Stress, lack of sleep, and lack of nutrients are just a few health risks that can lead to your hormones being out of whack.
A guide to understanding hormones for women
My goal is to fire up metabolism and help people reach their optimal health potential. My first step with women is doing an assessment and filling out a questionnaire about their eating habits. Next, I get them into a fitness routine which gets their metabolism reset to promote both a lean and strong body. According to research published by Harvard Medical School, regular exercise (about 30 to 60 minutes most days of the week) is one of the best ways to manage stress, balance hormones, sleep better and improve metabolism.
However sometimes a person is doing all the right things like hitting the gym and eating right but not seeing changes. If after 3 weeks their energy is not up, their mood has not changed or they are having trouble losing weight this is the first indication of a potential hormone imbalance. If this is you, it’s best to bring it up with your trainer and doctor. For clients that I work with this is where I partner with other health professionals like Naturopathic Doctor Joël Villeneuve to find out what’s going on.
Stress, lack of sleep, and lack of nutrients are just a few health risks that can lead to your hormones being out of whack. Dr. Joёl, a Naturopathic Doctor, author of Power Foods 101 and leading researcher on hormones indicates that “the 5 signs that you may have a hormone imbalance are: weight gain around the belly, troubles losing weight, PMS, hot flashes and low libido.
- Weight Gain Around The Belly can be linked to chronically high cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone that is produced by your adrenal glands in response to stress which is a good thing when you need to deal with immediate danger. Too much cortisol however can lead to feeling “wired & tired”, cravings and increase weight around your waist or belly.
- Trouble Losing Weight even though you are eating well and exercising may be your thyroid slowing down. Lower thyroid function also leads to feeling cold, dry hair, skin and nails and constipation.
- PMS is not fun for anyone. If you have mood swings, pain and just don’t feel like yourself every month. You may have low progesterone levels. Other signs of low progesterone include insomnia, migraines and water retention.
- Hot Flashes are a common sign of hormone imbalance and low estrogen. Estrogen is also a key hormone for mood and hydration of the skin.
Get Tested for hormone levels
My recommendation is to get tested so you know where your levels are and what are the key steps that need to be put in place for you to feel amazing again! It’s also important to work with a hormone specialist as the interpretation of the lab test results for optimal vs normal is vital to help you reach your goals. I get my hormone tested and am on a personalized plan of a healthy lifestyle, good nutrition and a custom supplement tailored to me to help reset and energize my body.
Hormone Testing gets life back in gear again!
Hormone Quiz for Women
If you have checked more than 2-3 boxes in any category I highly recommend getting tested for best results.
More inspiration: Check out our quick and easy to understand protein guide!
