 ‘Life in the 21st century…has contributed to some of the highest levels of oestrogen ever measured in women’s bodies’
 An ancient adage from Chinese medicine reads: “A doctor would rather treat ten men than one woman.†Chinese medicine validates what we women have always known: we are indeed intricate creatures! Our hormones are in part responsible for this complexity. Their ebb and flow influences all aspects of a woman’s physical, emotional and mental wellbeing.
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When our hormones are in balance, they create wellbeing and vitality. This supports an inner harmony, which may be experienced as painless menstrual cycles or a symptom-free menopause. But if those inner rhythms are altered, hormonal havoc ensues. PMS can suddenly transform a reasonable woman into a screaming banshee!
Why do hormones have such a profound impact on our health?
Hormones and our Health
Hormones are powerful chemical messengers secreted from endocrine glands such as the ovary, adrenals, pituitary, and thyroid. A woman’s physiology and psyche are intimately connected to her monthly flow of hormones, which stimulate, regulate and control all vital bodily functions. Hormonal balance influences the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, reproductive, musculoskeletal and immune systems. Hormones also affect neurotransmitters determining moods and thinking processes. No wonder hormonal balance plays such a major role in maintaining optimal wellbeing throughout a woman’s life.
The two main sex hormones in a woman’s body are oestrogen and progesterone. Oestrogen is produced by the ovaries and fat cells. At puberty, oestrogen causes breasts to grow and hips to become curvy. Oestrogen also proliferates cell growth, stimulating the thickening of the uterine lining in preparation for the implantation of an egg.
Progesterone is the dominant hormone produced in the second half of the menstrual cycle. It is the pro-gestation hormone necessary for a successful pregnancy. It also balances oestrogen’s proliferative effect, signaling cells when to stop multiplying.
Oestrogen and progesterone are dance partners, waltzing in rhythm and balance with each other. If that delicate balance is altered, many hormonal and health problems are created. Weight gain, high blood pressure, depression, mental fog, strokes, autoimmune disease, breast cancer, and infertility are some of the problems either caused or worsened by their imbalance.
Life in the 21st century has hormonally challenged many modern women. Stress, nutritional deficiencies, hormones in meat and dairy products, oestrogenic-mimicking chemicals, and the widespread use of The Pill and HRT have contributed to some of the highest levels of oestrogen ever measured in women’s bodies. This oestrogen excess condition is known as oestrogen dominance,
Oestrogen dominance causes or worsens: allergies, breast tenderness, low libido, depression, fatigue, hair thinning, fibrocystic breast disease, polycystic ovarian syndrome, headaches, hypoglycemia, blood clots, strokes, infertility, irritability, memory loss, miscarriage, ovarian cysts, endometriosis, PMS, hypothyroidism, fibroids, bloating, weight gain (especially around the abdomen, hips, and thighs), and autoimmune disorders.
Hormone Care At Any Age
A key to staying healthy is maintaining hormonal balance. The most notorious hormone wreckers include: sugar and sugar substitutes, refined carbohydrates, trans fats, caffeine, pesticide-laden foods, alcohol, dehydration, lack of sleep, stress, emotional upsets, chemicals in commercial personal care products, and lack of exercise. These hormone wreckers are guaranteed to compromise your health, imbalance your hormones and accelerate the aging process.
A hormone harmonizing program includes organically grown, whole foods, plenty of fresh vegetable, fruits, seeds and nuts, healthy fats, (virgin olive oil, fish oils, flax seed oils, coconut oil, and butter), filtered water, eating regular meals, seven to eight hours sleep a night, relaxation, staying hydrated and regular exercise.
Hormones are sensitive barometers underlying physiological imbalances. For instance, a toxic liver, over-worked adrenal glands, or a candida outbreak can quickly put hormones out of balance.
Wherever you may be in your life’s journey, the following three guidelines will profoundly enhance your ongoing health and hormonal harmony.
1. Support your liver
The liver plays a major role in the proper metabolising of hormones, particularly oestrogen. Liver-loving foods include broccoli; Brussels sprouts; cabbage; cauliflower; beets; garlic; lemons; artichokes; and asparagus. Liver-loving herbs include milk thistle, dandelion root and turmeric.
2. Nourish your adrenal glands
The adrenals (kidneys) play a major role in hormonal balance, immune health, digestion, blood sugar balance, blood pressure inflammation control and mineral balance. Vitamins C, B5 (best taken in a B Complex), cod liver oil, and magnesium nourish the adrenals. The adaptogenic herbs ashwagandha, Rhodiola Rosea and Maca root provide excellent adrenal support.
3. Strengthen your digestive system
A strong digestive system ensures your body can readily absorb food. Digestive strengthening foods include yogurt, kefir, unpasteurised apple cider vinegar, sauerkraut and miso. Digestive enzymes are also helpful.
In the quest for optimal health, each decade of a woman’s life has specific needs and challenges.
 The Roaring Twenties
The 20s are a time of great vitality, energy, and enthusiasm. But it is also easy to overdue things. College life usually means lots of junk food, stress, partying, alcohol, recreational drugs, and lack of sleep. Starting a career often includes demanding hours and more partying.
This decade is fraught with hormone wreckers! To stay healthy, eat nourishing meals, drink plenty of water, and get to bed by10 pm at least three nights a week. If you’re taking some form of birth control pill or patch, extra nutritional support is necessary. The Pill depletes the body of key nutrients such as vitamins E, C and B’s, as well as calcium, magnesium, selenium and. zinc. Therefore, a comprehensive multi- vitamin and multi-mineral supplement is essential. Always include essential fatty acids in your nutritional program.
The Pill, antibiotics, and steroids destroy good gut flora resulting in systemic candida and vaginal thrush. A probiotic supplement, organic yogurt, and kefir restore proper gut flora.
The Sexy Thirties
Many thirty-something women begin thinking of motherhood. It is imperative for them to commit to a healthier diet and a balanced lifestyle.
Vitamin A and Vitamin D are essential for normal reproduction and fertility. Vitamin-A-rich foods include butter and cream from grass-fed cows, eggs, liver, and essential fatty acids. Also include a multi-mineral supplement. The herb chaste tree (vitex) is renowned for hormone balancing.
Natural bio-identical progesterone cream effectively used to treat PMS, ovarian cysts and polycystic ovarian syndrome also supports fertility.
The Fabulous Forties
During this decade, women begin the transition into peri menopause, the five to ten year period before menopause. The ovaries become more active than they have been since adolescence.   Consequently, peri menopause is a time of excess oestrogen and declining progesterone. This hormonal imbalance is behind unpredictable moods, heavy menstrual flow, hot flushes, night sweats, headaches, and the weight gain that often occurs at this time.
Because a 40-something woman is more susceptible to oestrogen excess, bio-identical progesterone is helpful in regaining hormonal balance.
During our 40s, the digestive system becomes weaker. Adding digestive enzymes and probiotics will strengthen digestion. The thyroid can also become sluggish. Magnesium, selenium, iodine, and Vitamin A help thyroid function. Liver-loving foods and chaste tree (vitex) help balance excess oestrogen levels.
The Fit Fifties
The fifth decade is the time for initiation into menopause, a stage of deepening wisdom. When the menopausal woman stops menstruating, her hormone levels begin to alter and the adrenal glands become her primary source of hormonal support.
At this stage, women must make wise dietary and lifestyle choices to adequately nourish the endocrine glands. To support this transition, strengthening the adrenals, detoxifying the liver and improving digestion is necessary for balance. Because progesterone declines much more precipitously than oestrogen, using natural progesterone may be helpful.
Vaginal dryness becomes more prevalent. Increasing essential fatty acids such as fish oil and Vitamin E will help. Pomegranate seed oil has been clinically proven to restore healthy vaginal tissue when used intra-vaginally.
The Sagacious Sixties
From this decade onwards, a woman taps into her deep well of wisdom. This season of a woman’s life is known as the Wise Woman years.
To remain strong, active, and healthy, it is important to commit to a healthy diet and lifestyle. In addition to probiotics and digestive enzymes, hydrochloric acid supplements (betaine) help digest protein foods.
A strong digestive system, mineral support and weight-bearing exercise will keep bones strong. Since older women are more susceptible to chronic illnesses, eating high antioxidant, liver-loving and nutrient-dense food ensures good health.
As women age, chronic inflammation fuels many diseases, including arthritis, heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s and diabetes. Natural anti-inflammatory sources include Omega-3 fatty acids, found in salmon and sardines, curcumin (the active ingredient in turmeric), and quercetin, found in red grapes, red and yellow onions, garlic, broccoli, and apples. Antioxidant-rich fruits such as blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, cranberries, and raspberries should be a part of the diet.
As we adjust to the many changes in each decade, we can gracefully dance through our transitions, savouring gifts and wisdom garnered from our journey through time.
Sherrill Sellman, N.D., Naturopathic Doctor (Board Certified in Integrative Medicine) is the best-selling author of Hormone Heresy: What Women MUST Know. www.whatwomenmustknow.com
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