Do your feet look like this?

If your heels are dry and cracked, it indicates hormone imbalance. If you have given birth and have sore heels, it relates to your hormones trying to rebalance. Likewise if you are trying to conceive or are going through perimenopause or menopause, anything coming up in the heels is an indicator that your hormones may need some attention.

Hormones control every function in our body, like an intricate web from balancing our blood sugar, metabolism (whether we lose or gain weight), our moods, our gut health, our sleep and much more. It is really easy with our modern lifestyle for our hormones to go out of balance causing a ricochet effect usually resulting in the following symptoms:

• Frequent headaches or migraines

• Bloating

• Weight gain around the belly

• Acne or spots around the mouth, chin and jawline

• Irritability

• Mood swings

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Brain fog and poor concentration

• Fatigue

• Sleep issues

• Relying on caffeine to get you through your day

• Sugar and carb cravings

• Constipation

• Abdominal cramps

• Aches and pains

• Temperature sensitivity

• PMS

• Painful periods

• Irregular menstrual cycle

• Heavy or prolonged bleeding

• Infertility

• PCOS

• Low sex drive

• Hot flashes

If you are struggling with any of the above symptoms, here are some ways you can improve your hormone balance:

1. Diet - A simple, balanced, wholefood diet full of fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds, organic as much as possible (to avoid pesticides) or grass fed with good quality proteins and fats is best. Fibre found in fruit and vegetables is important for gut health and to carry away toxins so they aren’t reabsorbed into the body. Good quality fats are needed to build hormones. Omega 3 has been shown to clear up acne and improve skin appearance and can be found in wild salmon or cold water fish, avocado, coconut oil, hemp seed oil, flax, pumpkin seeds and spirulina or chlorella. Be aware that cow’s milk, even if organic, will contain hormones. Try almond or cashew milk. Avoid gluten.

2. Get enough sleep every night to allow your body to rest and repair. Try and be in bed 22h00 to avoid having sleep difficulties.

3. Cut out refined sugar, caffeine and processed food as these will exacerbate hormone imbalance and put strain on your liver.

4. Exercise – It is best to work up a sweat and then rest. Exercise helps to reduce stress hormones by releasing dopamine and endorphins, which make you feel good and ease pain. Try find something you love to do or get someone to exercise with you so you can encourage each other.

5. Clean up your cleaning products and use eco friendly ones with natural ingredients. Avoid using chemicals in your home that you will inhale as they will affect your hormones.

6. Be careful what you put on your skin as your skin absorbs whatever you put on it. Use natural organic skincare. If products have a list of ingredients you don’t understand, it probably isn’t good for you.

7. Get some sunshine as it will help release serotonin, making you feel calm and focused and lift your mood. Listen to your body’s rhythm and rest when you feel tired.

8. If you need extra support, here are some supplements that help to balance hormones:

• Magnesium

• Maca

• Agnus Castus (use in your luteal phase –after ovulation up to your period)

• Vitamin D3

• Probiotic

• Vitamin B

• Liver support – Turmeric, Vitamin C

• Omega 3

9. Reflexology helps to restore hormonal balance, regulate the menstrual cycle and alleviates stress.

Do you feel like your hormones are out of balance?

I would love to hear from you about what symptoms you are struggling with and what you are doing to help balance your hormones.

With love,