Most women suffer from something known as PMS or Pre-Menstrual Syndrome a week or so before their period, but what most women don’t know is that this is not exactly the way it is supposed to be. Believe it or not, monthly mood swings, breast tenderness, irritability, cravings and weight gain do not have to come with the territory of being a female.
An unbalanced ratio of progesterone in relation to estrogen can cause PMS issues such as insomnia, bloating, moodiness, constipation, weight gain and much more. If any of the above symptoms describe you then this is an article for you!
Why Does This Imbalance Occur?
It is all about two major weaknesses: the liver and a nutrient deficiency. The liver is responsible for the three main jobs that affect hormonal balance.
- Balancing Blood Sugar– An unhealthy liver cannot do its job of helping to manage blood sugar and storing glycogen, so your adrenal glands kick in and activate the stress response when blood sugar falls too low. This added stress hurts the body’s ability to make progesterone support hormonal balance.
- Detox– Hormones are the body’s way of sending messages. When a hormone’s message has been sent, the used hormones must be removed from the body. Getting rid of used hormones happens through a process of detoxification.
- Thyroid Conversion– The liver is one of the organs responsible for the conversion of thyroid hormones. If your liver is malnourished and is unable to store glycogen, less T3 is the result, slowing hormone synthesis.
What to Do:
- Eat Real Food- Starvation is doing nothing for you, getting in the right kind of foods is important. Problems like PMS are your body’s way of saying it is deficient. A daily dose of dark leafy greens such as kale, collards, and broccoli and good quality fats are your ticket to a happier hormone party. The high fiber content of vegetables can help the body efficiently eliminate excessive hormones from the body.
- Try and keep meat and dairy to a minimum if you have to consume them at all, and cut out all processed foods and sugars.
- Nourish Your Liver– Read more about the importance of a healthy liver here, and how to keep it healthy and strong!
- Balance Blood Sugar– Eat frequently to help stabilize blood sugar.
- Identify and Reduce Stress– This could be an array of things like lack of sleep, insufficient fuel, or food allergies. You can improve hormonal balance by sleeping seven to nine hours each night, exercise for at least 30 minutes 4 times a week, and meditate.
- Increase Hormone Synthesis Promoters– Try taking vitamins such as Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Magnesium, Calcium, and Vitamin B6.
- Probiotics– Probiotics will establish healthy bacterial balance in your digestive system and support the breakdown and elimination of estrogen.
Listen to your body, treat it well and feed it the right fuel. There is no need for your life to be any harder than it has to be.