Balance Your Hormones Naturally By Doing These 3 Simple Things Every Day
The pill is distributed out to women (even teens) like it's candy and yet it tends to wreak havoc on women's bodies. There's a growing number of women who want to manage and balance their hormones more naturally, and the good news is, there are a few daily habits you can adopt to help you achieve that goal.
We were never taught much (if anything) about our hormones in health class, and for the most part, our doctors didn't teach us much about our hormones either. For far too long, we've been handed pharmaceuticals to prevent pregnancy, manage our menstrual cycle, and "regulate" our hormones. But the more we learn about these medications, the more hesitant we are to pump our body full of artificial hormones.
Thankfully, there's a lot more information available to us today so we can learn how to naturally balance our hormones. Many women are done with the nasty side effects of the pill, such as extreme mood swings, weight gain, loss of sex drive, and even infertility later on down the line. Simultaneously, there are countless health professionals and experts who are posting informative content that will help women better understand their body, their cycles, and how they can naturally improve their overall health.
Whether you're coming off of the pill and you want to get your hormones back to normal or you're just looking for some new healthy habits that will help you regulate your cycle once and for all, these three daily tips will help you get started.
Get 30-60 Minutes of Sunlight
We've been conditioned to believe that the sun is a scary ball of fire that's going to give you cancer and cause an early, painful death. The sun is actually your greatest source of energy and it plays a huge role in your sleep/wake cycle and your hormones. Aim to spend at least 30-60 minutes outside in the sun every day. It's okay if it's cloudy (the sun is still shining through) and it's okay if you need to use some protective covering for a part of that time. But get as much direct sunlight on your skin as you can handle without burning.
Aim to spend at least 30-60 minutes outside in the sun every day.
The sun jumpstarts your suprachiasmatic nucleus to regulate your circadian rhythm; this manages how much cortisol and melatonin your body is producing, and at what times they're producing them. When you get these important hormones right, you have a much better chance at regulating the rest of your hormones, including estrogen, progesterone, etc.
Early morning is the best time to get outside and absorb the sun. That's the time of day when the sun isn't very strong, and it's also the time of the day when the sun rays will suppress melatonin (which makes you feel more alert and focused) and boosts serotonin (your happy chemical). So not only are you helping your hormones balance out, you'll have more energy, a better mood, clarity of mind. The easiest way to adopt this habit is to get up in the morning and go for a walk within an hour of waking. Just make this a daily occurrence and soon it will just feel like second nature.
Eat Breakfast Within an Hour of Waking Up
Intermittent fasting is all the rage right now, but a lot of hormone experts advise against it if you're trying to balance your hormones naturally. Your blood sugar needs to be stable throughout the day if you want to naturally regulate your hormones, and that doesn't happen if you're fasting for 16 hours straight and then shoving a large meal down your throat all of a sudden. The best thing you can do for your hormones is to eat a solid breakfast within an hour of waking up. This is something that many women just aren't used to, especially if you have a busy schedule that starts early in the day (or if you're a mom). We tend to fly through our morning, respond to emails, clean up the kitchen, and care for our boyfriend/husband or kids before we even think about ourselves. Next thing you know, it's 11 a.m. and you haven't touched any food yet.
Your blood sugar needs to be stable throughout the day if you want to naturally regulate your hormones.
This is not the way! Make it a point to eat when you first wake up in the morning and make sure it's protein-rich (more on that below). You may feel uncomfortably full at first because you're not used to eating at that time, but your body will get used to it pretty quickly and you'll even find that you eventually wake up feeling hungry and wanting to eat.
Consume at least 100 Grams of Protein
Protein is an especially important macronutrient that helps your body make hormones and balances your blood sugar. Many women lack the adequate amount of protein, leaving them feeling tired, sluggish, and addicted to sugar. Aim to eat at least 100 grams of protein every day. It sounds like an impossible feat at first, especially if you're not used to eating much protein, but once you get over the adjustment period, you'll realize how much better you feel when you prioritize protein on a daily basis.
Protein is an especially important macronutrient that helps your body make hormones.
Eating first thing in the morning will help you reach your lofty goal of 100 grams of protein a day. Just make sure every single meal and snack that you eat is protein-focused. Some good ideas for snacks include hard-boiled eggs, jerky or biltong, protein bar or protein shake, etc. Your hormones will thank you for putting in the effort, because the sooner your body has adequate protein and a balanced blood sugar, the sooner you can naturally regulate your hormones and menstrual cycle for the better.