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Your body’s hormones play a key role in balancing your sleep patterns, metabolism, mood, energy levels, and much more. If your hormones are imbalanced, chances are, you’ll not feel your best. While there is no shortage of hormone-balancing supplements on the market today, there are some great ways to keep things balanced naturally.
Prioritize Sleep
Whether you’re running a small business in the Portland metro area, you’re out enjoying Oregon’s stunning parks and hiking trails, or managing your household, it’s no secret that life gets busy. That’s why it’s important to listen to your body when it’s tired and make sleep a priority. Sleep helps regulate cortisol (also known as the stress hormone), which can impact your bodily functions such as metabolism and immune response. Sleep also helps regulate insulin, which can help with maintaining healthy blood sugar levels and gut hormones. When your body is deprived of sleep on a regular basis, your hormones are impacted, which can lead to weight gain or increased risk of diabetes or other harmful medical conditions.
Eat Your Veggies
Oregon is home to a variety of amazing farms and farmers markets that provide fresh and flavorful foods. Brussels sprouts, broccoli, kale, cauliflower, and other dark leafy greens contain natural vitamins and minerals that help manage your hormones. Load up on fresh vegetables and integrate those into your diet several times a day.
Reduce Your Sugar Intake
When you eat too much sugar, you may notice an increase in your blood sugar levels, which cause the pancreas to release insulin. Eating less sugar helps maintain blood sugar levels, which minimizes strain on your insulin production. High-sugar diets can also contribute to low-grade inflammation in the body, which can contribute to thyroid or adrenal gland issues, sex hormone imbalances, or higher cortisol. Balancing your diet and reducing sugar intake can prevent some of these unwanted hormonal disruptions and in the long term, can even help prevent diseases.
Minimize Unhealthy Fats and Increase Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Healthy fats are crucial to supporting the structure of your hormone-producing cells. So, instead of reaching for carbs, increase your intake of foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These can be found in certain nuts, avocados, flaxseeds, and fish. Omega-3s are a key component for making testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol.
Find Ways to Reduce Your Stress
Stress never has a positive impact—it can really wear your body down over time. So, find ways to minimize your stress levels. Maybe that means reducing the number of hours you’re working, or make the difficult decision to leave a toxic work or home environment. Perhaps it means simply finding more time to do things that you love — exploring the Oregon coast or its beautiful, forested areas, having dinner or movie nights with friends or family, or taking more regular vacations or long weekends. Your body as a whole—especially its hormonal levels—will benefit from reduced stress.
If you struggle with hormone imbalances, you’re not alone. This impacts millions of people around the world every year, causing anxiety, fatigue, irritability, weight gain, lack of focus, and more. Talking to your medical team about how you can be proactive in keeping your hormones balanced and working to your benefit is important, so don’t delay in reaching out to discuss. Your health and energy levels will thank you for it.
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Read More: Balancing Hormones Naturally: Lifestyle Changes That Support Hormonal Health
