Not feeling yourself?

As women, we can include mother, partner, career woman, cleaner, cook, tutor, nurse and taxi driver within our job descriptions, and that’s just to name a few!  That’s a lot of responsibility to handle and unfortunately juggling so many roles can leave women feeling overworked and overwhelmed.

Daily demands can certainly take a toll on our bodies.  Not only on our physical and mental health but also on our hormonal balance.

Hormones play an important role in good health and wellbeing and achieving the right balance is crucial.  When we think of hormone balance we tend to focus on the hormones associated with our reproductive system, but our hormones are responsible for balancing all body systems including our metabolism and weight, our sleep/wake cycle, our stress response and our mood and behaviour.

So if you feel a bit off-balance and not your normal self but can’t pinpoint why, it could be down to hormonal imbalance.

A hormone imbalance in one area of the body can have a domino effect and lead to additional hormonal imbalances or even health issues.  It’s important to understand what contributes to hormone imbalances, what you can control and the steps you can take to rebalance your body.

If you’re struggling to keep up with the demands of life keep in mind these key factors which can impact on healthy hormonal balance:

• Gut and digestive health – The beneficial microflora in our gut ensure our digestive systems can recycle or eliminate certain hormones, to maintain a healthy balance in our bodies.
• Stress levels – Cortisol is a hormone that is released during the stress response.  On-going stress and high cortisol levels can cause our cells to become less responsive to this hormone, affecting hormonal balance and many different functions in the body.
• Hidden toxins – Chemicals known as xenoestrogens can be present in our food and environment.  Xenoestrogens can affect the way our own hormones work and can derail our hormone systems.  They are commonly found in personal care products, household cleaners, herbicides and pesticides used on our foods, office products, plastics and more.

So, how can I achieve hormonal harmony?

A combination of a healthy diet, exercise and supplementation can support you to achieve balance in a busy life, so you can feel yourself again.

Oestrogen is an essential hormone for women’s health and natural nutrients can help restore oestrogen balance.  Diindolylmethane (DIM) is one such nutrient and is found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower.  Radiance® Hormone Balance contains highly absorbable BioResponse DIM® which supports the activity of enzymes that metabolise oestrogen in the liver, helping to achieve healthy ratios of this important hormone.

A multi-strain probiotic such as Radiance® 100 Billion can help restore a healthy gut microbiome which is important for the metabolism of certain hormones, including oestrogen.  These friendly bacteria help to regulate the reuse and removal of oestrogen and so support optimal hormonal balance.

Taken daily, Radiance° Women’s Multi will cover nutritional bases, supporting energy levels and wellness by providing a blend of essential vitamins and minerals.  A one-a-day tablet optimises good health, vitality and a positive outlook.

In today’s busy, modern world your hormone balance may be increasingly compromised by lifestyle and environmental factors.  Understanding the important role hormones play in whole body health is essential to achieving balance, minimising associated health risks and getting you on your way to feeling great.