Women and people who are assigned female at birth (AFAB) have specific health conditions that do not apply to the rest of the population. It’s important to pay attention to your health as a woman–especially with how historically, medicine has been primarily focused on men and those assigned male at birth (AMAB). Below are five categories of the utmost importance to keep in mind when addressing women’s health from a natural perspective.
Immune Health
Don’t let the cold and flu season get you down this year! There are many natural ways to boost your immune system to prevent illness and improve energy levels. Assess your stress level and take action if you are feeling anxious or overwhelmed. Spend some time practicing deep breathing or finding a relaxing activity. Try switching up your diet by adding in more garlic and ginger. These natural ingredients contain properties that help boost the immune system and lower cold and flu symptoms.
Hormonal Balance
Hormonal imbalances in women are common and can result in weight changes, fatigue, skin problems, infertility, and PMS. Hormones are an important part to our body’s growth and development, mood, reproduction, and metabolism. To keep your body in balance, avoid high omega-6 polyunsaturated fats. Often these are in vegetable oils, seeds, and nuts. However, these foods are important to ingest in moderation.
Many people find that reducing caffeine intake will also keep hormones in balance. Too much caffeine can have a negative impact on the endocrine system. Most importantly, be sure to get enough sleep each night. When the body does not get adequate rest then hormones cannot regulate with ease.
Breast health
There are many reason that some have a higher risk of breast cancer than others—this includes both genetics and environmental impacts. Research shows that keeping a diet of fresh, unprocessed foods can help the health of breast tissue. In fact, chemical additives in food can be high in people with breast cancer. There is even risk in produce and livestock! Harmful pesticides can be found in fruit, vegetable, and grains, and there are detrimental antibiotics and hormones used for meat and milk production.
Consider eliminating or even reducing highly processed foods, additives, and canned goods from your diet. Avoid foods that are high in pesticides, hormones, and antibiotics and add in some that are antioxidant rich (like berries). This can help lower your risk of breast cancer.
Egg Health
If pregnancy is something that’s on your horizon, it may be useful to take a look at your egg health. Getting pregnant can be frustrating when it isn’t happening as easily as planned, are there are many ways why this could be delayed. One of these reasons is egg health. Some factors that play into egg health are blood circulation, stress, and hormonal balance. For improving blood and oxygen flow, try to get some exercise. Whether it’s yoga, running, or simply going for a brisk walk at least three times a week. Ask a massage therapist about abdominal massages, as these are known to increase blood flow to the reproductive system.
As stated before, stress is a major factor in egg health. Find ways to destress that work for your lifestyle and preferences. Some of the best ways to destress include meditation, acupuncture, and deep breathing.
Metabolism
Another important part of women’s health from a natural perspective is the metabolism. Many people feel as if their metabolism slows down throughout the years, making it harder to break down calories and fat. A way to combat this is by adding more omega-3 fatty acids into your diet (like fish, nuts, and seeds). These work to regulate blood sugar and lower inflammation, which can then improve metabolic function. Increasing strength training can also help give the metabolism a boost. The more muscle you have, the more your resting metabolism will increase to burn fat. Additionally, eating breakfast is gives your metabolism a jump start for the day.
Acupuncture, massage therapy, and naturopathic care are wonderful options for supporting women’s health. For assistance with any of these issues (and much more!) please contact us with any questions or call our offices to set up an appointment.
