Does stress have an impact on our hormones?
YES – it does!
As women, we deal with A LOT of ongoing stress in our lives. Whether it is our job, school, taking care of kids and family, running errands, cleaning house, the never ending to do list, or our fast paced life, we experience stress every day.
Worse yet, that doesn’t include emotional stress, stress we add through our food and beverage choices, exercise or lack thereof, how little we sleep, how much time we spend on our phones and in front of the computer or TV.
Stress of any kind – external, internal, emotional, physical – causes the release of cortisol, which is a good thing because it helps the body handle the situation at hand. Cortisol is also released in the morning as a part of your circadian rhythm. It helps get you going for the day, then levels drop in the evening to allow you to have restful sleep.
It’s really a finely tuned system that works beautifully and serves us well……until…..it doesn’t. When our stress becomes chronic or long term, we can experience an overproduction of cortisol. High cortisol leads to anxiety, losing your temper, feeling restless, having trouble sleeping, food and sugar cravings, feeling wired but tired, headaches, recurrent injuries or illness, blood sugar issues, increased belly fat and difficulty losing weight.
Elevated cortisol also impairs digestion, leading to bloating, reflux, diarrhea, leaky gut, and dysbiosis. And it affects thyroid hormones and disrupts estrogen/progesterone/ testosterone balance affecting your energy, your mood, libidio, your menstrual cycle and so much more.
Simply put, we are living in a time of unrelenting stress. And our body and hormones are paying the price when we do not take the time we need to rest, relax and rejuvenate.
Why you need to optimize adrenal function in perimenopause and beyond.
Did you know that as ovarian function begins to decline the adrenal glands become a great back up support system for hormone production?
It’s TRUE! The adrenal glands produce DHEA which helps you deal with stress, maintain lean body mass and a health weight, boosts mood and energy. It also increases brain function, supports the immune system, lowers blood sugar and is anti-inflammatory. DHEA is then converted into testosterone and estrogen to help pick up the slack when the ovaries are no longer producing hormones in large amounts.
Healthy adrenal function is also important for thyroid function. In perimenopause and menopause, a healthy thyroid makes everything better – metabolism, energy, mood and more!
In addition to reducing your stress, getting more sleep, eating enough protein, staying hydrated and prioritizing self care, my Everyday Adrenal Support protocol available through Fullscript combines everything you need to support your adrenals before and through the menopausal transition. It combines the magic of
- HPA Adapt to support your adrenals, mood, energy, and more during the day
- Take 2 caps in the morning / 2 caps at noon
- Thorne Basic B Complex to give your adrenals the B vitamins needed to function at their best
- Take 1 cap in the morning
- Magnesium is an anti-stress mineral, involved in hundreds of metabolic processes. You need more in times of stress, so supplementing can be helpful. Magnesium glycinate is highly absorbable and helps calm the nervous system.
- Take 200-300mg of magnesium glycinate at night.
- Best Rest formula that helps you wind down to get the restorative sleep you deserve.
- Take 2 caps 30-60 minutes before bed as needed
To access my online dispensary, filled with pharmaceutical grade supplements, herbs and more – CLICK HERE to set up your free Fullscript account and show your adrenals that you care!
