HACK YOUR HORMONES
Where is this Rage Coming From?
A Review of Davinia Taylor's, Hack Your Hormones
Ever wondered who the hell cut your fuse so short and why your buttons are so easily pressed? It’s because you don’t deal with cortisol flooding your body in the same way that you did in your 20s. It’s almost like our patience, ability to rationalise and that youthful serenity dries up, leaving you standing on the precipice of losing your temper at any given moment. And how do we deal with that fury, stress and cortisol driven rage? We comfort ourselves with processed fare, alcohol and decide that the day has just been too stressful to move our bodies - we decide that we will help ourselves tomorrow, but when tomorrow comes, it's filled with more of the same adolescent petulance, bad drivers and unmanageable workloads that have the potential to send us over the edge. This results in us forming habits that impact our health and hormonal balance negatively.
Hack Your Hormones
Davinia Taylor’s Hack your Hormones, Where is this Rage coming from? Is filled with go to solutions that can temper those bubbling feelings of fury and help you to disperse the red mist.
DT highlights our “rage” hormones and helps you to understand how, when they are not working in harmony, they can make us feel terrible:
Cortisol - drives our fear response.
Oestrogen - regulates our mood.
Progesterone - mellows us out and lowers our irritability and fatigue.
Testosterone - increases Dopamine, makes effort feel good and increases our stamina.
Finding an Oestrogen equilibrium is vital for our mood and how we respond to stressful situations as this hormone also controls how much Serotonin (happy hormone) and GABA (stops our whirring brains) we produce.
DT offers suggestions and ways that we can detox our Oestrogen and find that sweet spot:
Gluten is a hormone disruptor and it can impact your Oestrogen and Progesterone levels. Your digestive tract can become inflamed, which in turn can increase your Cortisol levels. DT suggests that if you are experiencing moments of blind rage, it might be worth cutting out gluten temporarily to see if it makes any difference. So swap out the pasta and bread for some rice, quinoa, oats, buckwheat, corn and teff. Always try and buy organic where possible to avoid pesticides that can be found on regular grains.
BPA is found in cans, plastic bottles and microwave popcorn. DT highlights that, without noticing, you may be filling up on products containing Xenoestrogens, toxins that mimic oestrogen.
Triclosan is found in some deodorant, toothpaste, antibac soap and body wash and is associated with a decrease in the levels of some thyroid hormones.
Phthalate which is found in some scented candles, perfume, body lotions, air freshener and plastic wrap are endocrine disruptors and are detrimental to human health.
Alcohol also has a detrimental effect on our Oestrogen levels. As devastating as it is, alcohol is a toxin that our liver has to metabolise; this extra pressure on our liver decreases its ability to detox Oestrogen. DT is not suggesting that you should sacrifice that Friday night glass of wine (cough - bottle), but you should be conscious of how much you are drinking. Swapping out some of your booze intake for Kombucha or WillPowder’s Nootropic energy boost, Brain Powder is a great way of getting the same sense of a Friday night - the week is done - feel! One of our sachets added to 330ml of water creates a lovely mocktail (but do be aware that they contain caffeine so if you are past your caffeine cut off time, try an ElectoTide instead - again, it's 330ml of water (sparkling if you want the bubbles), mix, enjoy.
Hack your Oestrogen Regulation
Not only does DT highlight what can really throw you out of sync and hurl you into a fit of rage, she also provides some brilliant hacks that can support your Oestrogen regulation:
A diet rich in fibre is great for an Oestrogen detox as it increases the passage of Oestrogen through the bowels. Sources of fibre goodness include: beans (lentils, pinto, kidney and black beans); fruit (apples, pears and kiwi fruit); veg (carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, watercress and other brassicas); seeds and nuts (flaxseeds sunflower seeds and walnuts); grains (white rice and quinoa). Be sure to soak overnight grains and beans to oxalates which can be anti-nutrient.
Support your Detox
Turmeric counters the negative effects of Oestrogen and is also an anti-inflammatory, supporting your overall mood and physical well-being. Willpowder’s SPICE supplement is the perfect way to support unwanted inflammation and to suppress those fits of rage.
DIM balances out your Oestrogen levels, but also stops the enzyme Aromatase from working, which converts testosterone into oestrogen, resulting in you feeling exhausted and short tempered. This is something men need to be aware of as well.
Phytoestrogens are a naturally occurring plant compound that balance out Oestrogen and also reduces symptoms of menopause, such as hot flushes. Embed fermented soy, flax, chia and sesame seeds, lentils, chickpeas, black beans, carrots and cruciferous veg into your diet to support your regulation of Oestrogen.
Getting sweaty is another way to promote your Oestrogen detox, helping you to get rid of all those toxic metabolites through the skin. Following up a sweat fest with a cold shower will support that cosy feeling needed for sleep. Cold showers are an adaptogen and boost dopamine in the morning and serotonin and oxytocin in the evening.
Supplementing the Right Way
DT further highlights how to find that hormone zen and explains how you can prevent your Cortisol from spiking, allowing all those other mood boosting hormones to work together and not against one another in Hack Your Hormones. By exposing your body to the right nutrients, supplements and environments, hormone harmony is possible.
Theanine is an amino acid which might help to blunt stress responses, according to the research, 'L-Theanine significantly increased frontal region alpha power compared to placebo in response to an acute stress challenge ... These changes are indicative of relaxation in the brain and suggest a calming response'.
WillPowder’s Calm supplement, which contains Theanine, might just be a great piece of your downshifting toolkit. Obviously, auditing your external life to downshift stress is key longer term.
Brain Powder also contains Theanine, alongside caffeine.
In a crossover study, using four treatment groups: theanine (50mg), caffeine (30mg), combined theanine and caffeine (TC), and placebo, theanine was shown in a cohort of healthy young women to reduce the excitotoxicity of caffeine [*].
Brain Powder is designed to support concentration, focus and clarity and enhance energy levels.
Dispel the Rage
Heat is your friend and can protect you from those cortisol spikes.
Light is key to managing your cortisol levels - natural light stimulates your cortisol when you need it and darkness dampens it down when you don’t.
Have a good cry and let your tears rid you of the excessive Cortisol you don’t need.
MCT
At WillPowders, two of our key products are MCT Oil and MCT Powder.
From more general research, there is the possibility that MCT oils and powders might support cognitive health. For a wider perspective on MCT oils, take a look at our blog, Dose Me, WillPowders! Dose Me!
Further Product Information
Add one sachet to 330ml of water, stir and drink.
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.
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.
Swallow up to three capsules daily with water when needed.
Keep out of reach of children, recommended for adults only. If symptoms persist, talk with your health professional. In very rare cases, curcuma longa extract may harm the liver. Stop use and see a doctor if you have yellowing skin/eyes, or unusual fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, dark urine or itching.
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