10 Powerful Herbs for Hormonal Imbalances

Most men and women over the age of 35 suffer from hormonal imbalances. Stress, a sedentary lifestyle, and bad dietary habits have all contributed to this epidemic. Hormonal imbalances put undue pressure on the human body, and it can lead to serious diseases such as cancer and diabetes. It’s good to know that ten common herbs can fight imbalance and keep us healthy. The body recognizes herbs as food and processes them more efficiently than pills. Because of this, herbs are quite effective in balancing hormone levels. Check out the herbs on the following list:

1. Astragalus

This herb is known as an adaptogen, which means that it protects the body from maladies such as stress and high cholesterol. Both of these problems put undue pressure on bodily systems and can cause hormonal imbalance, so taking astragalus can stop hormonal imbalance before it begins. It is important to note that astragalus interacts with some prescription medications, so make sure to ask your doctor if this herb is a good choice for your health.

2. Ashwagandha

This herb is very popular in the Ayurvedic system of medicine. It balances both adrenal and thyroid hormones. Because of this, people suffering from hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism benefit from ingesting it. The herb also promotes blood flow to the female reproductive organs and lessens the symptoms of menopause. It can also treat erectile dysfunction in males. Ashwagandha may reduce stress hormones and benefit overall health.

3. Maca

Maca root was used by Inca warriors to promote endurance. It contains zinc, which is proven to correct imbalance as it relates to libido. It can also help women who suffer from the hot flashes and sleep disorders that are caused by menopause.

4. American Ginseng

American ginseng balances reproductive hormones, and it is often used to help women who have trouble conceiving a child. Scientific studies on animals have showed that this herb increases levels of estradiol-17beta, which is a powerful reproductive hormone. It can also increase male stamina and improve the absorption of nutrients in the body.

5. Saw Palmetto

The berries from the Saw Palmetto plant are proven to treat a condition of the prostate known as benign prostatic hyperplasia. Saw Palmetto may be able to treat this condition, which causes an enlarged prostate, and it may increase a man’s sperm count as well.

6. Tribulus

Tribulus stimulates the androgen receptors in the female brain, which results in better reproductive health. The herb has also been used in Chinese and Indian medicine to improve sperm count and treat erectile dysfunction.

7. Epimedium

This plant has been used for centuries to treat the uncomfortable symptoms associated with menopause. Because it relaxes muscle tissue, it may also alleviate menstrual cramps as well. Because epimedium mimics testosterone, it can be used to treat many male hormonal imbalances.

8. Chasteberry

Extracts from the chasteberry bush directly enhance the pituitary gland’s ability to regulate prolactin and estrogen. Its powerful effect on these female hormones makes Chasteberry an excellent alternative to western medicine in treating breast pain and polycystic ovary disease.

9. Suma

Suma root extract balances the endocrine system and protects against disease. It can also protect the pancreas by balancing blood sugar levels. It can also encourage a good mood and help women who struggle with infertility.

10. Black Cohosh

Components of black cohosh mimic estrogen, so this natural remedy can reduce menopause symptoms that are related to insufficient estrogen. A recent study of 80 women experiencing menopause found that women who took black cohosh experienced less anxiety and less hot flashes than the women who did not ingest the medicine. The benefits of black cohosh do not end there. The isoferulic acids in the plant can also act as a pain reliever.

It can be easy to forget that we can find the answer to many of our health problems in nature. If you are experiencing an illness that is due to a hormonal imbalance, you may wish to discuss these natural remedies with your chosen healthcare professional.

Olive Oil Nutrient Found To HALT Brain Cancer Cells In Their Tracks

Brain and other nervous system cancers are the tenth leading cause of death in the United States, killing over 16,000 people each year. The five-year survival rate for this type of cancer is only 34 percent for men and 36 percent for women. Depending on the size, type and grade of the tumor, as well as other factors, like where the tumor is located, conventional treatment usually involves surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. The success rate for these treatments is low, however, and the side effects of both the tumors themselves and their treatment can be devastating. A new study by researchers from the University of Edinburgh, published in the Journal of Molecular Biology, provides new hope in the fight against brain cancer.

The research team determined that an important nutrient in olive oil, called oleic acid, might help prevent brain cancer by stopping a certain cancer-causing protein from interfering with miR-7 production; miR-7 is a cell molecule that suppresses brain tumor formation.

“While we cannot yet say that olive oil in the diet helps prevent brain cancer, our findings do suggest that oleic acid can support the production of tumour-suppressing molecules in cells grown in the lab,” said Dr. Gracjan Michlewski of the University of Edinburgh. “Further studies could help determine the role that olive oil might have in brain health.” [RELATED: Find out how olive oil boosts bone health.]

This study comes in the wake of other studies which have proven olive oil’s cancer-fighting properties. The Mediterranean diet, in which olive oil features strongly, is generally associated with reduced cancer risk, and it would seem that this healing oil plays a large part in this.

In 2015, researchers from Rutgers University and Hunter College published a study in the journal Molecular & Cellular Oncology, which revealed that a compound in olive oil called oleocanthal could kill cancer cells in less than an hour, without harming any healthy cells in the process.

Rather than inducing apoptosis, or the self-destruction of cancer cells, oleocanthal actually breaks the lysosomes of cancer cells apart. This causes critical life-sustaining functions of the cancer cell to break down. At the same time, healthy cells just go into a sort of hibernation mode for a day and then return to their normal functionality.

There are many more reasons to add olive oil to your diet than just for cancer treatment or prevention, however. Olive oil has been proven to strengthen the immune system, prevent osteoporosis, fight dementia, improve bone health and much more.

A 2010 study by the University of Barcelona, Spain, found that olive oil, and the Mediterranean diet as a whole, can improve brain health and delay cognitive decline in older people.

“Oxidative stress and vascular impairment are believed to partly mediate age-related cognitive decline, a strong risk factor for development of dementia,” the authors wrote. “Epidemiologic studies suggest that a Mediterranean diet, an antioxidant-rich cardioprotective dietary pattern, delays cognitive decline.”

The fatty acids and antioxidants in olive oil have also been proven to reduce the risk of heart disease.

A word of warning though: Not all olive oils are equally beneficial. Some are extracted using chemicals, subjected to high heat, or diluted with cheaper, toxic oils like canola and soybean oil. To reap the most possible health benefits, be sure to buy extra virgin olive oil that has been extracted using natural methods. If you can try to have some on your salad every day your body will thank you and you will be rewarded with longevity and good health!