The Highs and Lows of Hormonal Shifts

One of the books recently added to my TBR (to be read) pile is “The Hormone Shift” by Dr. Tasneem Bhatia. As a doctor who focuses on holistic and integrative medicine, she has spent decades helping patients, particularly women, navigate the major transitions our bodies go through as life progresses. Such changes occur on a cellular and functional level. Thus, it’s important to keep in mind that our food and exercise preferences will also gradually need to be modified to better support our wellness in the years ahead.

Because October is also Menopause Awareness Month, Dr. Taz was gracious enough to provide a few insights specifically for the female members of the TOPS community this month regarding the five major hormone shifts, how we might be feeling and what we need to do during these times:  

1. Rockstar (ages 13-19): Inflammation is common. It’s important to get any recommended preliminary blood work done. Also, embrace the onset of your period and start to determine a concrete wellness plan. 
2. The Hustler (ages 20-28): Notice reoccurring flow patterns and seek a diagnosis for associated abnormal symptoms like chronic pain or discomfort which could be caused by Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), Hashimoto’s disease, etc. Test your hormones and get your pap smears, breast exams, etc. done. Do a personal inventory to remove stressful elements from your life, plus begin treating any hormonal imbalances now. 
3. Superstar (ages 29-38): This is where we really start to do life’s balancing act and wear many hats. Practice saying no and continue getting hormones checked. Add as many stress-busting techniques as you can to your routine. 
4. Superwoman (ages 39-55): Embrace authenticity and remember, time is the only limited resource we have, so celebrate and make the most of your life! Pause negative thinking and get those hormones checked. If you are experiencing tough perimenopausal symptoms, build out a team of experts to help. Step into your purpose and fine-tune your desires in life. 
5. The Commander (ages 56+): It’s time to take charge; let go of self-limiting beliefs and take risks! This time is your own. Biologically, your childbearing years are behind you. In addition, as your caretaking responsibilities potentially diminish, this phase of life could provide an exciting time to be selfish.  

In terms of overall health, Dr. Taz suggests tuning more into our hormones, their effects and the signs of a hormone shift in the following ways: 

• We owe so much of our well-being to our hormones; they affect our energy levels, mood, sleep, brain health, weight and much more. 
• Throughout our lives, our hormone levels shift, causing chain reactions of symptoms that can wreak havoc on our bodies, minds and our sense of self. 
• This shifting, especially the shifting that happens during perimenopause and menopause, can seem like an unknowable mystery that we must grit our teeth and endure. But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can have a lot of control over your shifting hormones when you learn to pay better attention to your body and what it’s trying to tell you. 
• Use a “symptom checklist” which should include things like acne, anxiety, belly fat, brain fog, low libido and weight loss (just to name a few). These are all symptoms that could potentially be attributed to a hormonal shift or imbalance. 

Can you relate to any of Dr. Taz’s advice? If so, feel free to tell us how in the comment box below.  

And do know you ALL make TOPS shine by continuing to share the Wellness Wednesday blog and other well-being tips with others! 

— Rachel