Nutrition for Women’s Health

A woman’s body is full of complex systems that not only sustain life but also creates new life. All of these systems must work in constant, harmonious balance with the each other in order for the female body to function at its best.

Our hormones are responsible for controlling things such as metabolism, sexual function, growth and repair and mood. Things like nutritional deficiencies and toxic overload can affect hormone production and upset the delicate balance, leading to impaired hormone health and unwanted symptoms.

Common hormonal problems include:

• Underactive thyroid or hypothyroidism

• Polycystic Ovary or Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

• Abnormal Periods (Heavy, painful, irregular, no periods)

• Menopause

• PMS

• Weight Problems

• Endometriosis

• Fibroids

Sex hormones

Female hormones play a powerful role at every different stage of life, from birth, through puberty, pregnancy to menopause and have an effect on your physical and mental health.

Your nutritional demands also change significantly throughout these stages. The food you eat and lifestyle habits you adopt have a major impact on your health, so it’s vital to have the correct nutrition during these crucial times.

Symptoms of impaired sex hormone function can include PMS, heavy or painful periods, irregular periods, breast pain and PCOS. Other common menopausal symptoms include hot flushes, night sweats, mood swings, loss of libido, anxiety, weight gain, UTIs and thrush.

Thyroid hormones

The thyroid gland is important in regulating the metabolism.

Both hypothyroidism (under-active thyroid) and hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) are common problems nowadays. Studies show that up to 20% of the UK population may be suffering from low thyroid function - many without even knowing it.

Symptoms of hypothyroidism include low energy, weight gain, feeling cold, menstrual irregularities, constipation, thinning hair and brittle nails.

Adrenal ‘stress’ hormones

The adrenal glands are responsible for our body’s reaction to stress. Today we are often exposed to an almost endless number of daily stressors, from emotional stressors, to physical stressors leaving us feeling anxious, fatigued, and a lack of vitality.

How can nutritional therapy help?

 Quite often, the underlying reasons for all these hormone conditions and hormone imbalances are similar. They include stress, nutritional deficiencies and a build up of toxins in the body. An imbalance in one system will affect another so hormonal balance requires looking after the whole body.

Investigating what the key factors are that are driving your symptoms and finding the root cause of the problem is crucial to begin with.

Following a dietary and lifestyle programme tailored to you can ensure that you are getting the correct nutrients, properly managing stress and efficiently eliminating toxins. This will help to improve symptoms and lead to healthy hormone production, hormone balance and overall health.   

In some cases, laboratory testing and supplements will be recommended as part of the treatment plan.