• Instagram Social Icon
  • Facebook Social Icon

©2018 by Amazing Over 40

AO40_Logo.png
  • Home

  • Products

  • Blog

  • About

  • More

    • Instagram Social Icon
    • Facebook Social Icon

    Holidays – Wreaking Hormonal Havoc?

    November 22, 2019

    |

    DR. DIANA HOPPE

    The Holidays are around the corner and stress levels are rising – everywhere you go, festive holiday tunes are playing, people are scrambling to choose the perfect gifts and designated friends or family are wondering if they will pass the Martha Stewart Thanksgiving turkey test.

     

    Wonder what this added holiday stress does to your hormones? It does a lot – let me elaborate on which hormones are affected and why they can wreak havoc during these times.

     

    1. Cortisol – this is commonly known as the “stress hormone”. Under chronic stress (like the holidays, traffic jams, boss’s complaints, etc) your adrenal glands produce high levels of cortisol leading to changes in many hormones, especially raising the levels of insulin.

     

    2. Insulin – as insulin levels rise, blood sugar levels drop and your craving for sugary and fatty foods increases. This is also leads to holiday weight gain!

     

    3. Estrogen and Progesterone – under chronic stress, you may stop your menstrual cycles for a period of time (this is known as hypothalamic amenorrhea) or notice more hormonal fluctuations with hot flashes, night sweats, irritability and mood swings.

     

    4. Melatonin – this hormone helps regulate your sleep/wake cycle. Usually, cortisol and melatonin levels are balanced with high cortisol/low melatonin levels in the morning and low cortisol/high melatonin levels at night. This helps keep your sleep/wake cycle in a regular, healthy rhythm. With stress, this balance is disrupted leading to less restful sleep and insomnia.

     

    Doesn’t sound jolly to you?

     

    Well, here are 7 tips to reduce the hormonal havoc this holiday season.

     

    1. Keep a routine for your ZZZ’s: Go to bed at night at the same time and set your alarm clock to rise at a regular time. This helps your body to get the sleep it needs to replenish and restore healthy bodily functions.

     

    2. Have a de-stress routine before going to bed. A warm bath, some slow yoga stretches or mindful breathing can help to get your body grooved for a good night’s sleep.

     

     

    3. Increase vegetables/plant-based diet – helps to increase fiber and decrease constipation, which comes with increased stress, as well as providing nutrient-filled foods rather than nutrient-poor processed foods.

     

    4. Beef up on the B’s: B-Vitamins are important for hormonal balance and energy levels. Take a B-Complex vitamin or get B-Complex injections (we have them at my office!) to keep your sanity in check.

     

    5. Limit sugars and caffeine. Talking about irritability? High sugar levels cause increased insulin levels and low glucose levels – perfect storm for energy drops, irritability and losing your cool.

     

    6. Watch the alcohol – try having a glass of water between drinks to help hydrate and reduce the overall amount of alcohol consumption.

     

    7. Breathe – Take a few breaths before having that extra glass of wine, piece of cake or cup of eggnog. Just a few seconds of mindfulness can help resist these temptations. One of my favorite mentors is Mel Robbins – she says just 5 seconds can change your life.

     

    In health and happiness-

    • Dr. Diana

    Please reload

    Our Recent Posts

    Stigmas Around Menopause

    December 12, 2019

    Women: The Ultimate Multi-Taskers – Why We Owe It To Ourselves To Learn To Say “No”

    December 4, 2019

    Be Thankful - Be Happy!

    November 27, 2019

    Please reload

    Archive

    December 2019

    November 2019

    October 2019

    September 2019

    August 2019

    July 2019

    June 2019

    May 2019

    April 2019

    March 2019

    February 2019

    January 2019

    December 2018

    November 2018

    October 2018

    September 2018

    April 2018

    October 2017

    August 2017

    July 2017

    June 2017

    May 2017

    Please reload

    Tags

    Alzheimer’s

    DESTRESS

    DIABETES

    IgA

    MEDITATE

    MINDFUL

    STRESS

    SUGAR

    aging skin

    amazing over 40

    anti-aging

    antiaging

    avocado

    avocados

    b complex

    benefits of healthy sex drive

    benefits of healthy sex drivve

    benefits of sex

    best you

    bikini

    boost immune system

    brain health

    breakfast

    breathe

    burn fat

    cancer

    cancer prevention

    care giving

    cholesterol

    cinco de mayo

    cinnamon

    cleanse

    compassion

    cooking

    courage

    declutter

    dementia

    depression

    destress

    detox

    diana hoppe

    diet

    ease depression

    eggs

    food as medicine

    fruits

    guacamole

    healing

    healthy foods

    healthy libido

    healthy marriage

    healthy on you

    healthy sex

    heart disease

    hidden calories

    hidden sugar

    holiday stress

    holidays

    hormonal balance

    hormones

    intimacy

    just pure essentials

    karma

    karmic cleanse

    kristenneff

    libido

    lifespan

    longevity

    love

    lubricants

    meditate

    memory

    menopause

    metagenics

    mexican food

    mother's day gift

    new year

    oats

    omega 3

    organic

    over 40

    plastics

    queef

    queefing

    reduce stress

    relax

    relaxing

    self help

    self love

    self-care

    sex

    sex and learning

    sex and memory

    sex and the brain

    skin

    skincare

    skincare over 40

    spices

    spring cleaning

    stay young

    stress

    sweet

    tacos

    taking care of parents

    top foods

    vaginal

    vaginal dryness

    vitamin b

    vitamin d

    weight loss

    wine

    women

    women over 40

    women's health

    Please reload