By DEB ROBERSON
UP to 85 per cent of women experience menopausal symptoms and up to 75 per cent of women are affected by premenstrual symptoms. Local Naturopath Deb Roberson has some simple tips to stay hormone healthy and help improve your overall health.
Step 1 – Get stress levels under control: Life can be stressful sometimes, and when you add in hormonal imbalances symptoms such as hot flushes in menopause or PMS symptoms can escalate quickly. Research has found that anxiety can make you up to five times more susceptible to hot flushes or PMS mood swings.
Step 2 – Healthy weight and oestrogen dominance: Carrying extra weight can change oestrogen levels, leading to oestrogen dominance. If you have gained weight, feel bloated and hot flushes or mood swings are controlling your life then more than likely you have an imbalance of oestrogen to progesterone levels. Regular exercise and a balanced healthy diet of lean protein sources and lots of fresh vegetables, salad and fruit, plus keeping processed foods out of your diet is very important. Phytochemicals found in the vegetables broccoli, cauliflower and kale help regulate hormones and provide vital B vitamins to help produce mood-regulating brain chemicals like serotonin.
Step 3 – Take sleep seriously: About 60 per cent of women report disturbed sleep during menopause. This can be due to progesterone levels falling. Progesterone helps you relax and promotes sleep. Lack of sleep will not just affect your hormones, it is critical for maintaining general good health.
Step 4 – Healthy skin: Hormonal imbalances can contribute to acne which is often worse at PMS time. And in menopause, the declining oestrogen levels can contribute to the skin getting thinner and less elastic, less collagen is produced and that is what helps your skin look plump and healthy.
Step 5 – Get the most from your hormones: Professionally prescribed herbal and nutritional medicines have a lot to offer women of all ages suffering from hormonal imbalances. Natural medicines work by boosting your own hormonal levels. Tailor made remedies can be formulated to suit each person’s individual, specific needs.
Herbal medicine has a long history of helping women throughout all the various stages of life.
Now this ancient wisdom is combined with science to help you get real results for unwanted symptoms of menopause, PMS and other hormonal imbalances.
