Guest blog from Jessica Donovan, The Energetic Mama

I am sure all you women out there will agree that the effects of your hormones can be pretty darn powerful! They can cause havoc to our physical, mental and emotional health! Our hormones can make us tired, moody, teary and angry. They can make us gain weight, become bloated and develop depression. We can become ravenous, crave sugar, and suffer with headaches and anxiety when we are ‘hormonal’

On the other hand our hormones are what make us women. They give us our curves, give us our womanly energy and sex drive. They allow us to become mothers and are responsible for our nurturing nature.

The key to living happily with our hormones is Balance! But in this fast paced, toxin loaded world how on earth do we achieve such balance?

Many hormone imbalances are associated with a situation of ‘oestrogen dominance’ or too much oestrogen in relation to progesterone. This can mean your oestrogen levels are too high, your progesterone levels are too low, or both.

Sugars, refined grains, environmental oestrogens (found in plastics, pesticides, toiletries and cosmetics) and poor liver health can all contribute to an imbalance in the ratio of oestrogen to progesterone.

Blood sugar balance

If you have a hormonal imbalance it is especially important to avoid sugar and refined carbohydrates. Base your diet on lots of fresh vegetables and salads with clean protein such as eggs, fish and nuts and pasture raised meats.

Environmental Oestrogens

There are a number of chemicals in our environment that act as hormones when absorbed into our bodies, known as xeno- oestrogens. We are exposed to these chemicals in the form of pesticides on the food we consume, soft plastics used in food packaging and many cosmetic products. To avoid exposure to these chemicals

• Eat organic produce where possible
• Minimise the use of plastic wrapping on your food
• Invest in a stainless steel drink bottle.
• Use naturally based cosmetics, being especially careful to avoid parabens.

Liver detoxification

The liver has an important role to play in hormone metabolism, so it follows that keeping the liver happy improves hormone levels. Look after your liver by

• Limiting alcohol and caffeine which put extra stress on the liver, leaving it less energetic to deal with hormone balance.
• Consuming cruciferous vegetables including cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and brussel sprouts which contain a constituent that helps to improve the metabolism of oestrogen in the liver.
• Drink Fresh lemon squeezed in water, especially first thing in the morning, which aids liver function.

Maintain a healthy weight

Oestrogen is responsible for depositing fat around your abdomen, hips and breasts, giving you your womanly shape but carrying extra weight increases your oestrogen levels, which leads to even more weight gain. To break this cycle eat well and move every day to help you reach and maintain a healthy weight.

Jessica Donovan is not your typical naturopath. She is a foodie, enjoys a glass of wine and loves dark chocolate.

She doesn’t believe you have to be perfect to be healthy. She believes having GREAT health is achievable for everyone.

She has over 13 years clinical experience as a naturopath and was inspired to create a program for mums after seeing so many mums in her clinic that were tired and overwhelmed and suffering with hormonal imbalances, digestive discomfort and stress symptoms.

Energetic Mama is a 3 step program Nourish – Balance – Rejuvenate to help mums feel their best. You can find out more here http://energeticmama.com/

Find her on facebook  https://www.facebook.com/EnergeticMama

Buy Jessica’s new ebook, Energetic Mama here