An Integrative Approach to Naturally Balancing Hormones
There are many different causes of hormonal imbalances and this highly effective 10-step approach addresses all the factors that impact a woman’s health and can be used to start balancing hormones naturally. This well-rounded approach to women’s wellness resolves and treats both causes and symptoms, prevents the effects of aging, and enhances long-term health and wellness.
- Hormone testing and bio-identical hormone replacement
- Nutritional testing
- Balancing gut health
- Uncovering food sensitivities and gluten sensitivity
- Environmental allergy testing and sublingual allergy drops
- Fitness and weight management
- Adrenal health and stress management
- Detoxification
- Adequate sleep and relaxation
- Outer beauty, aesthetics, and wellness
Beneficial Treatments can include
- Professional grade supplements
- IV nutritional therapy and Meyer’s cocktails
- IV vitamin C therapy
- B12 injections
- Glutathione injections and IV’s
- Infrared sauna
- Bio-mat
- Acupuncture
- Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy
Hormone balance is our fountain of youth. Our hormones don’t just decline because we age. We age because our hormones decline. Thyroid and adrenal hormones, testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, insulin, and leptin all affect how gracefully we age and our quality of life.
Nutritional Deficiencies and Hormonal Imbalances
Many symptoms of hormonal imbalance can be resolved just be using good nutrition and smart supplementation. Some of the symptoms of nutritional deficiency include
- Fatigue
- Lethargy
- Foggy thinking
- Dry skin
- Brittle nails
- Weight gain
- Depression
- Low immunity
- Hair loss
Using specialized testing, called a micronutrient deficiency test from Spectracell Laboratory, you can uncover causes of difficult diagnoses and challenging cases such as:
- Depression
- Fibromyalgia
- Chronic fatigue
- Lyme disease
- Bariatric surgery patients
- Cancer patients
These specialized micronutrient deficiency tests are also helpful for uncovering the causes of vague symptoms like:
- Low energy
- Chronic pain
- Mood changes
- Weak immune system
Using the Spectracell Micronutrient test, you can customize vitamin supplementation based on the deficiencies uncovered and use IV therapy, injection therapy, meyer’s cocktails, and oral supplementation to replenish depleted nutrients.
Various medications can deplete nutritional status and decrease the absorption rate of nutrients. Our livers can become compromised and overburdened from metabolizing medications as well, and many nutrients are stored, produced, and activated in the liver.
Common medications that cause nutrient depletions include:
- Antacids
- Antibiotics
- Anti-depressants
- Anti-inflammatories like NSAIDs
- Diabetes medications
- High blood pressure medications
- Statins and cholesterol lowering drugs
Balancing Hormones Naturally with Nutrients
Some of the common nutrients and botanicals that are used for balancing hormonal issues include:
- DIM
- Adrenal adaptogens
- DHEA
- Thyroid support
- Progesterone support
- Testosterone support
- PMS support
- Omega 3 fatty acids
- Phosphatidyl serine
- 5 HTP and melatonin
- multivitamin/mineral
- Vitamin D3
- Pea protein shakes
- Reds and green powder
- Probiotics
- Digestive enzyme
- Support for hair, skin and nails
All recommendations should be customized to each individual patient based on their unique needs.
Healthy Eating Plans
Nutrition is another area where individualization is key, as there truly is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all diet.
The basic guidelines for optimal hormonal balance include:
- A balanced diet with healthy fats, carbs and adequate lean protein
- Eat 5 – 6 times per day to balance blood sugar
- Protein with each meal and snack
- Testing for food allergies and gluten sensitivity
- Yeast free diet if Candida is an issue
Address Allergies
Seasonal and environmental allergies are often a burden for women but thankfully they can be easily managed naturally. Before beginning to balance hormones, it is important to also address seasonal allergies using special sublingual immunotherapy allergy drops that are based on allergies specific to your region.
Exercise
Daily exercise can improve blood flow, increase muscle tone, lower body fat, increase energy, and boost anti-aging hormones. The best forms of exercise include weight training, high intensity interval training, and low intensity cardio.
Stress Reduction
Stress can cause hormonal imbalances and premature aging of cells. Techniques such as yoga, pilates, meditation, massage, baths, neurofeedback, and taking personal time each day can be used for stress reduction.
Sleep
Adequate sleep is essential for balanced hormones. Ideally, 7 – 8 hours of completely interrupted sleep each night is best. Non-negotiable rules for ideal sleep are absolutely no TV or computer 1 hour before bed, unplugging all electronics (except the alarm clock) in the bedroom, and sleeping in a completely dark room. You can use melatonin, valerian root or phosphatidyl serine to help get a restful nights sleep.
The Benefits of Healthy Hormone Levels
There are many benefits to balancing hormone levels naturally.
- Improves cognitive function
- Promotes healthy bones, brain, heart, and metabolism
- Supports energy, mood, and libido
- Anti-aging
- Youthful skin and supports collagen production
Hormones to be Tested and Balanced
There are several options including serum, saliva, or urine to test many different hormones that contribute to hormonal imbalances.
- Estrogens (Fractionated)
- Progesterone
- Testosterone (Total and Free)
- DHEA-S
- Cortisol
- Thyroid – TSH, total T3, total T4, free T3, free T4, T3 uptake, TPO and TGB antibodies
- Vitamin D3
The goal of hormone restoration therapy is to
- establish the need through testing and symptoms evaluation
- correcting underlying problems affecting hormone levels or causing symptoms through functional deficiencies such as diet, exercise, stress, alcohol, caffeine, and sleep
- hormone replacement therapy using only bio-identical hormones
It is important to remember that not all women with hormonal imbalances need hormone replacement therapy and there are many natural options available. It is always best to try to use the least invasive therapies first.
Understanding Female Hormonal Imbalances at the Various Stages of Life
There are 3 phases of hormone production in a women’s life:
- PMS/estrogen dominance in a woman’s 30s and 40s
- Peri-menopause at age 40 – 50
- Post-menopause after age 50+
Phase 1 – Estrogen Dominance
Estrogen dominance is very common in young cycling women and can be exacerbated by birth control pills, environmental estrogens from plastics and pesticides, excess carbohydrates and refined sugars in the diet, and stress.
The symptoms of estrogen dominance include:
- Irritability
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Lethargy
- Low libido
- Lack of drive/ambition
- Weight gain
- Hair loss
- Insomnia
Nutritional support at this stage includes:
- DIM
- Chasteberry
- Vitamin D3
- Magnesium
- B-vitamins
- Progesterone
Phase 2 – Peri-menopause
Peri-menopause is a transition period that precedes menopause and may be different for every woman. Often, symptoms of hormonal imbalances occur 5 – 1o years before menses completely stop.
The symptoms of peri-menopause include:
- Irregular periods
- Heavy bleeding
- Mood swings, depression, anxiety
- Foggy thinking
- Memory loss
- Hot flashes and night sweats
- Sleep disruption and insomnia
- Headaches
- Vaginal dryness
- Hair loss
- Fatigue
- Weight gain
- Loss of libido
Nutritional support for peri-menopause include:
- Pea protein shake
- Greens and reds powder
- DIM
- Adrenal support
- Hair skin and nail support
- DHEA
- Vitamin D3
- Progesterone support
- Thyroid support
- Testosterone support
- Omega 3 fatty acids
- Sleep support such as phosphatidyl serine, melatonin or 5-HTP
Phase 3: Post-menopause
Menopause is defined as the absence of periods for 12 consecutive months. This is a time in a woman’s life when the ovarian production of estrogens, progesterone, and testosterone declines. The average age of menopause is at 51, however surgically induced menopause can occur at any time in a woman’s life following a hysterectomy in which the ovaries are also removed.
The symptoms of menopause can include:
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Low libido
- Weight gain
- Vaginal dryness
- Bone loss
- Joint pain
- Insomnia
- Mood swings, depression, irritability and anxiety
These symptoms are often exacerbated by poor nutrition, chronic stress, lack of exercise, smoking, and excess alcohol.
The nutritional support of menopause is very much the same as in post-menopause, but there is also a need for additional estrogen support with botanicals such as black cohosh.
Optimal hormonal balance is crucial to a woman’s health and wellness. The consequences of hormonal imbalances can result in a wide range of health conditions including:
- Poor quality of life
- Fibroids
- Fibrocystic breasts
- Ovarian cysts
- Miscarriage
- Infertility
- PMS
- PCOS
- Breast and ovarian cancer
- Colon cancer
- Chronic disease
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- And the list could go on.
In addition to addressing hormone levels, it is crucial to also consider individualized nutrition and nutrient deficiencies, gut health, adrenal function, and lifestyle factors such as stress reduction, exercise, and proper sleep.
