced as they should and stops any flow of cortisol (which also reduces inflammation). Meditation and pranayama are so incredible at helping to balance our hormones.
Another reason this is key is that most women in the 21st century are estrogen-dominant. The reason for this is that we are bombarded with phytoestrogens and xeno-estrogens in our makeup, skin care products, soy being added to our food, lotions, hair products, clothes detergents, plastics, and so much more. Chemicals are causing an estrogen effect in many of our daily products and foods. And so the importance of progesterone to help balance this is huge! If we are chronically stressed from traffic, work, relationships, finances, etc. our bodies are not getting the progesterone we need because our progesterone is being turned into cortisol. This is because our adrenal glands are signaling that these daily stressors might be life-threatening, even if they are not.
And this is why meditation is such an incredible tool amid all this chaos. Meditation and breathwork are the keys to hormone health and balance.
Hormone Healer # 9
Daily international movement.
Going to the gym and being intentional about daily exercise has been paramount for my health and hormone balance. Though a gym membership is not required, doing a good form of exercise every day is so wonderful for our overall health and for our hormones.
When my body is menstruating, I do light exercise like a walk in the cool of the day or some light stretching. It is important not to overdo it when menstruating.
All other times of the month, however, it is very beneficial to have a daily fitness routine.
Much love and blessings on your journey!
