|
| Ever wonder how it is that some people seem to have energy, drive, focus, a positive outlook on life, excellent decision making skills, and a metabolism that allows them to eat food without worrying about weight gain while others do not? More likely than not, these individuals are metabolically balanced having the appropriate levels of hormones, brain neurotransmitters, and micronutrients to allow optimal cellular functioning. In this article, I review the effects of hormone imbalance, the three most important hormones necessary to balance our bodies, and the steps we can take to achieve hormonal balance. What are the effects of hormone imbalance? We constantly demand more of our body than we do of anything else, driving it to perform better and faster every single day. The results can be devastating for many individuals suffering from metabolic disturbances due to hormonal imbalance. Symptoms can range from fatigue, excess weight, lack of mental clarity, severe PMS/menopausal symptoms, decreased libido and depression to chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. What are the three most important hormones to balance? Unfortunately, we live in a world where as much as ten percent of the general population and up to 25% of menopausal women suffer from a metabolic imbalance. The majority of these imbalances are due to declining hormone levels as we age, the most important of which are: • Thyroid hormones • Adrenal hormones • Sex hormones Each of these hormones works together like legs on a three-legged stool. Throw any one leg off balance, and the entire stool becomes unstable. In addition to hormonal imbalances, alterations in brain neurotransmitters as well as vitamin and mineral deficiencies affect the homeostasis of our bodies. How can we achieve balance? Achieving hormone balance is not difficult and requires a common sense approach to how you live your life. You can achieve hormonal balance by: • Eating a healthy diet • Engaging in regular exercise (both aerobic and strength training) • Taking pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplementation • Being prescribed bio-identical hormonereplacement therapy to correct deficiencies • Minimizing exposure to xenoestrogens (man-made products that impact hormone balance such as pesticides, plastics and more) and other toxins So, don’t wonder the next time you think: “How does she (or he) do it?” By correcting the hormonal imbalances of the thyroid, adrenal and sex glands, these individuals are able be able to live a more energetic, focused, joyful and healthier life and SO CAN YOU!
|
|
Dr. Afreen Pappa is a member of the American Academy of Family Medicine and the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. She was named one of Houston’s Top Docs 2009 by H Texas Magazine.