A Quick Guide to Understanding Your Hormones The Hormone Conundrum A Quick Guide to Understanding Your Hormones www.greensoulholistics.com

What Is Happening to Me? We all have an expectation as to how we should function  Our goals and dreams do not include bloating, gas, weight gain or constant fatigue  The issue for most people is to recognized symptoms like this  are not normal 

Hormones What are they? Chemical messengers that help regulate systems in the body and bodily functions We would not be who we are without them

The Players The Adrenal Hormones The Thyroid Hormones The Reproductive Hormones Digestive Hormones Intestinal Hormones Liver

The Adrenal Glands Sit on top of the kidneys Protect us from physical harm The flight or fight response Our adrenals do not distinguish between physical and psychological or emotional stress That is where all the problems begin

Cortisol: Friend or Foe A key adrenal hormone Without it we would not be awake Helps us function through the day It is also a key stress response hormone The problem is too much

Signs of Excess Cortisol Brain fog, lack of focus, mood swings, depression, anxiety. Low thyroid function. Dysglycemia (blood sugar swinging up and down)  Morning and mid-afternoon fatigue (and overall fatigue). Sleep disruption – can’t get to sleep and/or waking up in the middle of the night and unable to fall back asleep

Signs of High Cortisol Digestive and intestinal issues Backaches and headaches Weight gain, especially around the middle Low libido Possible low testosterone and/or progesterone and excess estrogen Poor immune function Cravings for sweet or salty food

Stress & Hormones Stress and high cortisol is the number one reason hormones go astray Because the adrenal glands rule the roost (fight or flight) The adrenals can convert one hormone to another They also have a major effect on the pituitary – a master hormone gland located at the base of the brain Reducing stress and repairing adrenal gland function may seem like the quickest answer but it is not quite that easy…

Thyroid Gland & Function The thyroid is a gland in the throat area Produces two hormones: thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) The thyroid regulates metabolism, temperature in the body, breathing, heart rate, central and peripheral nervous systems, body weight, muscle strength, menstrual cycles, body temperature, cholesterol levels

Signs of Low Thyroid Function Fatigue and headaches Increased sensitivity to cold Constipation Dry skin and hair (thinning hair) Weight gain Puffy face Hoarseness

Signs of Low Thyroid Function Muscle weakness Elevated blood cholesterol level Muscle and joint aches and stiffness Heavier than normal or irregular menstrual periods Slow heart rate Depression and poor cognitive function (memory)

Reproductive Hormones Estrogen: Key female hormone for fertility but has many other roles for men and women such as bone–making, brain function, gut health Progesterone: Key female hormone for fertility but has other roles for men and women such as bone-making, brain health, blood clotting, sleeping, thyroid function and gut health Testosterone: Key male reproductive hormone but also helps men and women maintain muscle mass, maintain libido, bone density and gut health

Reproductive Systems All three hormones have many more roles in the body and can affect other hormone systems Progesterone is a precursor to testosterone and cortisol Stress causes testosterone to convert to estrogen and the adrenals can convert progesterone to cortisol

The Liver Key organ to remove toxins from the body including excess hormones such as estrogen and cortisol Makes cholesterol which the body needs to make progesterone, estrogen, testosterone and cortisol Detoxes out chemical hormone-disrupters Helps convert thyroid hormones T4 to T3 (the active form needed for proper thyroid function)

Digestive & Intestinal Systems Blood sugar is regulated by the hormone insulin which has a codependent relationship with cortisol – if one goes up so does the other Good gut bacteria in the intestines plays a regulatory for reproductive hormones, thyroid hormones and cortisol Stress and cortisol affect the quality and quantity of good gut bacteria and encourage the growth of bad bacteria Good gut bacteria helps the liver with the removal of excess hormones from the body

Interrelationship of Hormones Adrenals and excess cortisol interferes with reproductive hormones, depresses thyroid function and cause issues with hormones like insulin in the digestive system Thyroid hormones interfere with digestive function, intestinal function and reproductive function Reproductive hormones, when out of balance, interfere with thyroid and adrenals function And that is why it is essential to work on balancing all of them  Food is the easiest way

Key Hormone Balancing Foods Thyroid: Sea vegetables, coconut oil and foods rich in B vitamins and essential fatty acids (EFAs) Adrenals: Maca, schizandra, foods rich in B vitamins, potassium and vitamin C Liver Foods: Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli), calcium d- glucarate foods (apples, grapefruit), garlic, onions, EFAs, complex carbohydrates for energy,  milk thistle, lemons and limes 

Key Hormone Balancing Foods Fermented food: These foods support intestinal function and provide good bacteria to help the body (organic yogurt and coconut yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, wine, unpasteurized beer – if consuming alcohol use in moderation) Prebiotic Foods: Prebiotic foods feed our own good gut bacteria (broccoli, apples, berries, raw asparagus, raw garlic, raw and cooked onions, raw chicory root, underripe bananas, raw dandelion greens, raw Jerusalem artichokes, legumes, almonds and more)

The Solution to the Hormone Conundrum? Balance! The key to balancing hormones is making long term changes Diet and lifestyle is the easiest way Supplements can be helpful Better than medications Stick with it. It takes time but it is worth it!