FIND YOUR BALANCE

Feeling tired, irritable or craving sweet things? Use these natural ways to keep hormones in check and restore your inner harmony

Discover natural ways to keep your hormones in check

STRESSED AND BAD-TEMPERED

When you’re under pressure, cortisol is released, along with adrenaline, to give you a spike of energy. However, too much stress over a sustained period means that cortisol levels remain high, which can lead to irritability, anxiety, fatigue and tension.

We can’t always eliminate stress from our lives, but we can help reduce its effect on the body. “If your blood sugar levels fluctuate (as they do for most women), your body will be releasing adrenaline and cortisol, which are the same hormones it releases when you’re under stress,” says nutritionist Dr Marilyn Glenville. Try eating something every three hours during the day to help keep blood sugar and energy levels stable, and avoid too much caffeine, which has a stimulating effect and triggers the release of cortisol and adrenaline.

Taking a mix of vitamins and herbs can also help to reduce stress levels, says Dr Glenville – B vitamins, especially B5, for stress relief and energy; magnesium, which is often referred to as ‘nature’s tranquilliser’, for relaxation and sleep; chromium for balancing blood sugar; Siberian ginseng, which acts as a tonic to the adrenal glands; and L-theanine for reducing stress and anxiety. Try NHP Tranquil Woman Support (£24.77 for 90 capsules, naturalhealthpractice.com) contains all of these in one handy supplement.