The OAT Axis and Hormonal Health
You may be familiar with the HPA axis (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal), a neuroendocrine axis that regulates many physiological processes, from digestion to immunity, to mood and stress response. More recently, a new axis, the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, has emerged as an axis that, when imbalanced, is implicated in many health issues. In women, it is involved in the menstrual cycle, stress response, libido and mood, and metabolism. The ovaries, adrenal glands, and thyroid are in perfect symbiosis for optimal health. Just as a three-legged stool needs all three legs to be sat on safely, the three organs of the HPG axis must be in a state of balance for a woman to feel well.
What happens when the HPG axis is imbalanced?
A subtle imbalance can occur after an occasional bad night’s sleep or during temporary, mild stress. This imbalance typically results in only a temporary feeling of tiredness or worry. However, when the adrenals, ovaries, and thyroid are exposed to chronic or severe stressors, health problems can develop, leaving a person feeling diminished. These disorders can include hypothyroidism, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), fertility problems, headaches, anxiety, low mood, weight gain, and extreme fatigue.
One of the most common misconceptions I encounter in practice is the assumption that the primary endocrine gland involved in a person’s hormone imbalance needs to be dynamically addressed while the other two can be ignored. When it comes to menopausal women whose ovaries are no longer functioning as they once did, ignoring the other two endocrine glands can be a barrier to overcoming hormonal issues. No matter your age, when supporting the HPG axis, incorporate lifestyle, nutritional, and supplement measures that provide a holistic approach to all three glands.
Support for regularizing the ovaries and estrogen
Estrogen circulates in women at varying levels during different parts of the menstrual cycle and throughout life. When the body’s detoxification systems, especially the liver, are unable to properly metabolize these estrogens, estrogen dominance can develop. Estrogen dominance contributes to PMS, heavy or painful periods, hormonal acne, hair loss, brain fog, breast tenderness, headaches, uterine fibroids, and decreased libido.
Support the body’s ability to metabolize estrogen:
- Start your day with a cup of warm water with lemon.
- Avoid harmful chemicals, pesticides, and plastics by washing fresh produce, choosing an organic diet, and using natural personal care and cleaning products.
- Eat detoxifying superfoods like broccoli, kale, cabbage, turmeric, beets, artichokes, and garlic.
- Take the WomenSense® EstroSense® supplements. This natural formula contains calcium D-glucarate, indole-3-carbinol, green tea extract, turmeric extract, rosemary extract, lycopene, sulforaphane, and milk thistle seed extract. It promotes healthy estrogen metabolism, restores hormonal balance, and supports liver function. It has also been clinically shown to significantly improve the ratio of protective to harmful estrogens in premenopausal women.
Support your adrenal glands and reduce stress
The adrenal glands produce many hormones, the main one being cortisol, the stress hormone. In stressful situations, cortisol levels can range from very high to very low. In both cases, fatigue, mood swings, and sleep problems can be greatly exacerbated. The adrenals also take over the slowed production of sex hormones when a woman enters menopause. For this reason, optimizing the adrenals is crucial to help support the transition during this time of hormonal change.
Nourish your adrenal glands:
- Eat meals on a regular schedule, especially foods rich in protein and fiber, while reducing caffeine, alcohol, and refined carbohydrates.
- Engage in physical movement and relaxation exercises like deep breathing.
- Get a good night’s sleep.
- Optimize your nutrient intake by including omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, and vitamins D, C, and B.
- Take the WomenSense® AdrenaSense® supplements. This natural adaptogenic herbal formula contains rhodiola, suma, Siberian ginseng, schisandra, and ashwagandha. By promoting healthy cortisol levels and adrenal function, AdrenaSense helps reduce stress, promote relaxation, fight fatigue, and increase physical energy and emotional well-being, especially after periods of mental and/or physical exertion.
Optimize thyroid function
The thyroid is best known for its effect on metabolism. Most thyroid health imbalances are related to poor thyroid function leading to hypothyroidism, whose symptoms include low energy, weight gain, mood swings, and hair loss.
Balance thyroid function:
- Follow a whole foods diet including iodine-rich foods, especially kelp, nori, and seaweed.
- Cook foods that contain goitrogens (including broccoli, kale, cabbage, cauliflower, and turnips), which can interfere with thyroid function.
- Reduce your consumption of dairy and gluten in your diet, and avoid GMO soy products.
- Avoid toxins like fluoride and bromine.
- Take the WomenSense® ThyroSense® supplements. This natural combination of nutrients includes L-tyrosine, ashwagandha, guggul, pantothenic acid, copper, manganese, and iodine to help support thyroid health and improve its function. It promotes the conversion of T4 to the more active T3, and in doing so, can contribute to weight loss associated with poor thyroid function, improve energy, and promote overall hormonal balance.