Hormones are created by glands in our endocrine system and are messengers in our body that dictate the way our organs work. Hormones control everything from our appetite, sex drive, to our emotions and mood.

Hormones actually help our cells to function- consider them the messengers. They can affect which genes are switched on, which proteins are built, which of the body’s regulatory systems are alerted…and more.

Your hormones and the bacteria in your gut can be imbalanced, even if you take supplements and live a relatively healthy lifestyle.

While I’m not a doctor, with confidence I can say that it’s a very big deal to have balanced hormones.

What’s profound is that lifestyle choices and environment are key factors in creating a more hormonally balanced life.

Here are some simple ways to clear your home and lifestyle of common triggers to hormonal imbalance. 

Take off your shoes at home.  

I get this lesson profoundly as no shoes are allowed in the Japanese temples I visit every year. No shoes are allowed in the buildings where we stay. No shoes indoors, at all. And that’s smart thinking.

Why?

We can drag into our homes countless pesticides and chemicals on our shoes, including pesticides, allergens, cleaning supplies and industrial waste. In fact, some estimate that 60% of home toxins can be reduced in just one step. Many of these toxins stress your body, disrupting hormones.

Go BPA-Free in your kitchen.

I find it’s safest and overall more useful to switch to glass “tupperware” food storage, though, at the very least, move to BPA-free plastics and bottles and cans.

The National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences agrees: “Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical produced in large quantities for use primarily in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. The NTP Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction completed a review of BPA in September 2008. The NTP expressed “some concern for effects on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland in fetuses, infants, and children at current human exposures to bisphenol A.”

Move away from Parabens & Toxic Toiletries.

Parabens are likely mixed into many of your toiletries, makeup, antiperspirants, shampoos and toothpastes.

Dr. Mercola listed a study of breast tumors from The Journal of Applied Toxicology, where it was discovered, “Quite shockingly, the paraben residues were found at concentrations up to 1 million times higher than the estrogen (estradiol) levels naturally found in human breast tissue! Clearly these chemicals are accumulating at alarmingly high concentrations, likely because of their widespread and persistent daily use. Previous research has shown that women absorb an estimated five pounds of chemicals a year from their daily makeup routine alone.”

Gradually replacing things as they run out with paraben-free, non-toxic alternatives is a big deal.

Clean up Cleaning Sprays. 

One more awesome fact from Mercola on cleaning sprays: “Commercial solutions used to clean your floors, toilets, oven, windows, and more typically contain industrial chemicals that may throw your hormones out of whack. For instance, nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs), a common ingredient in laundry detergents and all-purpose cleaners, is banned in Europe and known to be a potent endocrine disrupter,11 causing male fish to transform into females.”

Either get the most natural cleaning sprays on the market near you, or simply make your own, like this lovely Lemon Lime All-Purpose Cleaning Spray.

Get more plants!!!

Here are some toxins that can be found in your home that some plants can help with:

• benzene and trichloroethylene are found in some furniture and carpet cleaners

• formaldehyde is found in cleaning products, toilet paper, and tissue paper.

• carbon monoxide and xylene are used in rubber and printing products

Plants that remove toxins include

• Aloe: removes benzene
• Spider plant: removes carbon monoxide and xylene
• Snake plant: removes formaldehyde
• Golden pothos: removes formaldehyde, xylene, toluene
• Weeping fig: removes benzene and trichloroethylene
• English Ivy: filters out formaldehyde
• Chinese evergreen: helps filter out air pollutants
• Bamboo Palm: removes benzene and trichloroethylene
• Peace lily: benzene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde

Quit tap water.  

Tap water contains a host of sadly unregulated toxins, our infrastructures and pipe systems are aging and we all need to have very seriously filtered and purified water, as much as possible.

I am presently loving my Aquasana Clean Water Machine.  It was sent to me to review, and of all water filters that are relatively inexpensive (under $150.00) it is supreme in my mind and I can say that confidently because I use it all day!  It filters out, per it’s literature, “96% of chlorine and chloramines, 99% of cysts, 96% of mercury, 99% of lead, 91% of mtbe, 99% of turbidity, 95% of volatile organic compounds, and 99% of asbestos.”

Looking at that list of chemical compounds was eye-opening enough for me to never touch tap water again.  My dogs drink purified water, and I filter the shower water, too.

Diet switches. 

If you want to balance your hormones, naturally, I suggest you take a trip first to a doctor and find a natural medicine practitioner to help you, as hormones are a vital part of life.  The following simple foods can be integrated with your doctor’s approval!

Maca has been known to boost the production of hormones and decrease the symptoms of PMS. It also increases fertility, libido and sperm production in men.

Magnesium can do wonders for your body and hormones, as it aids greatly in you’re ability to rest and sleep. It regulates your cortisol level, which is a stress hormone, it supports your thyroid, and it aids in processing and allowing vitamin D to work through out your body. I drink Natural Calm magnesium powder every night in hot water.

Gelatin supports hormone production, eases digestion and eases inflammation. HERE you can learn so much about using gelatin in drinks (even your coffee!) and even to make your own vitamins!

And that’s just the start!!!

Yep, decluttering and detoxing your home can even help to balance your hormones while it frees your energy, lightens your life and opens roads to more abundance! Extremes are overrate as they lead to stress and more off-kilter body chemistry. Stay simple, pure and balanced!

xoxo Dana

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