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Do you turn into a irritable, cranky, chocaholic once a month only to return to your calm, sweet self a few days later? Or perhaps you are sailing into the unchartered territory of peri-menopause and feel like this most days!
Never fear detox is here! Many people won’t understand the relevance of detox to hormonal health, but how well the liver and gut works directly influence how well we cope with hormone fluctuations.
There are specialised enzyme pathways in the liver that metabolise our hormones. Sluggish liver function means that you’ll be less able to cope with hormone changes.
Genetics play a role as well. Gene polymorphisms that affect the liver enzymes associated with hormone metabolism are not uncommon. People with these types of gene variations may be far more hormonally sensitive than others. A prime example of this is someone who might react badly to oral contraceptives, or have morning sickness during pregnancy.
Poor hormone metabolism can cause:
Perhaps one of the most important reasons to detoxify is preparation for pregnancy. Both parents should consider a detox prior to getting pregnant. Ideally, your detox should take place some time before you start trying for a baby as the eggs and the sperm that will make your baby are being developed in the three months prior to conception. Not only does it help rid the body of toxins and allow eggs and sperm to develop in a clean environment it also prepares a woman’s body for the hormonal changes to come. You can maintain the detox diet right up until pregnancy and it can easily be adapted once you are pregnant to support you and your baby throughout pregnancy.
Detox is ideal to do at the start of peri-menopause for women (usually between the ages of 40-50). This is a time of great change in a women’s body and although it is not often talked about it is actually the lead up to menopause that can cause the most unwanted symptoms. Supporting your body’s ability to cope with hormone fluctuations can make peri-menopause a far kinder experience for you (and your loved ones!)
For men who have a personal or family history of benign prostatic hyperplasia or are concerned about the appearance of breast tissue development after the age of 40, it’s important to consider supporting your hormone metabolism through detoxification.
The Time Of Your Life – Nature & Health MagazineRead my recent article for Nature & Health Magazine
Cancer PreventionIf there is a history of breast, ovarian or prostate cancer in the family you may want to consider DNA testing to get a better understanding of the genes associated with hormone metabolism via the liver. Poor hormone metabolism may increase your risk of developing proliferative conditions, including cancer, especially if you have a family history.
This testing does not assess the genes directly associated with cancer (you need to see a geneticist for this type of testing) but rather looks at the genes relating to enzyme pathways that directly affect hormone metabolism. If you do have several genetic polymorphisms we can use functional testing to see how effective these pathways are currently working. This information can then be used to help formulate strategies to ensure longterm hormone health through diet, lifestyle, detoxification and supplementation where indicated.
Fight Breast Cancer – Nature & Health MagazineRead my recent article for Nature & Health Magazine
