CTCA |October 30, 2013
What are hormones, and why do
they matter?
Put simply, hormones are chemical substances from the endocrine system
that act as messengers for your body. They travel in your bloodstream to
tissues and organs.
In essence, the release of hormones is one of the ways that parts of
the body communicate with each other.
Why do hormones matter? Because hormones affect many processes in the
body, including:
1.
Growth and development
2.
Metabolism
3.
Sexual function
4.
Mood
The balance of female hormones in a woman’s body is important for
optimal health, including cancer prevention. Some important hormones for women
to know include thyroid-stimulating hormones, estrogen and insulin.
Hormones can play a role in the development of cancer. Estrogen has
been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer and uterine cancer. Insulin
can promote cancers of the breast, liver, pancreas, in addition to gynecologic
cancers.
Tips for achieving hormonal
balance
Eating to balance your hormones consists of achieving the right balance
of macro and micronutrients so your endocrine system gets the right variety and
amounts of the key nutrients it needs to produce optimal hormone levels.
Carolyn Lammersfeld, Vice President of Integrative Medicine at our
hospital outside Chicago, also suggests speaking with your doctor about
prebiotics and probiotics. They both help you maintain optimal digestive
health, and along with fiber, may help to lower the amount of estrogen
reabsorbed back into your bloodstream, which may to help regulate estrogen
levels.
Sources of prebiotics: asparagus, Jerusalem artichokes, bananas,
oatmeal, dried beans and peas
Sources of probiotics: yogurt and kefir
In addition to modifying your diet, exercise is an equally important
part of balancing hormones.
“Since excess weight can affect hormone levels, achieving and maintaining
a healthy body weight through diet and physical activity is important,” says
Lammersfeld. “Carrying extra weight can
lead to elevated estrogen, insulin and leptin levels, all of which have been
associated with increased risk of chronic disease.”
Sleep is also important for regulating ghrelin and leptin, the two
hormones responsible for regulating hunger/appetite. Sleep also plays a role in
how well your cells use insulin.
Some additional tips for eating to achieve hormonal balance include:
1.
Reduce portions of high-fat meats and dairy
products to help with weight management
2.
Increase consumption of fiber-containing foods,
like whole grains, vegetables, beans and fruits
3.
Decrease intake of omega-6 polyunsaturated fats
from vegetable oils like corn, safflower and sunflower, as well as meat
products
4.
Limit caffeine intake
5.
Get adequate vitamin D from foods such as
fortified low fat milk, yogurt, salmon, tuna and mushrooms
6.
Eat plenty of cruciferous vegetable like
broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage and kale
7.
Avoid or limit alcohol intake to no more than
one drink per day
There are many other factors that can affect hormone balance in the
body. The tips above are general guidelines. Always speak with your doctor
before altering your diet.
http://www.cancercenter.com/discussions/blog/how-to-eat-for-hormonal-balance/#
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