Sex Hormones: Keeping Them Balanced

Keeping Hormones In Check

There are many reasons to keep or hormones in check, from proper sexual functioning to overall health. Explore how to help keep hormones balanced and resources to help you do it.

Hormones & Overeating

We eat when we are hungry and for emotional reasons, from boredom to being upset or depressed, but did you know that you can overeat because of an imbalance of your hormones?

Your hormones can make you feel hungry even when you are not. This can be a result of a cortisol increase. Cortisol is a hormone released to provide your body with energy and respond to mental and physical challenges (it is often released when someone is under stress). The more cortisol that is released, the more it can produce insulin (also referred to as the body's "fat hormone"). However, when you have excessive amounts of it, the body gets signals to store fat rather than use it for energy. The result is often weight gain, which turns to more stress, which keeps the cycle going.

Craving Fat Due To Low Endorphin Levels

When we eat fat, we may notice a feeling of overall pleasure. This can be created from the higher concentrations of endorphins released when we eat things like potato chips and other foods high in fat.

The following are ways you can address this:

If you follow a regular exercise program, you can burn calories and release pleasurable endorphins, reducing cortisol levels.

• Remember that sex is a form of exercise and can release endorphins. One study has shown that people who engage in sexual intercourse up to five times per week looked noticeably younger than those who had sex twice a week due to increased beta-endorphins in the brain.
  
  
• Foods that release endorphins are chocolate, wine, and hot chili peppers.
  
  
• Alternative forms of healthcare also have been shown to realize endorphins such as Acupuncture, meditation, and massages.
  
  
• Types of non-sexual exercises that work well are aerobic workouts, tae bo, running, cycling, tennis, and swimming long distances. If you work out for an extended period, you are bound to catch the euphoric feeling and reap all the benefits. Quick workouts and weight lifting do not release endorphins as effectively.

Craving Sugar Due To Low Serotonin Levels

Another hormone, serotonin, can make us feel calm, confident, and relaxed. When our serotonin levels get low, we can feel nervous, irritable, and stressed. We can also begin struggling with sugar cravings. Having whole-grain bread, fruit, and yogurt can help serotonin levels with far fewer calories with better health effects than something high in simple sugars.

Protein For Low Dopamine Levels

Low dopamine levels can make us feel mentally foggy. That is why it is essential to get adequate protein as we will notice that we will become mentally sluggish without it. The best way to raise dopamine levels, get plenty of lean protein in your diet.

Hormone Balancing

Understanding that your health affects all parts of your life can motivate you to make a resolution to take better care of yourself. Overall health in and out of the bedroom is contingent on a healthy diet with lean protein, whole grains, vegetables, fruit and vitamin supplements, exercise, de-stressing activities such as massage and meditation, and best of all; sexual release.

Below are resources to help you keep your hormones balanced:

• Andropause: Natural Treatments For Low Testosterone
  
  
• Perimenopause & Menopause: Natural Approaches For Low Estrogen
  
  
• Menstrual Relief Guide
  
  
• Nutrition Guide for Good Sex & Health
  
  
• Top 11 Herbs for Sex
  
  
• Brain Chemistry & Love