The Patient’s Power to Balance Hormones and Feel Better
Author: Jenny Bradley
Have you ever had one of those days where the moodiness hits and it feels like you are the passenger in an emotional rollercoaster? I vividly remember riding that rollercoaster the first month after I was diagnosed with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.
While I was definitely dealing with a life-altering disease diagnosis in my thirties and the whirlwind of change that instantly comes with that news, my hormones were completely out of whack in that season and throwing me for some extra carnival rides that I did not want to be on. I did not know until receiving 14 pages of bloodwork results
from my labs at Riordan Clinic that the symptoms I was presenting indicated estrogen dominance. I was unaware that what I was feeling wasn’t normal. These symptoms may be common for many, but it isn’t necessarily normal.
With the help of my practitioner’s guidance and the resources I found while researching, I began to learn about the power we have in regulating our hormones through the food we eat and our lifestyle. My interest was piqued. Encouraging my body in healing cancer meant learning what I could do to balance my hormones.
I focused on three main areas to get my hormones back in balance and now, five years later, to keep them in a good ratio.
- Reducing the toxic burden of pseudo-estrogens and hormone disruptors
- Nourishing well
- Supporting the liver, gut health, and detoxification pathways
Reducing the toxic burden means removing products from the household that have fragrance and parabens in personal care products like soap, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, laundry detergent and softeners, perfumes, air fresheners, makeup, etc., and replacing them with unscented, paraben free items. It also includes switching from plastic to glass food containers, food grade silicone, and stainless steel beverage tumblers as plastics from food/drink storage are now known to leach into our meals and cause hormone havoc.
Nourishing well involves making organic plant-based meals full of fiber, healthy fats, sensible carbohydrates, and quality proteins. This may include a veggie bowl of steamed broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, chopped sweet potato, onion, mushrooms, sprouted quinoa, and/or chopped walnuts that is best served with an easy garlic, ginger, and coconut aminos sauce. Choosing organic food also helps support hormone health as pesticides and herbicides used on conventional produce are also known to disrupt hormones.
To support the liver, gut health, and detoxification pathways you need to hydrate well with purified water, eat pre and probiotic rich foods (such as oats, garlic, onions, and apples), sweating through movement or infrared sauna, daily bowel movements, and breathing well are among other helpful options. Through taking these intentional actions consistently along with targeted supplements from the doctor’s guidance, I was able re-balance my hormones five years ago and thankfully have been able to keep them well balanced through the years of thriving with a cancer diagnosis. We make sure to do appropriate labwork regularly through each year to keep tabs on it and make any modifications that help me thrive with a good quality of life.
Mood swings, painful periods, intense cravings and crashes, bloating, and hormone headaches don’t have to be a regular occurrence. Through intentional nutrition and lifestyle choices we can live more comfortably with better balanced hormones.
About the Author:
Jenny Bradley is a Certified Culinary Nutrition Expert, a Certified Holistic Cancer Coach, and founder of Shrink the Mutant School. She helps guide cancer patients towards more peace and less overwhelm during the cancer journey through her 1-on-1 coaching and online courses. She shares her insights and tools on Instagram @shrinkthemutant and on her website shrinkthemutantschool.com. Jenny lives with her husband Mike and their cute little dog Poppy in Kansas where they enjoy cracking jokes, simple whole food meals, and all things Formula 1 racing.
