This week is all about energy. Not the woo-woo kind, but the real kind, the stuff we really need to prevail in this world and keep going with all our myriad things to do – you know places to go, people to see, babies to feed, and all that.
I had noticed that my energy was quite low. Considering I have two children, one little and one big, that is not entirely surprising. However, this time it was especially low. And due to the wonderful insightful friends that I have, as well as my propensity to research things, I discovered this is quite possibly a hormonal issue. I mean, there is also the depletion issues which is an important one to consider, and that is discussed in more detail here.
If you have just had a baby, then go here to see my tips on natural recovery from pregnancy and childbirth.
Sure, blame the hormones
Yes, hormones – another topic not often discussed because it seems a little bit uncomfortable for us. Perhaps it’s unnerving to realise we are subject to such chemical internal forces that we really can’t see or know about directly. Thankfully there are some amazing resources at hand.
A very clever, Harvard trained, doctor called Sara Gottfried happens to have just written a book called The Hormone Cure that goes right in-depth about all this, so I will not steal her thunder. Suffice to say it’s worth the read if you can. It got me on a mission to get my energy back.
So off I went to a favourite naturopath and she asked me all kinds of questions (so fascinating the way they work) which would seem unlikely to mean anything, but somehow do. And out of that, I came home with a whole lot of supplements and herbs to take and a few important blood tests to do as well as some really good dietary advice.
Some energy-making solutions
For those of us who do not have access to such things easily, here is the distillation of what I have learned so far.
1) Exercise half an hour a day. Walk if that’s all you can do, it’s better than nothing.
2) Eat well. Eat regularly. Eat healthily. Eat fresh. And try to keep the sugars down (substitute a red delicious apple for a chocolate bar and you’re making a good start). And for goodness sake, have full cream dairy if you are eating dairy, it has less sugar and helps your body process sugars – though this is recent research and quite controversial from what I can tell.
3) Sit down, smile and talk to your friends regularly. The value of a good ‘chin-wag’ is immeasurable. It is food for the soul. And being there for people makes you feel good.
4) Listen to your body. If you’re feeling sluggish put your feet up for a minute. If you’re feeling hungry, eat more good energy food at breakfast, lunch and dinner. And if you’re feeling something, be kind to yourself.
5) Reduce the chemical load on your body – there is an app called Chemical Maze which is free. Give it a go. Find a great organic supplier. Alexx Stuart recently recommended Organics on a Budget (in Australia) but there are plenty around the world ready and waiting to supply you. Or even better, grow your own food. You can grow 70kg of fresh fruit and veg on a tiny balcony (just ask Indira Naidoo), so no excuses!
Listen to your body
So basically, if you’re feeling a bit out of whack with the world, there is probably a really good reason. And thankfully, there is most probably something we can do about it.
What an amazing world we live in. It is all there for the taking, sometimes you just need to reach out. Happy hormones for everyone.
Alena Turley is an Australian mentor for mothers. Founder of the pioneering blog, the Soul Mama Hub, her wellbeing membership offers a powerful pathway for mothers ready to go from over-extended, stuck in the daily grind, to empowered, inspired and energised so they can become the CHANGEMAKERS they dream of being.