Midlife Wellness Blog

If you are a women in midlife and experiencing peri-/menopause symptoms caused by hormonal imbalance, such as insomnia, hot flushes, weight gain and mood swings (to name a few!), you might be wondering what treatment options are available.  Before looking at medical intervention, you can start trying some simple new daily, healthy habits. This includes switching up your diet. I have listed below just some foods that can actually help a lot with hormonal imbalance and will get you on your way to easing some of your peri-/menopause symptoms. Apple Cider Vinegar You have likely heard of people talking about apple cider vinegar recently and discussing the many health benefits of it. Apple cider vinegar (ACV) has many health benefits for you, even aside from helping with your hormonal imbalance. It can lower your cholesterol, help with your blood sugar levels, and even aid in your weight loss efforts. ACV is also amazing for your digestion and fatty liver.  Since apple cider vinega...

It goes without saying that we need to sleep in order to function at optimal levels. Sleeping well improves your appearance, brainpower, memory and other vital body functions. It also reduces your risk of gaining weight, feeling fatigued or developing chronic health conditions.  Both adults and children need 8 hours of sleep every night for optimal health. However, just because you’re getting the recommended hours of sleep each day does not mean that your body is getting the rest that it needs.  A lot of women toss and turn all night and can suffer night sweats because of per-menopause and the fluctuations in hormones. Due to this they don’t feel like getting out of bed in the morning and drink plenty of coffee to avoid drowsiness during the day.  If you’re suffering from such sleep problems, then you need to improve the quality of your sleep. Here are a few top tips on how to boost your sleep quality. Sleep in a Cool, Dark & Quiet Room Sleeping with the lights on is ...

One of the most common physical side effects of having a hormonal imbalance, especially in women, is weight gain. Why is that? Because your hormones help to regulate many systems in your body that control your weight, including your appetite and metabolism. This article is going to explore what hormones you need to keep balanced, how they can affect your weight, and what you can do about it. Estrogen VS Progesterone Weight Changes Many hormones can affect your weight, but two of the more common ones are estrogen and progesterone. The difference is that when these levels are too low or too high, it can cause considerably different outcomes as far as your weight goes. Understanding this will help you and your doctor to figure out which of your hormones are responsible for the unexplained weight gain.  If you have more body fat, unexpected weight gain, fluid retention, headaches, depression, and blood sugar issues, it is probably from the estrogen in your body being out of balance. On...

Balancing hormones can be tricky.  These two simple swaps can help you tip the balance back in your favor and improve your hormone health fast. First tip: swap your morning coffee for a mug of warm lemon water. Squeeze the juice from one large organic lemon into a mug of warm or almost hot water.  Do not add  sweetener. If you want to amp it up a little, add in a teaspoon of raw apple cider  vinegar for a boost of live enzymes and beneficial bacteria (just make sure the water is  not hotter than body temp or the bacteria will die before they can assist you!). Second tip: swap dairy, soy or almond milk for unsweetened coconut milk. Dairy and soy milk can directly impact your hormones. Dairy milk is full of the natural hormones from the mother cows that produced the milk.  People simply don’t need the added hormones, especially if your hormone balance is at a tipping point. Soy milk is full of Phyto-estrogens. These compounds mimic estrogen ...

Y ou probably know all about the dangers of refined sugar. It rots your teeth, increases your risk of chronic disease, causes weight gain and much more. But quitting refined sugar doesn’t just allow you to avoid these adverse effects, it also allows you to enjoy a range of benefits. The list below highlights five of the top benefits you can enjoy by quitting refined sugar. Enhanced Energy Levels Refined sugar enters your bloodstream almost instantly which causes your energy levels quickly surge and crash. When you start to eat less refined sugar, these fluctuations in energy levels will become a thing of the past and you’ll find that you generally have much more energy throughout the day. Not only does this help you feel great but it also makes you much more productive and allows you to perform all your daily tasks effectively. Younger Looking Skin One of the biggest negatives of consuming refined sugar is that it damages your skin in numerous ways. First, it causes the collagen and el...