Hack Your Hormones
Why Does it Feel Like I'm Losing My Mind?
A Review of Davinia Taylor's, Hack Your Hormones
Obviously, when it comes to matters of the mind, we always recommend consulting your health practitioner. That is always the best first port of call. When it comes to hormones, there's a whole lot of chemistry going on that can affect mood and feelings of wellbeing. Many people learn that their hormones have gone awry and they are still just as capable and brilliant as they've always been.
DT assures, you can absolutely hack your way back to feeling like the superhero you are! So, put your cape back on, pull your underwear up and over your trousers and let me tell you, with the help of Davinia Taylor’s Hack Your Hormones, how you might stop your hormones from making you feel like you’re going loco!
In this blog, we will be exploring the following hormones:
- Dopamine - our desire hormone.
- Serotonin - our happy hormone.
- GABA - the hormone that stops us feeling anxious
- Cortisol - our stress hormone.
- Acetylcholine - our main neurotransmitter behind memory and learning.
"Gutness"
Now, the good old gut really is the key to our overall health and well-being. Not only does our gut health massively impact our hormonal regulation, have a knock on effect on our sleep, support our appetite and help us to maintain a healthy weight (see Why Can’t I Sleep? and Why Can’t I Stop Eating? for more information), but, in addition, feeding your gut the good stuff can also help to dispel that brain fog that can leave you feeling like you’re losing the plot.
DT explores a plethora of ways that can banish feelings of overwhelm and therefore reduce the fog in Hack Your Hormones:
Learning to Banish the Moody Blues
Salts - scientists are engaged in finding out how electrolytes are related to mood.
Willpowder’s ElectroTide is utterly delicious but without sugars or artificial sweeteners. We've mixed sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium and Vitamin B6 with Panthothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) to make up a sachet that you can dissolve in 330ml of water, stir and drink. Formulated to support your energy metabolism and aid the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. Voila!
Alternatively, you can also simply mix water, lemon juice and unprocessed salt, like Maldon, for a truly homemade affair.
White noise- increase your focus, memory and activate your dopamine pathways with sounds like whirring fans, a whizzing washing machine, or crack a window and listen to the melodies of the natural world.
Good Fats
Stack your diet with MCT and olive oils. DT explains that clean fats help us to transport nutrients around our bodies and they help to generate the neurotransmitters that make us feel happy, content and focused. MCT (Medium Chain Triglycerides) bypass your normal digestive process and, unlike other fats, they don't enter the lymphatic system, but, instead, go straight to your liver where they are converted to Ketones. They are involved in the production of ATP (Adenosine 5’-Triphosphate), which improves alertness.
MCT is also of interest to scientists because of its potential benefits to cognitive health, particularly in older adults. We could be living in exciting times for protecting our cognitive health longer term with the use of MCT Oils, who knows?
Starting out with MCT oil means you'll want to consider your intake amounts. We've put together the biohacking blog, Dose Me, WillPowders to support your new beginnings.
Fermented Foods
DT explains that our gut produces 95% of our serotonin and GABA. As previously explored, eating can really boost and increase the diversity of your gut microbiome. How does this support the brain? Well, by taking care of our microbiome, you encourage the production of hundreds of neurochemicals which influence your mood and behaviours.
Here are some other Serotonin and Gaba boosting scran that you can try and weave into your diet: tea; kombucha; a hot chocolate recipe to die for (cacao powder, dates, MCT Powder, Bovine Collagen and full fat milk could equal potential gut bliss. Collagen supports gut health. Also try eggs, sourdough bread; oily fish; chicken/ turkey/ red meat; rice; spinach; broccoli; full fat yoghurts; homemade soups with a bone broth base and Bovine Collagen.
Connections
Increase your serotonin through human connections. DT explains that when we tap into that human to human vibe, we dispel that panicky overwhelm that can impact our mood and memory. This could be in a way that requires zero effort: by simply giving that nod or smile to a mum of a tantruming toddler in a supermarket, that silently says, ‘I understand and you’re a rockstar!’ our serotonin levels increase exponentially. Or, go big and reach out to your community and see if there are any groups that consist of like minded folk, who you share an interest with. However you decide to find or share the love, you are guaranteed to feel really good about it.
Exercise
Research shows that exercise increases Dopamine and rewires your reward system, making your Dopamine receptors work better. Anything that gets your heart pumping triggers a Dopamine and endorphin release, as well as supporting GABA, which reduces anxiety.
Caffeine with Theanine
Caffeine mediates a reaction with your dopamine receptors which potentially means that you might feel the effects of that gorgeous dopamine hit more.
But, don't forget the law of diminishing returns! It’s important for you to figure out what triggers your dopamine and to keep it fresh. If you trigger your dopamine in the same way, all the time, the effects will diminish over time.
If you find you are caffeine sensitive, but want to potentially help your dopamine romp home and find those dopamine receptors, then consider the role of Theanine in relation to caffeine. In a crossover study using four treatment groups: theanine 50mg, caffeine 30mg, combined theanine and caffeine, and placebo, theanine was shown in a cohort of healthy young women to reduce the excitotoxicity of caffeine.
Hot and Cold
Cold water exposure - cold water can impact your clarity and focus by increasing levels of noradrenaline and dopamine by as much as 530%.
Heat - help your liver to detox with an infra-red sauna. When your liver is sluggish it impacts Dopamine synthesis. Heat and light exposure is a natural anti-depressant and can help the production of all the feel good hormones we desperately need to expel that fog.
Finally, DT provides a brilliant list of supplements that can support brain fog in Hack Your Hormones:
- Acetylcholine - our body’s natural neurotransmitter which helps us to learn. A daily dose of a choline supplement can really support in banishing the fog.
- Nicotine - Fear not! DT is not suggesting you buy a packet of Marlboro Lights! Nicotine is actually a nootropic and a very small dose of around 2mg can boost your mood and focus.
- EPA - a type of fatty acid found in fish oil. This is one of DT’s faves as it is a highly effective way of battling the fog.
- Valerian root - boosts your GABA in the brain and reduces anxiety.
- GPC - a precursor to Acetylcholine and can support short term focus.
Nootropic Energy Boost
- Ginkgo Biloba leaf extract benefits brain function and circulation. We've included 50mg of Gingko Biloba Leaf Extract in each sachet of our Brain Powder.
- Theanine supports dispelling that hideous nervousness. It’s such a calming force for soothing the nerves and mind. WillPowder’s Calm is all you need to get between 200 and 400mg of Theanine - each capsule offers 204mg of Theanine and you can take up to two a day.
- Nootropics - used by Silicon Valley coders to improve cognitive performance, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Nicotinamide and Panax Ginseng root extract will all support your motivation and your get up and go!
- WillPowder’s Brain Powder is the perfect combination of Nootropic power to support concentration, focus and clarity and enhance energy levels. Mix a sachet into 330ml of water, stir, drink.
Expel that Fog, Once and For All!
So, if you’re ready to feel more like yourself and take the next step towards clarity, joy and the ability to focus for more than 5 seconds, give these hacks a go! Your brain will thank you!
Further Guidance on WillPowders Products
Keep out of reach of children. Contains caffeine 100 mg per sachet. One cup of instant coffee contains approx 80mg of caffeine. Caffeine interacts with the liver enzyme CYP1A2. Consult your health professional before taking other medications. Limit the use of caffeine-containing products (including tea and coffee) when taking this product. Adults only. Not recommended for use by pregnant and lactating women. Caffeine intake more than 200 mg per day is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Take up to two capsules daily with water.
Keep out of reach of children. Adult use only. Not recommended for use by pregnant and lactating women.
Add 15ml to your coffee, tea, smoothies, soups, sauces or dressings.
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking medication under medical supervision, consult a health professional before using. This food supplement should not be used as a substitute for a varied diet. *If you are new to MCT Oil, avoid possible digestive discomfort by starting with a small serving of 5ml and increase slowly over time up to 15ml.
We recommend a serving size of 4.3g for a large coffee although serving size is up to individual taste. For best results blend with a hand-held milk frother. Alternatively add to sauces, soups and baking.
Not suitable for vegans. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking medication under medical supervision, consult a health professional before using. Not suitable for under 5. This product should not be used as a substitute for a varied diet. Recommend no more than 4 servings a day.
Hydrolysed Bovine Collagen Peptides
Use daily. Add to any hot or cold liquid or baked goods. Suggested daily consumption 1-15g. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking medication, please consult a health practitioner. Not suitable for children under 5. Not suitable for vegetarians or vegans.
Add one sachet to 300ml of still or sparkling water, stir and drink.
Not suitable for children under 15 years of age and pregnant women. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking medication under medical supervision consult a healthcare professional or dietitian before using. This product is not a sole source of nutrition and should be consumed in conjunction with a nutritious diet and an appropriate physical exercise program. Consume no more than 1 serving sachet per day.
Disclaimer
Our blogs are written with love in the hope that they go some way in helping you feel like the rockstar you are, and whilst we do our due diligence, research like maniacs and fact check our stuff, we know everyone’s journey is different. They are intended to educate and empower you, not usurp medical advice. We would never advise you to stop, adjust, or modify any prescription medication without the direct supervision of your healthcare practitioner, but don’t be afraid to talk to your doctor about your new found knowledge, brought to you by the marvels of nature because they don't know everything! Blogs are always informed by Davinia but often written by a member of the team. Not all blogs reflect Davinia's experiences and sometimes provide alternative perspectives