Lets talk about... HORMONES
This month we are talking HORMONES! Or what we call our body’s natural chemicals or messengers. Our body’s messengers are so important as they can be very helpful in giving us clues into why we may be struggling to have success on our health journey. Hormones send important messages to our body’s organs, which can affect many body processes such as our metabolism, our energy, our sleep, our mood, and much more.
Hormones fluctuate day to day, month-to-month, and minute to minute, as well as at different stages of life such as pregnancy, adolescence and menopause. It is important to understand what these messengers mean, and how they might be making us feel.
Hormones can give us wonderful feelings of happiness, energy and empowerment, helping us make positive lifestyle choices and stay motivated. On the flip side, they can also cause us to not quite feel like ourselves, which can make it challenging to make good health choices, and to get motivated. In these cases, it can be helpful to reach out for help, as it can give us a sense of confirmation and validation.
So, what else can we do if we think our hormones are out of whack? You can see your trusted GP or talk to a hormone specialist. Having some blood tests or keeping a mood diary can also help you understand fluctuations. There are also some habits we can add to our self-care toolbox to support our hormonal health…
Meditating (reduces stress)
Moving our bodies (releases happy endorphins)
Getting outside (releases serotonin)
Enjoying some sunshine (provides natural vitamin D)
Enjoying nature (releases serotonin)
Having a bath (reduces stress)
Spending time with friends and family and doing things that make us happy (reduces stress)
Eating bright and nutritious foods you enjoy (increases vitamins and minerals which support our hormones and our health)
With the festive season fast approaching, it can be a good time to start building some habits to manage stress and balance our hormones. See below for an example mood tracker, our website for yummy recipes and keep an eye out for next month’s newsletter and social media posts.
