Are you experiencing hormonal imbalances that are affecting your fertility?
Today I share some easy solutions and lifestyle factors that can make a big difference when it comes to your hormonal health.
Cleansing the Body, Home and Lifestyle
1. Liver Support
Among many of its purposes, one of of the liver’s main jobs is to help the body get rid of excess hormones. This is one of the key reasons we focus on the liver in natural fertility programs.
Fortunately, you can boost your liver health through herbs and healthy diet. With that being said, here are some of the best herbs for naturally supporting your liver.
- • Milk thistle
• Liver support blends
• Burdock root
• Dandelion root
2. Drink Plenty of Water
Staying hydrated makes a huge difference in the overall functioning of your body. Specifically, getting enough water will help with:
- • Boosting circulation
• Increasing blood flow
• Aiding in hormone production
• Ridding the body of toxins
3. Remove Xenohormones From Your Life
Compounds found in cleaners, fragrances, skincare, and other household products can disrupt hormones in the body—and this is one of the most common (and overlooked) causes of hormonal imbalances.
Ingredients allowed in the U.S. are vastly different from ingredients allowed in Europe—and these chemicals can mimic and inhibit hormones. They can also duplicate receptor sites in the body, further disrupting hormonal balance.
The best way to reduce your exposure to xenohormones is to ditch and switch your old products for nontoxic, natural products over time.
4. Smoking and Alcohol
Smoking causes damage to the cells by releasing carcinogens and free radicals in the body that can directly impact sperm and egg health.
The great news is that if you’ve been a smoker in the past, you can reverse this damage through the use of antioxidants and other healthy lifestyle changes.
On an equally important note, try to keep alcohol to a minimum during preconception time. Research has linked alcohol to hormonal imbalances, specifically excess estrogen.
Stress
Plan for Both Acute and Chronic Stress
Both chronic and acute stress can impact your hormonal health. Chronic stress is the day in and day out underlying stress that we all deal with, and acute stress is in the moment, from a specific event or trigger.
High cortisol levels can have a negative effect on your overall hormonal balance, so it’s important to be aware of your stressors and how you deal with them.
Tools for Becoming More Resilient
Here are some tools to help you become more resilient to both acute and chronic stress.
- • Meditation/prayer
• Essential oils
• Exercise
• EFT or oil tapping
The Takeaway on Lifestyle Factors for Supporting Hormonal Health
Learning about these lifestyle factors may feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be. The good news is that you don’t have to change everything all at once.
Begin by taking small steps every day, and over time, you can develop a lifestyle supportive of your hormonal health.
Be sure to check out the other posts in this series covering nutrition, herbs, and more that can help you support your hormonal balance naturally.
References
1. Xenoestrogen exposure and mechanisms of endocrine disruption, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12456297/
2. Nutrition and Female Fertility: An Interdependent Correlation, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6568019/
3. Smoking and reproduction, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3530822/
4. Effects of Alcohol on the Endocrine System, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3767933/
