2019-04-01_Australian_Yoga_Journal

72

april 2019

yogajournal.com.au

LOW CORTISOL:

If you have low cortisol levels, you have

had high cortisol levels for a while now

and your adrenals are therefore too tired

to produce sufficient cortisol. To confirm

whether you do have low cortisol levels,

it’s important to get a diagnosis from a

qualified functional physician and get a

urine or saliva test four times a day.

LOW PROGESTERONE:

Low progesterone can be caused by

excess cortisol levels (from chronic

stress) or excess estradiol, the

antagonistic estrogen produced in your

body or introduced externally as

synthetic estrogens (known as

“xenoestrogens”) from skin-care and

house-cleaning products. High cortisol

levels are inflammatory and can block

progesterone receptors, inhibiting

progesterone from doing its work.

When stressed, we end up with less

progesterone.

HIGH ESTROGEN

(ESTROGEN DOMINANCE):

This condition can manifest in a few

ways. You could have more estradiol

(E2), the antagonistic estrogen,

compared with estriol (E3) and estrone

(E1), which often happens when many

xenoestrogens, or synthetic estrogens,

are present in your life. Second, you

might have insufficient progesterone to

oppose estradiol (even if your estradiol

levels are within range). Estrogen

dominance can also happen when there

are more antagonistic estrogen

metabolites (which are the byproducts

of estrogen metabolism). Visceral fat

also produces estradiol. Women with

high testosterone levels (and often

polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS)

can suffer from estrogen dominance,

too. This is because testosterone gets

converted to estradiol in the

aromatization process. Inhibiting this

process can break the cycle of estrogen

production and relieve symptoms of

estrogen dominance.

LOW ESTROGEN:

Declining estrogen levels typically

happen to women going into

perimenopause and menopause, but I

have seen young women suffering from

stress and toxic lifestyles experience this

too. The ovaries are producing less

estrogen because of aging, stress (and

high cortisol levels), or toxicity.

Energising

matcha lime

smoothie

(LIVER DETOXING, SUGAR

BALANCING, ESTROGEN

BALANCING)

SERVES 1

Is getting out of bed in the morning a

struggle? Kick-start your day with this

rich, creamy smoothie instead of

coffee and avoid disruptive caffeine

highs and lows. Matcha, a type

of green tea from Japan, contains

caffeine but causes a steady energy

boost rather than a spike.

Arugula, flaxseed, and maca (called

“Peruvian ginseng” because of its

natural stimulating qualities, which

are similar to the benefits found in

the commonly known ginseng-related

herbs) support your estrogen levels.

Cinnamon effectively stabilises

blood-sugar levels.

1½ cups filtered water

1 cup loosely packed fresha rugula

leaves or mixed greens, such as

baby spinach, mizuna, or lettuce

½ ripe avocado, peeled, pitted,

and sliced

1 Medjool date, pitted

4 Brazil nuts

3 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice

2 tbsp ground flaxseed

1 tbsp ghee

1 tbsp maca

1½ tbsp hemp seed

1 tsp freshly ground ginger root

1 tsp matcha green tea

¼ tsp ground cinnamon

Dash of sea salt

Add all of the ingredients to a blender

and purée until silky smooth.

HIGH TESTOSTERONE

(ANDROGEN DOMINANCE):

The leading cause is high sugar levels.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome is

commonly caused by androgen

dominance. While making dietary

changes, get a formal diagnosis of PCOS

and high testosterone level.

LOW TESTOSTERONE:

Most often, when the adrenals are

exhausted, they also underproduce

testosterone.

UNDERACTIVE THYROID

(HYPOTHYROIDISM AND/

OR HASHIMOTO’S

DISEASE):

Sadly, too many thyroid conditions go

undiagnosed because of incomplete tests

and wrong lab ranges that conventional

doctors use. The consensus among

functional practitioners is that 30

percent of the population experiences

subclinical hypothyroidism (this means

the symptoms are subtle). This could be

an underestimate. One study in Japan

found 38 percent of the healthy subjects

to have elevated thyroid antibodies

(indicating the body’s immune system

attacking the thyroid). Another study

reports that 50 percent of patients,

mostly women, have thyroid nodules. If

you have been diagnosed with

hypothyroidism, it was most likely

caused by Hashimoto’s disease, an

autoimmune condition. When you put

out the fire in your gut and the immune

system, you may see your thyroid health

improve and symptoms subside or go

away.

INSULIN RESISTANCE OR

LEPTIN RESISTANCE:

If you eat processed carbohydrates

(including cereals, puffy rice, breads,

bagels, pasta, cakes, and cookies), sugar

(found in incredibly high amounts in

most packaged foods), or processed

proteins (such as protein shakes), it’s

likely you have a problem with sugar. It

first manifests with high and/or low

blood-sugar levels (you feel cranky,

unfocused, lightheaded, and tired when

hungry) and ends up with a full

metabolic disorder such as insulin or

leptin resistance. Women suffering from

high testosterone or PCOS tend to have

elevated sugar levels or insulin or leptin

resistance. The good news is this: These

conditions are completely reversible with