Our bodies only have one stress response. Regardless of the source of stress, our bodies react exactly the same way, and it turns out this isn’t always great news.
Why not? Well, it all starts when a stressor appears. A gland in your brain, called the hypothalamus, registers it and quickly tells the pituitary (another gland) that you’re in trouble.
The pituitary passes the message onto the adrenal glands and instructs them to ramp up production of stress and survival hormones like cortisol – often reducing the production of other hormones, such as progesterone in the process – to help our bodies cope. This is what’s referred to as the ‘fight or flight’ response.
When we are exposed to real danger, like an oncoming car or a child in danger, this stress response is incredible and can be the difference between life and death.
The thing is, most of the time the events that trigger our stress response are not dangerous. We’re just sitting at our desks while our bank statements load on the computer screen.
It’s not really necessary in these instances for us to enter ‘fight or flight’ mode, but it will happen anyway.
In addition to this, our stress response evolved to deal with short stress triggers such as a tiger chasing after us. Such an event would be incredibly stressful, but only for a matter of minutes.
The stressors we face today often aren’t short-lived and can last hours, days, weeks or even longer. Yet our bodies are reacting to it with a physiological response that’s calibrated for sporadic threats, not prolonged ones. This is one of the key drivers of the hormone imbalances we are experiencing today.
CORTISOL AND SEX HORMONES
Hormonally speaking, what cortisol says, goes. Our key sex hormones – oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone respond accordingly. Therefore if your cortisol is imbalanced, you can bet that your sex hormones will be as well.
The two common hormonal profiles we see in the Eve test results associated with stress are:
1. Low progesterone
Progesterone is a calming hormone that supports our sleep and moods.
Both cortisol and progesterone are made from the same stuff. Meaning, when we are stressed, the production of stress hormones will be prioritised over sex hormones and reproduction.
In addition, the only way we can make progesterone is through ovulation, and stress can get in the way of this process as well. If our bodies believe we are constantly in danger, they won’t risk us falling pregnant. If the world isn’t even safe for us, how could a baby possibly survive?
2. High androgens
Androgens are a group of hormones that include testosterone, DHEA and a few other markers that are tested for in the Eve Hormone Balance Test.
50% of our androgens are made by the adrenal glands. When we are stressed, our adrenal glands don’t only increase production of cortisol but androgens get pumped out as well.
Excess and inflammatory androgens in females have been linked to PCOS, absent or irregular cycles, weight gain, acne, unwanted hair growth and infertility.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Aside from working to reduce and manage the stress in your life, consider adding the following into your life:
Magnesium
Magnesium supports relaxation, regulates cortisol and aids sleep. However, in times of stress, our cells dump magnesium to rev up our sympathetic nervous system.
Load up on magnesium-rich foods such as leafy greens and almonds or take a quality supplement before bed.
B-Vitamins
B-vitamins, particularly vitamin-B6, aren’t only essential for ovarian function and healthy progesterone production, but immensely beneficial for adrenal health as well.
B6 is found in small amounts in foods such as fish, poultry and nuts. BePure One contains high, bioavailable doses of all essential B-vitamins.
Carbohydrates
Carbs aren’t the enemy! We need to eat the right kinds of carbs to keep our hormones happy.
Quality sources of carbohydrates such as brown rice and kumara can help to calm the nervous system and improve the cortisol response.
Adaptogens
‘Adaptogens’ are a group of herbs that nourish the health of the adrenal system and support the body’s hormonal response to stress. Some of the most popular adaptogens for stress include ashwagandha, rhodiola and asian ginseng.
While these recommendations can be great places to start, we are all unique and our individual hormone profiles reflect that. The Eve Hormone Balance Test can measure key markers of stress and inflammation and provide you with personalised recommendations to support you and all your uniqueness.
