THE SOLUTION TO A SIMPLE, MEANINGFUL, WELL-DESIGNED LIFE /
THE F Ê T E / LIF E PROJECT NO.
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STORY / DR LIBBY WEAVER
ARE YOUR HORMONES CAUSING YOU CHAOS? Too often, I hear stories from women who are at their wits end when it comes to their hormones. From the CEO who experiences uncomfortable hot flushes in the boardroom, to the mum who feels out-of-control when it comes to her monthly mood swings, or the young professional whose menstrual cramps are so debilitating she’s forced to take time off work. Our hormones drive how we look, think and feel. When they’re out of balance, it can feel like we have no control over our bodies. And it’s not just our sex hormones (those that cause us monthly chaos or make the transition through menopause challenging), our thyroid function and stress levels need to be taken into account as well. So, let’s take a look at the hormones that can cause us chaos. SEX HORMONES
A great way to do this is with specific
Its protective mechanism is to fire off
The key sex hormones for women are
nutrients and herbs that work to support
the stress hormone adrenaline which is
estrogen and progesterone. For men it is
the biochemical pathways involved in sex
designed to get you out of danger. Caffeine
testosterone, although women make some
hormone biosynthesis and metabolism.
testosterone too. Estrogen plays numerous roles, including those associated with reproduction, promoting bone density, and supporting cardiovascular health. Challenges occur when there is too much estrogen in the later part of the cycle compared to other hormones, progesterone in particular, or when there is too little of both estrogen and progesterone. Aside from its reproductive system roles, progesterone is a powerful
MENOPAUSAL YEARS
As women transition through menopause, the ovarian production of hormones slows down and eventually ceases. It’s then
has the power to activate this biochemical response, sending a message via the brain to the adrenal glands to make stress hormones: adrenaline and/or cortisol. ADRENALINE
predominantly up to the adrenal glands
Adrenaline makes your heart race, your
to meet our body’s need for progesterone.
thoughts race and gives you a jittery
However, our adrenals are also responsible
feeling that can make it difficult to feel
for producing our stress hormones (more
calm and centred, despite your best efforts.
on these soon) and a high output of stress
It also diverts blood flow away from your
hormones can compromise adrenal
digestive system to your arms and legs—
progesterone production – a common
because if you’re in danger you need a
and a diuretic, which means it helps your
scenario in today’s world.
powerful blood supply in your periphery
body to eliminate excess fluid.
Easing menopausal challenges often lies
anti-anxiety agent, an antidepressant
MENSTRUATION YEARS
When sex hormone balance is optimal during the menstruation years, progesterone is the dominant hormone in the second half of the cycle. However, in my experience, many women don’t produce enough progesterone during this phase and it’s a key reason why so many experience such debilitating symptoms or conditions associated with their periods.
in supporting the adrenals, so they can effectively produce progesterone and by taking care of the liver, as it is responsible for processing sex hormones so that they can be eliminated once they have served their purpose. One of the best ways to support the adrenals is to make breathfocused restorative practices a daily habit. You can support the liver by eating plenty of plant foods – the liver particularly loves Brassica family vegetables and there are
Solving this specific challenge lies in
a number of herbs that support liver helping the body to increase its production detoxification pathways too. of progesterone and efficiently eliminate sex hormones once they have done their
STRESS HORMONES
job in the body (in particular estrogen),
The two key stress hormones are
as this will work to bring the ratio back
adrenaline and cortisol. To our body,
into balance.
any kind of stress, be it because we’re
to help you fight or flee. You also need fuel to help you escape and the most readily available, fastest-burning fuel inside the body is glucose, often referred to as sugar. Your liver and muscles store glucose in the form of glycogen. When energy is required, glycogen is converted back into glucose, which is then released back into your blood. Your blood glucose (i.e. sugar) subsequently shoots up, ready to fuel your self-defence or your escape. And you feel amped up, although many people today don’t identify this, as they have become accustomed to it being their norm. This biochemical response can also mean that we crave sugar as elevations in our blood sugar lead to ‘crashes' creating a fatigued state that makes you feel as though only more caffeine or high-sugar food can fix it.
in immediate danger or simply feeling financial, relationship or work pressures, is interpreted as a direct threat to our life.
ISSUE NO. 27 / FETEPRESS.COM.AU
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health / W E L L - B E I N G
CORTISOL
Cortisol is our chronic stress hormone. In other words, we tend to make too much of it when we are stressed for a long time. Historically, the only long-term stress humans had were floods, famines and wars – all scenarios where food may have been scarce. Today our long-term stress tends to come from relationship or financial worries, or health or weight concerns. However, because cortisol was designed to save your life when food was scarce, even though food may be abundant for you today, cortisol breaks down muscle mass to slow your metabolic rate and promotes fat storage around your middle so that those precious fat stores can keep you going until the food supply returns. Cortisol has a distinct fat deposition pattern. Aside from laying fat down around your middle, it also promotes fat storage on the back of your arms and you grow what I lovingly call a back verandah. Most people’s response to fat accumulation around their tummies is to go on a diet, which means eating less food. This only confirms to your body what cortisol has driven your body to believe is true, when in fact the opposite is true and food is likely to be abundant for you. When you restrict your food intake on your ‘diet' you slow your metabolic rate even further, making it feel like you only have to look at food for weight to go on! If cortisol is a contributing factor to your weight gain, going on a calorie restricted diet is not your answer, sorting out your cortisol is.
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Women are much more likely than men to suffer from hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid). Hypothyroidism can be the result of an autoimmune thyroid condition (called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis), however thyroid function can also be low for other reasons, such as specific nutrient deficiencies and as a result of stress. OVERACTIVE THYROID
If thyroid hormone levels become too high (hyperthyroidism), metabolism and all body processes speed up. Symptoms of an overactive thyroid include an enlarged thyroid gland, difficulty sleeping, feeling anxious, sweating or overheating, menstrual disturbances and/or infertility, changes to appetite, frequent bowel motions and bulging eyes. Hyperthyroidism is usually due to an autoimmune thyroid condition called Graves’ disease. If you tick many of the boxes of an underactive or overactive thyroid, speak to your doctor about having your thyroid function tested via a blood test.
FOCUS ON FEEDING YOUR BODY WITH THE NUTRIENTS IT NEEDS TO BUILD HORMONES / W H I L E O F C O U R S E E AT I N G I N A W A Y T H A T I N C L U D E S M O S T LY WHOLE, REAL FOODS AND MINIMISES PROCESSED FOODS IS BENEFICIAL, THERE ARE SPECIFIC N U T R I E N T S T H AT T H E B O DY U S E S W H E N C R E AT I N G YO U R H O R M O N E S. ZINC IS A KEY NUTRIENT FOR SEX HORMONE BAL ANCE, FOR BOTH M E N A N D W O M E N. I T A L S O P L AY S A R O L E I N H E A LT H Y T H Y R O I D FUNCTION. ZINC IS FOUND IN OY S T E R S, R E D M E AT, S E E D S ( P A R T I C U L A R LY P U M P K I N S E E D S ) AND EGGS. IT CAN SOMETIMES BE BENEFICIAL TO SUPPLEMENT WITH A G O O D Q U A L I T Y F O O D-B A S E D ZINC SUPPLEMENT AND/OR HERBAL M E D I C I N E S , P A R T I C U L A R LY I F A SEX HORMONE IMBALANCE HAS BEEN PRESENT FOR SOME TIME. T H E A D R E N A L S LO V E V I TA M I N C, WHICH IS FOUND IN CITRUS FRUITS, K I W I F R U I T, S T R AW B E R R I E S A N D CAPSICUM. WHEN WE PRODUCE STRESS HORMONES, WE ALSO USE UP MAGNESIUM, SO BE SURE TO I N C LU D E M A G N E S I U M-R I C H F O O D S S U C H A S G R E E N L E A F Y V E G E TA B L E S,
TOP TIPS FOR ADDRESSING HORMONE IMBALANCE /
NUTS AND SEEDS. TAKE A BREAK FROM CAFFEINE AND ALCOHOL FOR TWO TO THREE MENSTRUAL CYCLES / ALCOHOL AND CAFFEINE ARE
INCREASE YOUR RESTORATIVE
S U B S TA N C E S T H AT C A N P U T
MOVEMENT /
ADDITIONAL PRESSURE ON OUR
MANY PEOPLE WOULD BENEFIT
B O D Y , E S P E C I A L LY O U R L I V E R . T H E
F R O M I N C O R P O R AT I N G M O R E 'YIN' MOVEMENT INTO THEIR LIFEST YLE ON A REGUL AR BASIS.
L I V E R I S O U R K E Y D E TOX I F I C AT I O N ORGAN, WHICH MEANS IT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CHANGING
YIN MOVEMENT INCLUDES QI
P R O B L E M AT I C S U B S TA N C E S
THYROID HORMONES
G O N G, TA I C H I, R E S TO R AT I V E
(THINK ALCOHOL, PESTICIDES
The thyroid gland is a little butterflyshaped gland that sits at the base of the neck. It is an endocrine (hormoneproducing) gland that manufactures two thyroid hormones – triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). Thyroid hormones are responsible for controlling the basic activity of each cell in the body and they play an enormous role in your metabolic rate as well as body temperature regulation. A well-functioning thyroid gland is, therefore, an essential component of outstanding health and vitality.
Y O G A ( P A R T I C U L A R LY O N E
A N D P O L LU TA N T S ) S O T H E Y C A N
CALLED STILLNESS THROUGH
B E E L I M I N AT E D F R O M T H E B O DY.
M O V E M E N T ), M E D I TAT I O N O R A
BUT IT DOESN’T JUST PROCESS
S I M P L E B R E AT H I N G E X E R C I S E T H AT
P R O B L E M AT I C S U B S TA N C E S T H AT
HELPS YOU TO DROP BACK INTO
W E E AT, D R I N K , A B S O R B T H R O U G H
D I A P H R A G M AT I C B R E AT H I N G – LO N G,
O U R S K I N O R B R E AT H E I N, I T A L S O
S LO W B R E AT H S T H AT M O V E YO U R
H A S TO P R O C E S S S U B S TA N C E S
B E L LY I N A N D O U T , R A T H E R T H A N
OUR BODY MAKES, SUCH AS SEX
S H O R T , S H A R P, S H A L L O W B R E A T H S
HORMONES (THINK ESTROGEN).
U P I N YO U R C H E S T. S E X H O R M O N E
T H E L I V E R W I L L A LWAY S P R I O R I T I S E
IMBAL ANCES. TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE / CHINESE MEDICINE CAN BE A W O N D E R F U L WAY T O H E L P C O R R E C T HORMONE IMBAL ANCES. A CHINESE MEDICINE PRACTITIONER
UNDERACTIVE THYROID
M AY R E C O M M E N D H E R B S O R A
If thyroid hormone levels drop below normal levels (hypothyroidism), cellular metabolism slows down and energy levels drop. Aside from deep fatigue, poor thyroid function can also contribute to dry skin, dry, brittle hair, or hair loss, constipation, brain fog and poor memory, low mood, menstrual cycle problems and/or infertility, feeling cold in your bones, fluid retention and ‘unexplained' weight gain.
PA R T I C U L A R WAY O F E AT I N G T H AT
FETEPRESS.COM.AU / ISSUE NO.27
P R O C E S S I N G S U B S TA N C E S L I K E A L C O H O L ( W H I C H W O U L D L I T E R A L LY B E L I F E-T H R E A T E N I N G I F I T W E R E TO A C C U M U L AT E I N O U R B LO O D), SO WHEN IT IS OVERLOADED WITH H I G H E R-P R I O R I T Y S U B S TA N C E S , ESTROGEN CAN BE RECYCLED IN T H E B O D Y, W H I C H C A N C O N T R I B U T E TO SEX HORMONE IMBAL ANCES.
SUPPORTS NOURISHING YOUR BODY BACK TO BAL ANCE. ACUPUNCTURE A L S O C A N B E A G R E AT A S S I S TA N C E TO THIS PROCESS AS WELL AS BEING HELPFUL FOR SUPPORTING GOOD DIGESTION, THE NERVOUS SYSTEM AND ADRENAL FUNCTION.
Dr Libby Weaver is a nutritional biochemist, best-selling author and speaker. She is touring through Australia and New Zealand this September and October. DRLIBBY.COM