Did you know…
1. Insulin Excess
2. Toxic Estrogen
3. Low thyroid
4. Low serotonin
5. Excess Cortisol
Are the most common Hormonal Imbalances?
Serotonin exerts powerful influence over mood, emotions, memory, cravings (especially for carbohydrates), self-esteem, pain tolerance, sleep habits, appetite, digestion and body temperature regulation. When we’re feeling down or depressed, we naturally crave more sugars and starches to stimulate the production of serotonin. Plenty of sunlight; a healthful diet rich in protein, minerals and vitamins; regular exercise and good sleep support serotonin production. When we measure our current lifestyle against all the elements necessary for the body’s natural production of serotonin, the wide ranging epidemic of low serotonin is certainly not surprising. Add in chronic stress and out-of-control multitasking—two of the main causes of serotonin depletion—and it’s no wonder many of us suffer from depleted serotonin.
Do you suffer from?
PMS characterized by hypoglycemia, sugar cravings and/or depression
Feeling wired at night
Lack of sweating
Poor memory
Loss of libido
Depression, anxiety, irritability or seasonal affective disorder
Loss of motivation or competitive edge
Low self-esteem
Inability to make decisions
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Bulimia or binge eating
Fibromyalgia
Increased pain or poor pain tolerance
Headaches or migraines
Cravings for sweets or carbohydrates
Constant hunger or increased appetite
Inability to sleep in no matter how late going to bed
Less than 7.5 hours of sleep per night
Irritable bowel
Constipation
Nausea
Use of corticosteroids
(Warning score: > 4)
Balancing serotonin is critical for effective weight loss. Though serotonin is typically recognized as a brain chemical, most of this neurotransmitter is produced in our digestive tract. Serotonin exerts a powerful influence over mood, emotions, memory, cravings (especially for carbohydrates!), self-esteem, pain tolerance, sleep habits, appetite, digestion and body temperature regulation. When we’re depressed or down, we naturally crave more sugars and starches to stimulate the production of serotonin. By now, we all understand that excess carb consumption causes weight gain and possibly insulin resistance. While antidepressant medications such as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are effective in raising serotonin in the short term, some evidence suggests these medications actually deplete serotonin over time. Furthermore, weight gain is one of the most common side effects of antidepressant drugs.
Life doesn’t need to be this way!! At Higher Health, we can help restore your hormone balance.
Call Maria on 0438 112 050 to book your appointment today. Bookings by appointment only.
I hope you have enjoyed Part 4 of my hormone series. Stayed tuned to find out more about Excess Cortisol, the last of my series and if these hormone imbalances are an issue for you.
