How many of these have you been told?! 

1. Taking birth control with fix your symptoms
2. Food doesn’t affect your hormones 
3. Your lab work is fine 
4. You just need to lose weight 
5. Just stress less & you’ll be ok 
6. Take this medication (without assessing root cause, having a timeline or action plan)  

We’ve been taught as a society to ignore, push off, make excuses for how we feel. 

I hear from my patients, and random conversations, about how things like PMS, painful periods, fatigue, headaches, IBS, weight gain are all just “things to deal with”. 

The worst for me? The statement “it’s just age and to be expected”.  Noooo!!! 

Symptoms & health changes are SIGNS to not be ignored. These might be common, but they’re not normal or healthy. These listed above (plus many more I didn’t mention) are all ways your body is trying to tell you THERE’S A PROBLEM.  Justifying it, making excuses, or band aiding the symptom (like taking a pill or medication) isn’t solving the problem, nor is it asking WHY you have symptoms & WHAT is the root issue. 

Hormones & the Endocrine system play a huge role in the overall functioning of the body.

Here’s 10 Hormones You Should Know:

1. Estrogen is a female sex hormone produced mainly in the ovaries. It’s responsible for menstruation, menopause, reproduction, sex drive, and even bone & blood health.
2. Progesterone is a hormone that plays a key role in menstruation and helps maintain the early stages of a pregnancy. It also works closely with estrogen.
3. Testosterone is responsible for regulating sex drive, muscle strength, fat distribution, bone mass, and the production of red blood cells.
4. Insulin is produced by the pancreas and is needed for converting sugar, or glucose, from the carbs you consume. It also keeps your blood sugar levels from getting too high or too low.
5. Cortisol is a stress hormone produced by the adrenal gland. It mainly functions as a response to stress. It can swing too high (and also too low) depending on lifestyle & circumstances. 
6. The Thyroid hormones main functions are to regulate metabolism, energy and weight. The brain (pituitary) produces TSH, which releases T4 & THEN T3, the active thyroid hormone your cells utilize.
7. FSH is a hormone made in the pituitary gland. It acts on the ovaries to make the follicles and eggs grow.
8. LH is made by the pituitary gland that helps control the menstrual cycle. It also triggers the release of an egg from the ovary (ovulation). Both FSH & LH need to be in healthy ranges for optimal menstrual cycles, fertility and affect estrogen & progesterone. 
9. Ghrelin is also known as the “hunger hormone” which is produced and released by the stomach and stimulates appetite, increases food intake and promotes fat storage.
10. Leptin is the hormone that signals fullness & satiety. This is released after eating & tells the brain “I’m full!”

When you understand hormones, you can start working to overcome any imbalances & optimize your results. Stop spinning your wheels focusing on just “eat less move more”; there’s obviously so many other factors to consider when it comes to overall health!

The Good News?

Your lifestyle directly influences your hormones. That means you have the power to change/improve them. You don’t have to suffer with these symptoms or health issues!