Page 108 - Natural Health (February 2020)

HACK

YOUR HORMONES

Can supplements be the key to helping us work with our
hormones rather than against them? NH investigates...

Taking supplements won’t solve common menopause symptoms such most efective herbs for balancing hormones,
everything, but they can help your as hot lushes and night sweats.” especially for women sufering from PMS
body work in harmony with your (premenstrual syndrome) is Agnus Castus
hormones. While nutrition always TAP INTO THE TRANSITION (also known as Chasteberry),” says Suzie.
comes irst (nothing can compensate for The perimenopause, or menopause “It works on the pituitary gland encouraging
a poor diet), there’s evidence to suggest transition, begins several years before progesterone production; oestrogen
that bolstering our bodies with speciic menopause. It’s the time when the ovaries dominance is one of the main causes of
supplements can help support our systems. gradually begin to make less oestrogen hormone disruption in women of all ages.
“Many women are generally nutrient- and usually starts in a woman’s 40s, but It also helps with mood swings, anxiety
deicient as they reach mid-life,” says it can start in her 30s or even earlier. and tension.”
clinical nutritionist Suzie Sawyer. “Fluctuating hormone levels are a
“Lack of B vitamins, zinc and magnesium, normal part of perimenopause, which can CONTRACEPTION
for example, will lead to further hormone last many years,” says Suzie. “During this CONUNDRUM
imbalances and an increase in menopausal time PMS (premenstrual syndrome) If you’re on contraception, then you could
symptoms. Vitamin D is essential for symptoms often become worsened. be lacking in vitamins that you didn’t know
women to protect their bones as oestrogen Vitamin B6, zinc and magnesium work could be adversely afected by your chosen
levels decline, but also helps with low synergistically to balance hormones, method. “Vitamin B6 and zinc levels are
mood. Taking a complete high-potency therefore, need to be included in a daily adversely impacted by taking contraception
multivitamin and mineral helps plug multivitamin and mineral. Additionally, such as the pill and are both key in the
these nutrient deiciencies and probiotics the mineral chromium, is essential for production of progesterone,” says Suzie.
can also be helpful.” To ind out more, balancing blood-sugar levels; if this is out “Additionally, magnesium (found in green
we dove deeper into discovering what of line, it will make PMS symptoms more leafy vegetables) is generally low in the diet
afects our hormones and how we can acute. Take a high-quality multivitamin and is less available to balance hormones as
get them back track. and mineral containing all these nutrients the Pill encourages uptake in the bones and
with good levels of vitamin C, which is soft tissue instead. Magnesium works together
HAPPY HORMONES essential to produce collagen, the body’s with vitamin B6 and zinc in the production
“Vitamins all work synergistically, however, main structural protein, needed for healthy, of progesterone. Magnesium and vitamin
vitamin B6 is key for maintaining good wrinkle-free skin and strong bones.” B6 also help manage the body’s stress
hormone balance and a good mood,” response, as high levels of the stress hormone
says Suzie. “This is because it’s one of RE-BALANCE YOUR BODY cortisol depletes progesterone production.
the main vitamins needed to produce The symptoms of a hormonal imbalance To ensure levels of these essential nutrients
serotonin, our ‘happy’ hormone. Vitamin depend on which glands and hormones are are maintained you should take a high-
B2 partners with B6 in this respect. afected, but some of the most common quality daily complete multivitamin.”
Vitamin E is needed for hormone are: weight gain or weight loss; excessive
balance and speciically, fertility, plus sweating; diiculty sleeping; changes in MENOPAUSE MANAGEMENT
it helps balance hormones through the blood pressure or heart rate; brittle or weak If you’re of menopausal age, then
perimenopausal and menopausal years. St bones; irritability and anxiety; unexplained supplements can help you to plug the gaps
John’s wort, commonly referred to as the and long-term fatigue; increased thirst; where you might be vitamin or mineral
‘sunshine herb’ can also help. MenoMood depression; headaches; needing to go to the deicient. “Falling oestrogen levels during
Menopause Mood Relief £16.99 bathroom more or less than usual; bloating; the menopause is one of the main causes of
(menomood.co.uk), uniquely combines St changes in appetite; reduced sex drive; the many unpleasant symptoms that women
John’s wort which helps lift low mood with thinning, brittle hair; pufy face; blurred sufer,” explains Suzie. “However, oestrogen
Black Cohosh, traditionally used to relieve vision and breast tenderness. “One of the receptor sites can be ‘topped-up’ by taking

108 NATURAL HEALTH