Probiotics – how they help balance female hormones.

Hormones—they can feel like a tantrum-throwing toddler or an unpredicatable moody teenager, right? One moment you’re feeling on top of the world, and the next, you’ve polished off your second full deck of chocolate while crying over a huggies commercial. I hear you and I have been there – many, many times.

I could tell you hundreds of stories about my routine “pre-week” where each month without fail, I’d have a day where I’m a raging you-know-what, a day where I would cry multiple times over the smallest, insignificant nonsense and a day where, if my husband or kids even looked at my bloated tummy – I’d CRACK.

I was not a nice person to be around and the worst part was, I couldn’t control it – it controlled me.

I’m living proof however, that life doesn’t have to be that way and there are many ways we can optimise our health to ensure that we show up EVERY week of our cycle as cool, calm and balanced mumma’s, daughters, wives, friends and humans.

So let’s dive in and explore how probiotics can lend a helping hand (or gut) in this hormonal rollercoaster ride that so many of us feel like we’re inevitably stuck on.

First up: what are Probiotics? Probiotics are live microorganisms that can provide a wide variety of health benefits when consumed in adequate amounts on a consistent basis. Think of them as your gut’s little (Dallas Cowboys!) cheerleaders helping to maintain a healthy balance of gut bacteria and they can be found in foods like yogurt, sauerkraut, tempeh, olives & pickles or in supplement form such as in  my 100% Wholefood Probiotic for Women.

What are Prebiotics? Prebiotics are types of fibre that feed those good bacteria. They’re found in foods like bananas, asparagus, leeks, onions, garlic, and whole grains. Prebiotics main role is to help the probiotics grow, thrive and strategically support the good bacteria that already exists in our gut.

The Hormonal Balance Connection – We all know the phrase, “gut feeling”? Well, it turns out your gut has a bigger say in your hormones than you might think. A healthy gut microbiome can influence oestrogen levels and reduce inflammation, potentially easing symptoms of hormonal imbalances.

The Specific Benefits of using Probiotics for Women?

• PMS Relief: Research shows that certain probiotics can help reduce bloating, mood swings, and cravings during PMS. Who wouldn’t want to feel a bit more chill during that time of the month?
• Peri/Menopause Support: Probiotics have also shown to help improve symptoms such as hot flushes and mood swings during menopause. A cool gut is a happy gut girlfiend!
• Menstrual Irregularities: If like many, your cycle is out of whack, probiotics can help stabilize it by promoting hormonal balance.

Choosing the Right Probiotics can be a game changer – So not all probiotics are created equal. Look for those with specific strains like Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium that have been shown to impact female health and hormones positively. Both of which (as well as many more) are in my probiotic specifically designed for women, For Her.

While probiotics aren’t the full (best damn novel you’ve ever read) story when it comes to healing and harmonising our hormones, they can certainly make our journey through puberty, pregnancy, post-partum, peri-menopause, menopause and beyond (Whew!) a whooole lot smoother.

So, why not give your precious gut some real quality love and see how it can help you recalibrate and find balance within again?

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