Sheila Magazine

sheila I health BUSINESS W secret women's a period right through to hot flushes and weight gain, pesky hormonal imbalances can wreak havoc on many women's health and wellbeing. Hormones, much like the central nervous system, deliver messages to all areas of the body, only instead of being sent via electrical current, the messages are sent in the form of chemicals. Hormonal inbalance can occur at any age, but most commonly it affects people in the age bracket of 13 to 55. For many women, the demands of each day often mask the symptoms of common problems related to hormonal imbalance. Headaches are one of the most common recurring issues associated with hormonal imbalance and yet many women consider headaches a normal part of every day life. Popping a couple of Panadol eases the symptoms but never really treats the underlying cause. Some of the other most common symptoms associated with hormonal imbalance include hot/cold feet, aches and pains in the body, feeling blue, increased response to stress, ith symptoms ranging from skin blemishes to bloating and irritability before 86 SHEILA MAY 2012 endocrine system can impact women of virtually imbalances in the Pam Zakostelsky explains how Sheila's resident naturopath all ages. Luckily, help is at hand. painful periods, vaginal dryness, heavy or extended periods, breast tenderness, weight gain, tiredness/ insomnia, infertility and acne. Experts agree that if you experience three or more of those symptoms, the likely culprit is hormonal imbalance. Menstrual issues are extremely common and can extend to include food cravings, fatigue, mood swings, pain, heavy bleeding and fluid retention. deal with. Thankfully, simple dietary changes and a natural supplement are sometimes enough to turn things around. While all women will go through menopause, where the menstrual cycle ceases, not everyone will experience related health complaints. But for many, menopause does induce a raft of unpleasant symptoms ranging from aches and pains throughout the whole body to headaches and hot flushes. In extreme cases, the hormonal changes that come with menopause can increase the susceptibility to osteoporosis and some cancers, making treatment vital. The best way to manage menopausal hormonal imbalance is by avoiding alcohol, completing regular detoxification and a controlled diet. Studies have shown that menopause and the symptoms that go with it would be less severe with a healthy diet and regular detoxing. Walking around in a chocolate eating rage, crying at the drop of a hat and being labeled the household psycho are not symptoms you should have to L ess alcohol should become a dietary focus for all women, especially those experiencing menopausal symptoms, as alcohol is known to exacerbate symptoms. While menstrual cycles and menopause are treatable problems,

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