WHY HORMONE IMBALANCE IS ON THE RISE - Dr. Aviva Romm shares tangible solutions for endo and PCOS
Jul 5, 2021
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Dr. Aviva Romm, MD, midwife, herbalist, and bestselling author of Hormone Intelligence, discusses the rise of hormone imbalance in women, offers tangible solutions for conditions like endometriosis and PCOS, explores the benefits of herbal remedies like motherwort, and highlights the importance of sleep and dietary changes for hormone health.
Supporting hormone balance through diet, including reducing red meat consumption and increasing intake of fish, fruits, and vegetables.
Utilizing adaptogens and herbal options like lavender and passionflower to promote relaxation, improve sleep, and regulate cortisol levels.
Highlighting the importance of ovulation for maintaining progesterone levels and recommending nutrients like B6 and Vitex to support ovulation and progesterone production.
Deep dives
The Importance of Hormone Intelligence
In this podcast episode, Dr. Aviva Ram discusses the concept of hormone intelligence and how it can guide women in improving their hormone balance. By paying attention to our cycles and the rhythms of our life, we can live in harmony with our innate hormonal patterns. Dr. Ram also highlights the connection between hormones and fertility, as well as the root causes of conditions like PCOS and endometriosis. She emphasizes that these hormonal issues are not the fault of women and provides practical tips for improving hormone health through diet, herbs, and adaptogens.
The Role of Diet in Hormone Balance
Dr. Aviva Ram emphasizes the importance of diet in hormone balance. She advises reducing the consumption of red meat, which can trigger inflammation and worsen symptoms of conditions like endometriosis. On the other hand, increasing the intake of fish, particularly low-mercury, high-essential fatty acid fish like salmon and sardines, can have positive effects on hormone health. Dr. Ram also stresses the value of consuming a variety of fruits and vegetables, aiming for 8 to 10 servings per day, to support hormone balance and reduce inflammation.
Botanicals for Hormone Health and Sleep
Dr. Aviva Ram discusses the role of botanicals in hormone health and sleep. For hormone balance, she recommends adaptogens like ashwagandha and holy basil, which can help regulate the immune system and cortisol levels. Additionally, she suggests herbal options such as lavender, passion flower, and skullcap to promote relaxation and aid in falling asleep. Dr. Ram also mentions the benefits of herbal supplements like Lavela, which contains lavender oil, for reducing anxiety and promoting a sense of well-being through sleep. Furthermore, she highlights the importance of sleep hygiene, including avoiding electronics before bed and creating a wind-down routine at night.
Understanding and Addressing Low Progesterone
Dr. Aviva Ram explains the significance of ovulation in relation to progesterone levels in women. She emphasizes that progesterone is only produced after ovulation occurs. Therefore, supporting healthy ovulation is key in maintaining adequate progesterone levels. Dr. Ram discusses the role of nutrients like B6 and highlights the importance of ovulation for progesterone production. She also mentions the potential benefits of herbs like Vitex, which can support progesterone levels indirectly by acting on the hypothalamus. Overall, Dr. Ram stresses the importance of ovulation and offers insights into addressing low progesterone levels.
Supporting Ovulation with Vitex and Other Nutrients
Vitex is an excellent herb for supporting progesterone and ovulation. It acts as an adaptogen and helps to regulate the production of follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone, which are responsible for triggering ovulation. Other nutrients like B6, vitamin C, magnesium, zinc, flax seeds, sesame seeds, and selenium also support ovulation. These nutrients can be obtained through diet or supplements, and they play a crucial role in balancing hormones and promoting healthy ovulation.
Addressing PCOS with Diet and Supplements
PCOS is a complex hormonal condition that often involves insulin resistance and blood sugar dysregulation. A healthy diet for PCOS should emphasize high-quality protein, good fats like olive oil and avocados, plenty of vegetables, and small amounts of carbs from whole grains or berries. Nuts, seeds, and adaptogens like peony and licorice can also be beneficial. Supplements such as vitamin D, myoinositol, and the peony and licorice combination help address the metabolic and hormonal imbalances associated with PCOS. Additionally, addressing gut health and avoiding processed foods can further support PCOS management.
Ep 30. This week’s episode features Dr. Aviva Romm—an MD, midwife, herbalist, and a bestselling author with her latest book: Hormone Intelligence. Do you have (or suspect you might have) a hormone imbalance, whether that’s endometriosis, PCOS, or you’re struggling with fertility? How about insomnia, or other complaints that are seemingly unrelated to hormone health but tend to come and go with your cycle? Today we’re talking about some potential root causes of all of these, and getting into simple and extremely tangible changes (herbs and beyond) that can impact your hormones on a foundational level. Let’s get juicy!
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