Do you feel tired all the time? Do you have to drag yourself to the gym? Do you find it hard to fall asleep or can't switch off and often wake up during the night?
It's possible that, like so many other women, you suffer from "adrenal fatigue", a symptom of our times, which is basically a difficulty the body has in dealing with stress, caused by a depletion (exhaustion, even!) of the adrenal glands.
Complicated? It's the hormones, baby. But even if your life sometimes seems like a rollercoaster, with peaks of energy and moments of great tiredness, emotions that fluctuate, and an unusual mixture of fatigue and anxiety, don't panic, because you're not the only one. And everything has a solution. The truth is that although we associate stress, and even tiredness, with a mental state, all these fluctuations, which have a huge impact on our lives, can have a physical origin.
This is because our system (body and mind) is regulated by hormones - which are nothing more than chemical messengers produced by the endocrine glands - that control bodily functions such as hunger, reproduction, digestion, emotions and even mood. Needless to say, this system is extremely complex, with everything interconnected, which is why it easily gets out of balance.
Cortisol, the stress hormone
One of these hormones is cortisolalso known as the "stress hormone". Despite its bad reputation, cortisol has a good side - it helps us get up in the morning, maintain energy throughout the day, and even control inflammation and blood sugar levels. However, in excess, or imbalance, this hormone secreted by the adrenal glands is bad for us, affecting our emotional state and ultimately causing illness.
We know that hormones, by nature, are unstable: hormone levels fluctuate in response to the environment, our diet, physical exercise and other factors. But the fact that they fluctuate naturally doesn't mean that they should be out of control.
In other words, if releasing the right dose of cortisol is good (we have cortisol receptors in practically every cell in the body), too much, too little or at the wrong time is disastrous. Our body releases this hormone in response to stress, but if we're in a permanent state of stress (in a stress bath, let's say), the body breaks down. And then exhaustion sets in. weakness, fatigue and apathy. In the middle is virtue, so avoiding extremes is the goal: keep cortisol (and other hormones produced by the adrenals, such as adrenaline and estrogen) at cruising speed.
The cortisol curve
Our prehistoric ancestors released cortisol to activate a response to a threat (for example, a wild animal approaching in the middle of the night). Today, we react to different threats or stimuli, but the response is the same, and the alarms go off.
We know that cortisol is essential for us to function, we just don't want it to get out of control (which is precisely what happens when we get a hormonal imbalance). In an ideal world, cortisol levels are at their highest when we wake up, helping us to start the day with energy. Gradually, levels drop throughout the day, until we're ready for bed.
A healthy cortisol curve starts at around three in the morning, when ideally we are sleeping soundly and recharging our batteries, and peaks at eight in the morning, then gradually starts to fall.
Listening to your body
What we've just described is the ideal curve. But it doesn't always happen in the real world.
When our hormonal system is messed up or out of balance, chaos quickly ensues. And that's when the body starts to show signs. Here are some of the clues that can indicate a hormonal imbalance:
- You feel tired, but at the same time unable to disconnect. Chronic stress keeps cortisol levels high (always alert, active, vigilant) to keep you going, but at the same time it depletes your adrenal reserves. So you feel exhausted. This is chronic fatigue.
- You have trouble falling asleep (or sleep disturbances): cortisol is directly related to our circadian rhythm, which regulates sleep. That's why in the morning cortisol is more active and at night it "withdraws" to allow melatonin to act. Unless it's dysregulated, then it goes off when we least want it to, in the middle of the night.
- Mood fluctuations: Cortisol interacts with other hormones and molecules throughout the body. And also with serotonin receptors. So if it's out of balance, it will have an impact on the "happiness hormone", affecting our mood.
- Mental fog: Yes, cortisol also has an influence on cognitive function. Rises and falls in cortisol affect glucose, which affects brain function.
- Sugar (or salt) cravings: It's all connected, and once again, cortisol affects insulin and salt levels in the blood, triggering those "cravings".
How to rediscover balance
Hormonal balance depends on various factors, such as diet, exercise, etc. But we can help our bodies make this process easier by making changes to our diet (for example, by eating foods rich in magnesium, vitamins Be C and omega 3), in our lifestyle (practicing yoga or meditation), and with natural supplementsbased on plants, roots and herbs - the adaptogens - which help us regain our physical and mental balance, acting from the inside out.
The adaptogens are plants that have been used for thousands of years in Eastern traditions. They work as powerful allies to deal with stress and tension and help regulate energy levels. There are various types of adaptogens and they fall into two main categories: stimulant adaptogens (stronger, such as the various types of ginseng and rhodiola) and tonic adaptogens (milder but equally effective, such as ashwagandha, maca, reishi, some types of mushroom, among many others).
Generally recommend taking a mixture of several adaptogens so that the effects are more harmonious and progressiveThat's why we've prepared a set of supplements with different functions to help you balance the hormonal scales and regain your well-being. Formulated to reduce stress and stimulate energy, mood and focus, the Super Woman capsules capsules are a supplement with plant extracts and adaptogens to support women's hormonal and emotional balance. Other options for cultivating tranquillity include Calm: soluble cocoa drink, a blend of medicinal plants, superfoods and adaptogens created to relax and inspire well-being, and of course, the Ashwaghandathe powerful anti-stress plant, which we've prepared into a powder so you can easily add it to smoothies, your tea or favorite recipes. If hormonal imbalance, stress and tiredness are interfering with your libido, we've prepared the super desire capsulesformulated with medicinal plants handpicked with love, to cultivate self-esteem, the first step to rekindling desire and getting closer to your better half.
