Our hormones take the blame for a lot of things… exhaustion, unexplained weight gain, unrelenting stress, brain fog, sleep issues, crazy cravings, low libido, menstrual irregularities…and the list goes on.
If you are nodding your head along with the symptoms, let me be the first to tell you that you are NOT alone. Hormones impact every area of your life…but are also the first thing to go haywire when things hit the fan.
EVERY woman, at some point in her life, wonders, ‘What happened to my energy?’ or looks in the mirror and thinks, ‘This isn’t my body.’ But society is quick to blame hormones for all of our woes, and we know the three that always get vilified: estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.
Those sexy hormones get alllllll the attention, but they aren’t the root drivers of the chaos that you feel!
Are you ready to hear the true culprits?
Cortisol, Insulin, and Thyroid.
These three hormones are intricately connected and highly affected by your stress levels. When they are thrown off, your whole body reacts with the crazy symptoms you may be dealing with.
So, let’s get to know these three hormones and how they could be driving your internal chaos…
#1 – Cortisol
About ninety percent of the time, this is the main hormone that needs some hardcore TLC.
Your adrenal glands make cortisol in response to stress, causing your body to go into a state called sympathetic dominance. While this is healthy during times of true danger, in our modern world, we run around stressed ALL. THE. TIME.
And dysregulated cortisol wreaks havoc on your body.
- It depletes your happy brain chemicals, leading to mood disorders and sleep issues.
- It interrupts digestion and metabolism, making you store more fat.
- It makes you exhausted and craving salty & sweet.
- It makes your joints ache, and under-the-skin inflammation begins to run rampant in your body.
And then it gets even scarier…chronic diseases, autoimmune conditions, and even premature death…(1)
Your stress may actually be killing you slowly.
That’s why it is so important to care for yourself and take the time to dissipate your stress before it takes control of your body.
Invest in self-care. It’s not negotiable — it’s necessary for survival. Take that time to journal, meditate, pray, take supplements, exercise, read a book, take a bath, go to the spa…whatever it is for you that brings you rest and joy.
#2 – Insulin
Insulin’s primary job is to help regulate fat storage and get the necessary glucose (sugar) to your cells for them to use as energy.
But one major problem many women are facing without even realizing it is insulin resistance. This means that your cells stop absorbing the glucose they need for energy, leading to a higher level of sugar in your bloodstream. This causes your liver to step in and convert it to fat instead of burning it to fuel you.
And guess what happens?
That not-so-cute inner tube around your middle.
Those crazy sugar cravings and binge eating sessions.
Those words right on the tip of your tongue.
It begins to tear you down from the inside out until you are left with metabolic issues and even leading to conditions like PCOS and endometriosis.
And guess what one of the main regulators of insulin is?
Cortisol.
When your body is stressed and cortisol is released, your body increases the amount of glucose released into your bloodstream. While this helps us when we need to face an emergency, it wreaks havoc on the balance of your body when it’s just caused by perceived stress that you face in your daily life.
Stress is literally like eating a cupcake. Even if you’re not eating sugar, living a stressed-out life can actually increase your risk of type 2 diabetes because of blood sugar imbalances. (2)
Insulin imbalance (primarily led by stress) also contributes to thyroid disease, autoimmunity, lack of energy, fatigue, sex hormone imbalances, nutrient deficiencies, and more.
Reducing stress is about more than emotional health. It has real, physical implications for your body!
One of the easiest ways to help stabilize insulin levels in your body and reboot your metabolism is with my Essentially Whole® Metabolic Restore supplement. This blend of nutrients is designed to improve your insulin sensitivity, stabilize blood sugar levels, reduce inflammation, and give your metabolism the boost it needs! Get it here today >>
#3 – Thyroid
Your thyroid is a super important gland. If you’ve been with me for long, you’ve heard me say it a thousand times: EVERY CELL in your body has receptors for thyroid hormones. Your metabolism is especially affected by changing levels of thyroid hormones.
But it is tricky because there are so many symptoms that doctors just want to treat instead of looking for the root cause. With a sluggish thyroid, you may notice weight gain, bloating, hair loss, depression, constipation, or up to 100 other symptoms.
Stress (i.e. cortisol!) is almost always a contributing factor in thyroid imbalance. The adrenals and thyroid are directly linked, and cortisol can cause your thyroid hormone levels to decrease.
This is one of the reasons I talk so much about stress. It is one of the biggest root causes of my thyroid disease. It was the fuel I kept pouring onto the fire of my body’s chaos!
Reducing stress and giving your thyroid all the help you can are the best ways to remedy this imbalance. One of the easiest ways to support your thyroid is with this all-in-one thyroid-loving supplement blend.
You can also check out some of my favorite ways to support my thyroid, essential oils for thyroid health, and additional dangers that could be impacting your thyroid’s function!
IT’S TIME TO TAKE ACTION
You don’t need to settle for the way things are right now.
It’s time to take the necessary steps to reset your hormones, reduce inflammation, and give your body the jumpstart it needs.
One of the easiest and safest ways to do this is through supplements! I’ve curated my top 11 supplements for ideal hormone levels in one easy-to-follow guide so you can know exactly how to get started today. Download it now!
Free Cheat Sheet: Learn My Top 11 Supplements for Your Hormones
Ready to take charge of your own health? Grab this free guide to get you started!
References:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19269917
2. https://www.heart.org/en/news/2018/11/06/stress-may-increase-type-2-diabetes-risk-in-women
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