11 Simple Rules for Healthy Hormones
Healthy hormones are key to our health, particularly with thyroid disease. But we are always on a bit of an uphill battle with the process as they are so complicated, and one hormone off-kilter seems to have a cascade effect on all of the other hormones leaving us battling up one very large hill to try and balance them.
Rather than get bogged down in the science of why this happens, let's just look at the basic things you can do every day that can take the load off your endocrine system and give your hormones a chance to work the way they should!
1. Use Glass for Everyday Healthy Hormones
If your grandmother didn’t use it for storage or eating off – recycle it, give it away, or throw it away! Replace all plastics in the kitchen with glass storage containers. They will last longer (depending on clumsiness level), are more sterile, and will not leach chemicals, also known as Endocrine Disruptors (Hormone Havoc), into your food. Do not use plastic wrap or aluminium foil against your food either.
Key Points:
If your great-grandmother didn't use it - you shouldn't either
Replace Plastics with Glass or Ceramic
Don't let plastic wraps or foil touch your food
2. Do not drink out of plastic containers
We have all become conditioned to taking water with us on the run, which in itself is a great habit, however, the container we put it in may be disrupting our healthy hormones. Have glass containers or stainless steel containers in many sizes ready to go in your cupboard. It takes a bit longer to wash them out, and they may break occasionally but they won’t harm your body which is far more precious.
Key Points:
Don't use plastic water bottles
Especially don't drink out of them if they have been in the sun
Use Stainless steel or glass drinking containers
3. Do not eat tinned food
Most cans are lined with BPA, a plastic that has been linked to breast cancer and heart disease. BPA is a major Endocrine Disruptor and derails any hope we have of achieving healthy hormones. Most things that come in can just provide convenience, but at what cost? Are you willing to trade a little of your time for healthy hormones?
Key Points:
Unless your can states "BPA Free" do not buy or consume it
Try the frozen version instead
4. Do not drink coffee out of plastic takeaway cups
You know the ones we get our coffee and tea on the run out of? The coffee itself is estrogenic and so is the container it is in, particularly so when hot. Drinking hot coffee out of a heated-up plastic cup through a heated-up plastic mouthpiece is like having a hot cup of estrogen. Although the plastic leads are now slowly being replaced by cardboard which is a good start, try to carry your own travel mugs and use them instead for healthy hormones and for a better environment - win win right?
Key Points:
Coffee is estrogenic - avoid it if you have estrogen issues
Remove the plastic lid if you MUST drink from a takeaway container
Carry your own travel cup in your bag
5. Do not use chemicals or pesticides
Healthy Hormones are no more than a distant dream if we are using chemicals and pesticides daily. This also means the commercial fruit and vegetables we purchase. If our food is not organic then it is laced with pesticides that are designed to destroy the endocrine and reproductive systems of little critters. What do you think it does to us bigger critters? Chemicals, in general, are some of the most potent ingredients for causing chaos in your hormonal system. Steer well clear – it will help the planet in the process too!
Key Points:
Avoid using chemical sprays around the home and garden
Try a "fly trapper" or "fly swat" instead of fly spray
Try more natural gardening techniques
6. Eat organic food
The pesticides on commercial foods are extreme endocrine disruptors which means no healthy hormones for you. As we have mentioned above eat organic where you can. If you cannot afford all organic or cannot access it, try hard when it comes to the most heavily sprayed: Apples, Celery, Strawberries, Peaches, Spinach, Nectarines, Grapes, Capsicums, Potatoes, Blueberries, Lettuce/Kale, Cherries, Cucumber, Broccoli, Carrots, and Coffee.
Key Points:
Buy organic where and when possible
Grow your own without nasties if you have space for a garden bed or a few pots
Buy organic or grow your own of the things you consume most daily
7. Use organic skincare
We put more chemicals and toxins on our skin every day than our grandparents did in their entire lives. Our Liver just cannot cope with constant bombardment like this. It means the body is too busy getting rid of these things to be able to deal with any disease that comes along. If you cannot afford or are not willing to replace all of your skincare with organic, then pick the most important ones. For example, it is a well-known fact that women (who wear makeup) eat quite a lot of lipstick in their lifetime. So perhaps just swapping out the lipstick for an organic version is a good start.
Key Points:
Swap out commercial skin care and makeup for a non-toxic version
Swap out commercial nail polish for the many "16 free" versions
Swap out perfume for essential oils
8. Avoid Phthalates
Phthalates are linked to obesity, diabetes, and thyroid issues. These nasty chemicals are found in plastic food containers, plastic wrap, makeup and personal care products, perfumes, and nail polish. There are makeup brands, nail polishes, and skincare that do not contain any phthalates, so it is well worth searching them out.
Key Points:
Swap out all plastics for glass or ceramic containers
Avoid all commercial skincare & beauty products
9. Throw away non-stick frypans
Yes, more Endocrine Disruptors! These are coated with perfluorinated chemicals and have been linked to kidney disease, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, and sex hormone levels. Not only that, but this chemical is also completely resistant to breaking down. It will be in our landfill forever.
Key Points:
Use cast iron pots and pans (particularly good if you have low iron)
Use glass or ceramic cookware
10. Meditate Daily
Meditation is proven to improve the function of the Endocrine System and the Immune System which decreases aging and contributes to healthy hormones. It is our Endocrine system that keeps us young and healthy, so as it declines so does our energy, immunity, fitness, digestion, and ability to deal with stress.
Meditation is a practice, not a one-and-done kind of thing. It takes some dedication but once you have the hang of it, you often can't go without it.
Key Points:
Learn to Meditate daily
Find a guided meditation you love to get started
I love this Chakra meditation from Lissette LaRue
11. Practice 3 Yoga poses daily
While this may seem an odd way of balancing hormones, there are some yoga asanas (poses) that can help to do this by stimulating the overall system, and as a bonus, will help improve your balance, flexibility, and strength, and reduces stress which is also a major contributor to hormone issues. Win-win right?
These poses include
The Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana)
The Bridge Pose (Setubandhasana)
The Rabbit Pose (Sasangasana)
Practicing these poses for just a few minutes every day will help to stimulate your endocrine system and help it function to its optimum level
Key Points:
Carve out 5 minutes a day for 1 pose to develop a habit
Pay attention to your increase in flexibility and mindset
Final Thoughts…
So how many of these things are in your daily routine?
Developing a habit is telling your brain to create new pathways, which then lets go of old pathways.
Change will only become permanent once you have repeated the new habit consistently enough (often that means daily over 3 months) that your Amygdala (ancient brain) feels safe about the change.
