Aloha Wahine! Whatever stage of life you’re in, we are honoring you this week during National Women’s Health Week. This year’s theme is dedicated to empowering women to take charge of their health journeys and shining a light on health issues unique to wahine.
Let’s celebrate the strength and determination of women who are working toward taking control of their health and fostering an environment where all women feel empowered to speak up about their health concerns. During this week, and year-round, we hope to encourage all women to engage in healthy practices, access preventive care, and share their wellness experiences to inspire others.
There’s a lot of talk about hormones during Women’s Health Week for a good reason. Hormones are the chemical messengers that play a major role in our mental, physical, and emotional health. Hormones control the growth, development, and metabolism of the body, including the sleep-wake system and reproduction.
Our bodies typically produce just the right amount of each hormone to effectively manage hundreds of bodily processes. But when our hormones are off balance, a bunch of problems can start popping up. Changes in our hormones might manifest as energy level shifts, appetite increases or decreases, and mood fluctuations. Conditions related to hormone imbalances include infertility, acne, diabetes, thyroid disease, and obesity.
Some natural, holistic ways to regulate our hormones are:
- Getting enough high-quality sleep
- Managing stress
- Eating less sugar, more healthy protein, fats, and fiber (whole foods, plant-based diets are the perfect fit!)
- Reducing alcohol intake
- Taking care of your digestive system
- Maintaining a healthy weight with regular exercise and a nutritious diet
Unfortunately, our lifestyles may negatively affect our hormone production and function, especially if our diets are lacking, we sit too much, and we are exposed to environmental toxins. It doesn’t help that certain hormones also decline with age. The good news is that a nutritious diet and other healthy, active lifestyle habits can help improve hormonal wellness.
Let Down to Earth be your health bestie. Check out our mega recipe database for nutritious eating inspiration and visit our Wellness Teams for recommendations on supplements that can help boost hormone function. We’re ready to empower you and cultivate your journey toward health at every stage of life!