Hormones are a central aspect of how our bodies function. Every ay our organs and glands make use of over 200 hormones to keep the body working properly. When these hormones begin to get out of balance, there can be significant consequences for our health. Thankfully, this interconnected system of hormones is not out of our control. The lifestyle and diet choices we make can have an impact on both our hormonal and our overall health. However, the degree to which these actions affect those hormones vary from individual to individual. This has led to a proliferation of myths about our hormones and what, if anything, we can do to control them.
Separating the Myths and Facts Of Hormones
One of the first steps that many people take when trying to find ways to get hormonal imbalance under control is medication. This can be a hasty choice, as there are plenty of routes that don’t involve medication to achieve the all-important balance. Our food choices are just one example. Fast food is a staple of many American diets these days, being rife with sugar, saturated fat, sodium, and plenty of calories.
This constant influx of unhealthy substances, especially sugar, can lead to insulin resistance. Sadly, this is just part of the damage they can do. As we develop obesity, we develop Leptin resistance. Leptin is the hormone that creates a feeling of being sated after eating.
Let’s get a bit more specific and talk about hormones that affect us as women. Menopause looms at the edge of our golden years, leaving most of us to think we won’t have to face it until later in life. In general, this is true. The majority of women don’t experience menopause until after 50 years of age. Menopause can occur much later than this, and indeed, much earlier. When one of us has gone for more than 12 months without having menstruated, without any other explanation such as hysterectomy, chemotherapy, etc, we’re said to have entered menopause.
There’s a lot that happens leading up to this point. Prior to menopause, we’ll experience perimenopause. This pre-menopause period can start as much as eight years before we cease having a period altogether. As this time stretches on, we can experience complications from an increasing lack of estrogen as our levels decline. Osteoporosis, heart disease, urinary incontinence, and waning sexual function are all part of this experience. Estrogens role in all these functions makes maintaining proper levels essential.
Speak To Your Women’s Health Counselor To Learn More
This really just unveils the tip of the iceberg when it comes to hormone-related health concerns. Our bodies go through constant changes as we age, and hormones play a central role throughout the entire journey. When it comes to women’s health concerns, the best thing you can do for your hormone health is speak to your specialist. They’ll be able to help you identify the symptoms related to hormonal health problems and aid you in developing a process for addressing them. Make the call today to start planning for a lifetime of hormone management.
