How Can I Optimize My Hormone Levels?

Your hormones play a major role in your mental, physical, and emotional health, controlling things like appetite, weight, and mood. Your body naturally produces the right amount of each hormone needed to regulate essential bodily processes, but several lifestyle factors and age can affect your hormonal environment. If you’re concerned about your hormone levels—or your doctor has determined, you have a hormone imbalance—here are five ways to optimize your hormone levels.

Hormone Optimization Therapy

The most effective way to optimize your hormone levels is through Hormone Replacement Therapy. This method supplements under-produced hormones, restoring them to optimum levels. Many people who choose Hormone Replacement Therapy see relief from symptoms of aging, including low libido, low energy, and poor mood. Your healthcare professional will customize your treatment plan with a delivery method and dosage best suited to your needs and your lifestyle.

Eat More Protein

The food you eat has a major impact on your hormone levels and getting enough protein in your diet is paramount. Protein not only provides essential amino acids your body can’t produce on its own, but it also supplies essential protein-derived hormones, known as peptide hormones. Your protein intake directly affects the hormones that control appetite and food intake, helping you feel full when you eat. Aim for a minimum of 20 to 30 grams of protein per meal to support healthy hormone levels.

Get Active

Physical activity is directly linked to hormonal health, as exercise increases hormone receptor sensitivity. Exercise also reduces insulin levels and increases insulin sensitivity, helping cells take sugar from the bloodstream to use as energy. Physical activity also may help increase levels of muscle-maintaining hormones that decline with age, including testosterone, helping you feel energized and preventing muscle mass decline.

Reduce Stress

The way your body responds to stress also affects your hormone levels. The hormone cortisol, known as the stress hormone, helps your body cope with long-term stress, and chronic stress interferes with the feedback mechanisms that bring your hormonal systems in balance. Chronic stress causes your cortisol levels to stay elevated, stimulating your appetite and increasing your intake of sugary and high-fat foods. By taking some time out of your day to enjoy stress reduction activities like yoga or meditation, you can keep your cortisol levels in balance and keep stress from weighing you down.

Get Consistent Sleep

Restorative sleep is essential for optimal health, and the quality of your sleep affects hormones like cortisol, insulin, ghrelin, leptin, and HGH. Your brain needs uninterrupted sleep to go through all stages of a healthy sleep cycle, which is especially important for the release of growth hormones. Aim to get 7 hours of high-quality, uninterrupted sleep each not—not just for your hormonal health, but your overall health.

Balance Your Hormones for a Healthier Life

Your hormone levels have a major impact on your everyday health and lifestyle. If you’re ready to feel younger and energized, hormone optimization can help. Reach out to the team at Impact Medical Sarasota today at (941) 222-1157 to schedule your consultation!