Week 11
Welcome to the Module 3 Week 11 of the Fertile Ground Holistic Fertility Program!
Module 3
Week 11
Module 3 - Week 11 will be focusing on your adrenals and liver.
Supporting Your Liver for Hormone Balance
Many organs are involved in detoxification, including your liver, lungs, kidneys, skin and gut. It is your liver that undertakes by far the greatest share of the work. As well as transforming the natural waste products of metabolism and the toxins you encounter daily, it also processes the hormones your body no longer needs. Efficient detoxification plays a central role in hormonal balance, the menstrual cycle and fertility.
Detoxification Basics
Toxins can be created internally (natural waste products of metabolism and hormones like estrogen), or you can be exposed to them in the environment (pollution, cigarette smoke, plastics, pesticides, household chemicals and personal-care products. How much these toxins affect your health depends not only on your level of exposure, but also on how well your detoxification system is functioning.
Detoxification is a two-phase process that enables toxins to be safely excreted from your body. During phase 1, highly reactive molecules (free radicals) are produced and they can be potentially more harmful to your body than the toxin was to start with. They create oxidative stress and can damage your cells. Your requires an abundance of antioxidants to help protect your liver and the rest of your body from damage caused by these molecules. Egg and sperm cells are particularly sensitive to oxidative stress and require a high volume of antioxidants to support their development. If your liver is dealing with a high level of toxins or there are not enough resources (nutrients) to properly process them, all resources will be used for liver detoxification, rather than for other (less important) functions such as reproduction.
In phase 2, the molecules produced in phase 1 are prepared for excretion and this requires dietary amino acids (protein). A nutrient-rich diet is crucial for optimal detoxification, as well as high-quality protein, detoxification pathways require an array of micronutrients, especially the B vitamins (B6, B9 (folate) and B12), antioxidants, choline, iron and magnesium.
Estrogen Metabolism
Your body removes estrogen from your body via phase 1 and phase 2 detoxification and eliminates it through your gut. This requires optimal gut health and a healthy microbiome. Healthy gut bacteria assist with the safe removal of estrogen via your stool, whereas unhealthy bacteria can obstruct estrogen metabolism by making an enzyme called beta-glucuronidase, which reactivates estrogen, allowing it to be reabsorbed. If you are constipated your body won't be able to excrete it as intended.
This can lead to the recirculation of estrogen, resulting in hormonal imbalance with symptoms like heavy periods, PMS and cyclical breast tenderness.
Endometriosis and fibroids are estrogen-dependent conditions and hormonal imbalances sit at the heart of PCOS, so liver detoxification support is key if you have one of these conditions.
Does Your Liver Need Attention?
These symptoms suggest that your liver may benefit from detoxification support:
Your liver does so much more than you ever imagined, much more than just detoxing. Think of your liver as a sieve. Everything you breathe, ingest, or apply to your skin gets into your digestive system and bloodstream, which eventually passes through your liver. It is the only organ that can regenerate itself. It purifies your blood at an astounding rate of 50 ounces or 1.4 liters per minute!
Your liver plays numerous roles in your body, just about all of which influence hormone balance. A sluggish liver disrupts your hormones by causing:
Detoxification Basics
Toxins can be created internally (natural waste products of metabolism and hormones like estrogen), or you can be exposed to them in the environment (pollution, cigarette smoke, plastics, pesticides, household chemicals and personal-care products. How much these toxins affect your health depends not only on your level of exposure, but also on how well your detoxification system is functioning.
Detoxification is a two-phase process that enables toxins to be safely excreted from your body. During phase 1, highly reactive molecules (free radicals) are produced and they can be potentially more harmful to your body than the toxin was to start with. They create oxidative stress and can damage your cells. Your requires an abundance of antioxidants to help protect your liver and the rest of your body from damage caused by these molecules. Egg and sperm cells are particularly sensitive to oxidative stress and require a high volume of antioxidants to support their development. If your liver is dealing with a high level of toxins or there are not enough resources (nutrients) to properly process them, all resources will be used for liver detoxification, rather than for other (less important) functions such as reproduction.
In phase 2, the molecules produced in phase 1 are prepared for excretion and this requires dietary amino acids (protein). A nutrient-rich diet is crucial for optimal detoxification, as well as high-quality protein, detoxification pathways require an array of micronutrients, especially the B vitamins (B6, B9 (folate) and B12), antioxidants, choline, iron and magnesium.
Estrogen Metabolism
Your body removes estrogen from your body via phase 1 and phase 2 detoxification and eliminates it through your gut. This requires optimal gut health and a healthy microbiome. Healthy gut bacteria assist with the safe removal of estrogen via your stool, whereas unhealthy bacteria can obstruct estrogen metabolism by making an enzyme called beta-glucuronidase, which reactivates estrogen, allowing it to be reabsorbed. If you are constipated your body won't be able to excrete it as intended.
This can lead to the recirculation of estrogen, resulting in hormonal imbalance with symptoms like heavy periods, PMS and cyclical breast tenderness.
Endometriosis and fibroids are estrogen-dependent conditions and hormonal imbalances sit at the heart of PCOS, so liver detoxification support is key if you have one of these conditions.
Does Your Liver Need Attention?
These symptoms suggest that your liver may benefit from detoxification support:
- Headaches
- Night sweats
- Fatigue and sluggishness
- Acne and skin eruptions
- Low mood and irritability
- Sensitivity to chemicals, odors or pollution
- Bloating, wind and constipation
- Gallbladder removal or gallbladder issues
Symptoms of Elevated Estrogen
- Heavy or painful periods
- PMS
- Mood swings
- Feeling emotional or crying for no reason, especially one week before your period
- Weight gain around your hips, bum and thighs
- Bloating, especially around ovulation and during the second half of your cycle
- Constipation, especially before your period
- Fibroids or endometriosis
Optimizing Liver Function
- Optimize gut health
- East cruciferous vegetables
- Eat the rainbow
- Increase dietary fiber
- Eat high-quality protein with every meal
- Eat mono-unsaturated fats and poly-unsaturated fats
- Drink dandelion root tea
- Check for iron deficiency
- Minimize alcohol
- Avoid inflammatory and trans fats
- Avoid processed foods
- Minimize or avoid sugar
- Move your body
- Castor oil packs
- Epsom salt baths
- Dry body brushing
- Minimize your exposure to toxins
Your liver does so much more than you ever imagined, much more than just detoxing. Think of your liver as a sieve. Everything you breathe, ingest, or apply to your skin gets into your digestive system and bloodstream, which eventually passes through your liver. It is the only organ that can regenerate itself. It purifies your blood at an astounding rate of 50 ounces or 1.4 liters per minute!
Your liver plays numerous roles in your body, just about all of which influence hormone balance. A sluggish liver disrupts your hormones by causing:
- Blood sugar problems
- Poor storage of minerals and fat-soluble vitamins
- Abnormal metabolism of fats
- A weakened immune system
- Inadequate detoxification, toxic overload
- Estrogen dominance
Adrenals
The adrenals are responsible for producing hormones that manage the stress response, regulate sugar levels, the immune system. water retention, and blood pressure. Cortisol is one of the main hormones produced by the adrenals.
The adrenal glands are small but they’re mighty! Located right above the kidneys, they’re shaped like almonds and barely bigger than a walnut. They are part of a very important trio called the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, better known as the HPA-axis. These three endocrine glands form a complex feedback loop that helps regulate hormone production and use.
Not only are they small, but they are super fast. They are designed to respond in an instant to external stimuli so that we can escape a potentially dangerous situation.
We all know that the adrenal glands are pivotal in the regulation of the body’s stress response, but they do much more than this. They influence reproduction, appetite, blood sugar control, growth, and our digestion. Pretty much every process in the body is affected by the adrenals!
This is why a breakdown in proper adrenal function is detrimental to our wellbeing and our menstrual cycle health and fertility. I certainly have had my fair share of chronic adrenal activation, as I am sure most of you have too, which is why having an ongoing healthy conversation with this body system is so critical to future overall health.
Nourish Your Adrenals to Support Progesterone Production
Repairing your adrenals should be a high priority for you; improving their function will increase your ability to ovulate consistently and produce progesterone.
For lasting solutions to period problems, your adrenal glands need your attention also.
The foundation of your hormones is your adrenal glands and insulin. This is what we build better thyroid and reproductive hormones on.
While it feels real, the symptoms are real, and everything you experience is real - the concept of adrenal fatigue is not real. They aren't tired - they just aren't having the best communication with your brain.
How Do You Know if Your Adrenals are Struggling?
Acute stress is something we an handle. Chronic stress is the kind of thing that can chip away at your hormones and overall health.
If you are feeling any of this - you may need to show your adrenal glands some love:
How to Support Adrenal Health
Incorporating therapies for symptom management while we address the root cause is my approach to supporting adrenals. What this means is that addressing your stress, eating habits, workplace drama, sleep and all other things your adrenals need to thrive. Working on those crucial pieces takes time and energy. Working on getting good quality sleep is very important for hormone and adrenal support.
How many of the items above are you experiencing?
The adrenal glands are small but they’re mighty! Located right above the kidneys, they’re shaped like almonds and barely bigger than a walnut. They are part of a very important trio called the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, better known as the HPA-axis. These three endocrine glands form a complex feedback loop that helps regulate hormone production and use.
Not only are they small, but they are super fast. They are designed to respond in an instant to external stimuli so that we can escape a potentially dangerous situation.
We all know that the adrenal glands are pivotal in the regulation of the body’s stress response, but they do much more than this. They influence reproduction, appetite, blood sugar control, growth, and our digestion. Pretty much every process in the body is affected by the adrenals!
This is why a breakdown in proper adrenal function is detrimental to our wellbeing and our menstrual cycle health and fertility. I certainly have had my fair share of chronic adrenal activation, as I am sure most of you have too, which is why having an ongoing healthy conversation with this body system is so critical to future overall health.
Nourish Your Adrenals to Support Progesterone Production
Repairing your adrenals should be a high priority for you; improving their function will increase your ability to ovulate consistently and produce progesterone.
For lasting solutions to period problems, your adrenal glands need your attention also.
The foundation of your hormones is your adrenal glands and insulin. This is what we build better thyroid and reproductive hormones on.
While it feels real, the symptoms are real, and everything you experience is real - the concept of adrenal fatigue is not real. They aren't tired - they just aren't having the best communication with your brain.
How Do You Know if Your Adrenals are Struggling?
Acute stress is something we an handle. Chronic stress is the kind of thing that can chip away at your hormones and overall health.
If you are feeling any of this - you may need to show your adrenal glands some love:
- Feeling stressed by every little thing
- Feeling overwhelmed by day-to-day activities
- Waking and feeling tired
- Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
- Feeling "wired and tired"
- Low libido
- Menstrual irregularities
- PMS
- Feeling lightheaded when you go from lying down or seated to a standing position
- Low blood pressure
- Blood sugar irregularities
- Anxiety
- Difficulty concentrating
- Exercise intolerance or difficulty recovering
How to Support Adrenal Health
Incorporating therapies for symptom management while we address the root cause is my approach to supporting adrenals. What this means is that addressing your stress, eating habits, workplace drama, sleep and all other things your adrenals need to thrive. Working on those crucial pieces takes time and energy. Working on getting good quality sleep is very important for hormone and adrenal support.
How many of the items above are you experiencing?
Liver and Adrenal Support Supplements
To order any of these supplements for adrenal support and liver detoxification, log into your doTERRA account or go to my.doterra.com/womenshealth to order.
Adaptive System - for stress support
Mito2Max for energy and stamina
Zendocrine Complex Capsules - for liver detoxification
Women's Health Kit for overall estrogen detoxification and bone health
Copaiba for help with stress
Metapwr for metabolism and blood sugar stabilization support
Serenity Capsules for help with better sleep
Adaptive System - for stress support
Mito2Max for energy and stamina
Zendocrine Complex Capsules - for liver detoxification
Women's Health Kit for overall estrogen detoxification and bone health
Copaiba for help with stress
Metapwr for metabolism and blood sugar stabilization support
Serenity Capsules for help with better sleep
Action Items:
- Download each of the handouts and resources above
- Continue to fill out the information in the 4 Phase Symptom Tracker - and tracking your cycle
- Start to implement the information in the downloads
- Continue to do affirmations, gratitudes, journal entries and food diary
- Do the Encountering Your Root Elements exercise - you can use the MP3 or print the handout to use
- Do the Yoga Nidra Fertility Meditation 2 at least a couple of times this week or more-use this meditation for weeks 9-12
- Start to do the Fertility Pelvic Massage routine along with the Fertility Yoga two - three times this week
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