Everything in your body is connected. From your crown to your toes, but also inside. This holistic view of the body is centuries old. Everything in your body is part of the big picture. This view of the body explains why you don't feel so great when your hormones are out of balance.
Your hormones are part of the complex whole and therefore affect your health as well as how well you feel. If they are out of balance, then you are out of balance. Fortunately, you can help them regain balance.
What are hormones and which hormones do I have?
Your body produces hormones to regulate all kinds of processes in your body. The hormones are brought to the right places through the blood. There they cause a certain reaction in, for example, organs or tissues.
The most well-known examples of processes are the regulation of menstruation, the menopause and the production of sperm. But also think of the hormones that ensure growth and development in adolescents. And the substances that make you feel happy or just a little depressed.
Where do they come from?
Hormones are produced in different places in your body. That also explains why hormones can have a lot of influence in very different ways:
- The pituitary gland and hypothalamus in the head
- The thyroid and parathyroid glands in your neck
- The adrenal glands and pancreas in your abdomen
- The reproductive organs
Which one do I have?
New hormones are still being discovered! So we don't know exactly how many there are yet. They often have multiple functions. Below are a few that you probably know or have heard of.
- Endorphins calm the pain
- Adrenaline ensures that you can take action quickly
- Dopamine makes you feel good
- Serotonin makes you happy
- Oxytocin makes us social
- Melatonin helps us sleep
- Estrogen calms and ensures the growth of female genitals
- Testosterone gives us strength
- Cortisol helps us deal with stress
- Insulin balances blood sugar levels
- Progesterone calms down
- Thyroid hormones regulate temperature and metabolism
- Growth hormones ensure growth, strong bones and muscles
How do you notice that your hormones are out of balance?
So all those different types of hormones are the messengers. If they do their job well, you benefit from it and you feel great. Only sometimes something goes wrong in communication, because the hormones themselves do not do their job properly or they are prevented. With complaints or an illness as a result. And you don't want that.
Think mood swings and eating outside. Or more serious: PCOS, PMS, low libido and imbalance. But sleep disorders, hair loss, weight gain, burnout and a violent menopause can also be a result of a hormonal imbalance.
This is how you bring your hormones back into balance
But don't grieve! You can do a lot yourself to bring and keep your hormones back in balance! Sometimes your lifestyle calls for a few adjustments. Or does it help to eat certain foods.
Improve your lifestyle
In most cases, the solution lies in adjusting your lifestyle. Of course you often hear that too much stress, unhealthy food and too little sleep is bad for you. And yes, they also affect your hormones. That's good news, because it means you can get started with it yourself!
For example, you can try to relax more. Whether that is in the form of sleep, because you know that you always go to bed too late. Or in the form of a walk in the woods or reading a book. A bad night's sleep has an effect on your hormones. And those hormones on the next night's sleep. In addition, many of us experience stress every day. Reducing stress is a good starting point for better balance.
A second simple adjustment is to drink plenty of water. Water and tea rinse the body clean. This way you remove waste so that recovery can take place. Note: soft drinks are not an equivalent alternative. This can negatively affect the hormones.
A not so easy change is to stop smoking and drinking. Still, they are important factors. Research has shown that smoking has a negative impact on hormone balance. The same goes for alcohol. But you will have to bite the bullet for a while.
Food for your hormones
Healthy eating is a lifestyle. But eating something tasty every now and then also fits in with a healthy lifestyle. A fun night out with friends can do wonders for your mood. Here too you will have to find a balance.
A balanced diet may also balance your hormones. Besides, of course, lots of fruit and vegetables, that means that you also avoid non-organic meat, processed food as much as possible. But not only that. Restrictive diets, long-term diets and crash diets are also disastrous for your hormones.
Foods that don't come from a factory work best. Without added sugars and preservatives. Unlabeled food with dozens of ingredients. Get started with lots of green vegetables. Fruit rich in antioxidants and spices such as cinnamon, ginger and turmeric.
You also need enough fats. Good fats. You need it to produce hormones. Think of a handful of nuts as a snack, an avocado during lunch or some linseed with your breakfast.
