Hormones!
You might think that you are the controller of how your body functions, but if you’ve ever witnessed a woman that’s just run out of ice cream lose their marbles and cry, laugh and then instantly lash out within the span of 5 minutes then you have experienced the power of hormones! These crazy mood swings can make even the worst of toddler temper tantrums seem like a breeze.
Hormones which are derived from proteins, are chemical messengers produced by glands from the endocrine system that tell your body how to function. They travel in your bloodstream to tissues and organs in order to send a specific message relating to the activity of another part of the body. Hormones control the function of entire organs, affecting processes like growth and development, fertility and reproduction, sexual characteristics, mood and metabolism. During puberty, we see the largest surge in hormonal changes – these messages tell the body to “deepen the voice, grow hair in armpits, grow taller etc.”
Some examples of Hormones are: Insulin (regulates the amount of sugar in your blood), Adrenaline (prepares the body for ‘fight or flight’) and Cortisol (released by glands atop your kidney in response to stress).
Hormones are extremely critical so it’s crucial we take care of them.
We live in a toxic environment and synthetic chemicals in water, food, cleaners, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics can mimic hormones and interfere with or disrupt the ‘messages’ that are sent to the body. We’re exposed to these hormone disruptors daily and they can damage our growth & development, often irreversibly.
Some common disruptors include: glyphosate or herbicides/pesticides (sprayed on food/grains), steroids (given to animals), BPA (found in canned food), sulphites (found in wine and dried fruits as preservative), parabens (found in cosmetics), BHT (found in foods/gum as preservative).
So, how can we safeguard ourselves against these disruptors?
Firstly, think about how you can reduce your exposure to these chemicals. Switch your every day products to natural brands. We all love taking care of our skin, and at Raw Elements we are proud to carry one of the best natural skin care brands out there, Lavido Beauty!
Lavido is a natural face and body care company formulated with certified organic essential oils and active natural ingredients. Each of the products is made with the best raw, plant-based ingredients combined with purified mineral-rich waters. They do not contain any parabens, mineral oil, petroleum, silicones, phenoxyethanol, propylene glycol, synthetic dyes or fragrances, alcohol, PEG or SLS.
All of their skincare products are dermatologically tested as well as clinically proven, so they don’t just make claims- they make change!
Another way to minimize your exposure is to use natural cleaners like vinegar. Aim to use eco-friendlier packaging like glass and ditch the perfume for essential oils. You can also significantly help the body to rid itself of toxins by sweating as much as possible! Get up, get moving and then recover with a Sunwarrior Sol Good protein bar! Crafted from organic superfoods like yellow peas, brown rice, quinoa, blueberry, cashew butter, and coconut, these premium plant-based protein bars are loaded with health!.
Lastly, one of the easiest ways to make an impact is through your diet. Eat the best quality, freshest whole foods you can – organic when possible. If you happen to have a sweet tooth, Lovechock is a good option to appease your chocolate cravings in a healthy way. Lovechock produces RAW cacao that is processed as little as possible. In conventional chocolate production, cacao is roasted, sterilized, waltzed and conched, all steps that are detrimental to the beneficial qualities and nutrients. Lovechock skips all those steps. With their low processing many of the amazing cacao substances remain intact, namely antioxidants (flavonoids), polyphenols and “love chemicals”
At Raw Elements, you’ll be pleased to know that we’re proud of our line-up of products because we have sourced the very best organic and natural products for you. We are truly a one-stop shop for you to feel confident that you’re avoiding as much chemical exposure as you can!
