Hormones Part 2 – How to heal
Hey everyone
Thank you all for the awesome comments. Sorry for the late post. We know this is a very personal topic, but one we feel needs to be addressed over and over again. A few months ago we briefly mentioned our issues with hormones here.
We hope to address some of the questions we have received, so here is goes.
First, if we were to go back 10 years, we probably would not have taken the pill by knowing what we know now. At that time in our life, we felt we needed it to help control on our flow, PMS, and cramping, but we have learned there are other health issues that can lead to more problems by taking the pill for long periods of time. And for us that is not worth it!
Would you still take the pill knowing about the side effects?
And as some of you pointed out, doctors do not discuss the aftermath of going of the pill. Our oldest sister had problems coming off it and our second older sister has a “thing” in her arm (a new device for birth control) that is supposed to monitor her hormones, but ever since she has had it in her, it has only caused her more health problems. Not to blame anyone, I just wanted to throw that our there. We just want everyone to be on the same page so you can make better decisions.
Anyways we have noticed some improvements in our overall health in regards to hormones. As many of you know, we also suffer from severe stomach issues, but as we are realizing it is all related….hormone imbalance, thyroid issues, yeast overgrowth, tiredness, cramping, mental fog, depression, and yes constipation. All our problems are related but can be cured!!!
Now we know everyone is not going to want to change their diet or anything, but we do feel by us eating a more clean diet has helped our body cope better with the changes going on inside us. Remember we were on the pill for many years, so our bodies have to relearn how to regulate everything again. It is not easy!!! But we make little steps each day to help our bodies out.
Are we healed? No! But improving each day!
What do we do??
All of this goes along with the food regimen we mentioned yesterday!
We take Pan d’arco supplment. It is a great supplement to fight of yeast and help balance hormones. We have taken it both in a powder form from Mountain Rose Herbs and liquid form, which is available at any local natural food store. We have felt some benefits of taking this, although we have not been consistent with it, so maybe our results would be better.
We take a daily dosage of maca, coconut oil, pumpkin seeds, and hemp seeds*
*Remember these our best consumed in their RAW natural state.
Now we have just started playing around with some of this, but we will keep you updated.
WHY?
As you all know we love our maca, please check out here for why. Basically it helps balance hormones. Twins intake – 1 tbsp daily, normally in our smoothies.
Coconut oil helps stimulate thyroid (which has been linked to hormones). It helps balance hormones due to increased pregnenolone levels. Pregnenolone is an essential hormone (derived from cholesterol) that is a precursor to progesterone. (Source). Twins intake – 3-4 tbsp daily, we eat in our smoothies, chia puddings, raw desserts, and with our roasted veggies.
Pumpkin seeds is a great source of zinc and b-vitamins, and contain hormone building elements. Many people that have PMS show low levels of zinc and magnesium. Pumpkin seeds also have tryptophan which is an amino acid that helps improves ones mood. Twins intake – normally in the form of pumpkin seed milk or in our Pure2Raw Pumpkin seed crackers.
Hemp Seeds contain GLA (Gamma linolenic acid) which is a type of super omega-6 fatty acid that has powerful anti-inflammatory properties, as well as helps maintain hormone balance. Twins intake – a combination of hemp oil, hemp protein powder, and hemp seeds, about 1-2 tbsp daily.
Sunshine and water are two other natural things that help regulate hormones!! But more importantly you need drink out of glass because plastic can be harmful to you because it can mimic hormones in your body causing glandular imbalance. Just another reason to go green by getting rid of plastic!!
Exercise is another natural way to handle PMS and other hormonal issues. Daily exercise helps regulate hormones, strengthens organs, removes toxins, and lessens PMS symptoms.
Now before trying anything please consult with your doctor because everyone is different, and needs different things.
Some of other natural things to consider is your B-vitamin levels, Vitamin-A, and Vitamin E. All of these vitamins are important to help regulate hormones! Other natural supplements that have been show to help with hormones are:
- Agnus castus (vitex) (helps produce more progesterone)
- DHEA (helps increase estrogen levels)
- Donq quai (helps with cramps)
- Milk thistle (helps normalize estrogen levels)
And as we all know controlling your stress is a huge factor to keeping everything balance!!!
Best of luck to you all and together we will get our healthy bodies back!!
Please check back in tomorrow for fun video!
Till next time,
The Twins
L&M
Posted by: Pure2 14 comments
Posted in: Hot Topics
Tags: hormones
on Jan 15th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
You ladies are amazing!! Just thought you should know!!
on Jan 15th, 2010 at 5:45 pm
It took me some time, but I was able to get my thyroid function from “border line” [about 4.6] to normal [2.2] range, although a perfect range for those who are trying to conceive is around 1.0… so still working on it. but like you said, time and nutrition help. You just cannot alow yourself to get frustrated.
I also recenly found out that myrrh is great for thyroid, so I will be ordering my oil soon and rubbing it on
Good luck to you both while you are healing.
Oh, and a question: how did you find out that you had a yeast problem? Any specific health issues that led you to think you had to get tested?
on Jan 15th, 2010 at 5:57 pm
You are too sweet Betty!! Thank you.
on Jan 15th, 2010 at 6:03 pm
Thank you Elena.
As far as yeast, there are a few symptoms we had, like sinus problems, tummy aches (gas, bloating), headaches, fatigue, acne, and cravings for sugar all the time. And most girls suffer from yeast overgrowth especially if have taken the pill. Check out here for more help http://www.holistichelp.net/candida.html
Hope this helps.
on Jan 15th, 2010 at 8:48 pm
Have you ladies read Natalia Rose’s “Detox 4 Women” book? She talks more in depth about battling yeast, and has overall great information for “healing” our bodies! You ladies are doing such a great job taking care of yourselves, I’m sure you’ll be thriving in no time! Good luck!
on Jan 16th, 2010 at 4:27 am
Yes Megan, we have briefly read through Natalia Rose’s book, and we liked it. She does have great information in there, maybe we will check it out again. Thank you.
on Jan 16th, 2010 at 5:56 am
I want to come to North Carolina and eat maca and coconut oil smoothies with you both. Sound good?
Thanks again for posting all this. It’s so helpful, not to mention very interesting. Someone needs to be saying this. To all girls who have irregular cycles, do not let your doctors put you on the pill. B/C you know what? When you go off the pill, your period STILL won’t be there. It’s nothing but a band-aid. Try to get to the root of the problem. Listen to the twins!!!
Sorry, I get a little passionate on this topic. Love you both!
on Jan 16th, 2010 at 2:36 pm
Hey Girls,
My twin sis and I love ur blog, just this week actually, we gave up meat and tried a few raw things. Your blog is very imformative, and I just gotta say my body felt great with out the meat. And I think it is very cool that you guys have a bakery together. Courtney and I work together at a bagel shop/ bakery
on Jan 16th, 2010 at 8:19 pm
Both of your hormone posts have been absolutely great, guys!! I love how honestly and bravely you’ve weighed in on a tough subject!
on Jan 16th, 2010 at 8:26 pm
Thanks Gena!!! Yes it is tough, but we want to help others : ) And we thank you for all your help and guidance!
on Jan 17th, 2010 at 10:39 am
Isn’t it amazing how everything is so inter-connected? When I first went on BC pills when I was a teen, I thought that my health issues were totally independent symptoms and that they had nothing to do with each other. Sadly I think the doctors thought that too!
Now I know better.
BTW, I started using transdermal magnesium about a week and a half ago, and my fatigue and excessive sweating (something I’ve had issues with for about eight years) have gone away. I read that BC pills rob the body of magnesium, so I think I was deficient. I hope to eventually get all of my magnesium through food, such as pumpkin seeds like you mentioned, but I think I am really deficient, so the magnesium oil spray is working for now.
Thanks for a great post (again
)!
on Feb 4th, 2010 at 4:31 pm
Can you give us another update on how you are doing with the hormone regulating? I got off the pill in May and didn’t start super breaking out until December when I had my first period. My face for the last month looks awful, all around my chin,lower jaw and lower cheeks. My diet is great and I drink tons of water. Thank you for sharing, please share more
on Feb 5th, 2010 at 3:48 pm
Hello Nadia We will give an update soon!! Hang in there, just keep a positive attitude and your face will come down!! HUGS!
on Feb 22nd, 2010 at 4:50 am
When I took out my Meridia IUD I had the same issue with acne. I’m sure I had other issues as well though I dealt with those with or without the IUD. But the acne was the worst, specific to the chin and lower cheeks. It did balance out within about a month but I always had a small rash all over my face I think due to yeast. 3 weeks ago I started doing green drinks with my new blender and I can’t believe the results on my face. My skin has never been this soft. I can’t stop touching it, which probably isn’t a great thing to be doing. lol Reading the nutritional content of what I’m using my guess is the massive amounts of Vit A in the kale and chard. I am also using raw coconut oil. Using lots of greens and a variety of fruits. Whatever it is, it’s helping. Trying to heal fibromyalgia. And speaking of hormones, I’ve got a few that are finally coming back to life again. Woohoo!
Good luck to all of us on our health journeys.