“Countless women today report that they feel overwhelmed and at times like they can’t cope with their lives. They describe being absolutely exhausted but yet they also feel wired, amped up and stressed. Their sex hormones are usually significantly imbalanced and they often suffer from bloating,” Dr Libby said.
What Your Mother Never Told You About The Female Body
“They feel like their body betrays them, but what truly surprises me, is that they don’t fully understand the key processes at the heart of these symptoms – essentially what their body is trying to tell them.” It absolutely lights me up to help clear the confusion and dispel some of the crazy misconceptions I so often hear.”
Studies have estimated that irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) effects up to 1 in 5 women in New Zealand. It is not clear what causes IBS and the symptoms vary from person to person. The main symptoms are abdominal pain, bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhoea and/or intermittent bouts of both.
“For some, the symptoms may get worse for a few weeks or a month, and then decrease. For other people, symptoms are present most of the time – but the really sad thing for me to witness is that there are so many simple and effective ways you can support your digestive health,” reported Dr Libby.
And it’s not just women’s energy and digestive health that is suffering. “For too many women and teenage girls, menstruation means suffering with swollen congested breasts, heavy clotty painful periods and moods that swing between intense irritability and immense sadness, often within the same hour and for no identifiable reason. That is chaos for a woman and everyone around her.” She says it’s common but it’s not normal and the typical hormonal picture behind PMS is what is called ‘estrogen dominance’.
“It’s very difficult for a woman to remain patient and kind when she is experiencing the above health challenges, but starting with understanding the biological processes behind these symptoms is one of the best ways to make educated changes to your diet, lifestyle and the way you feel about yourself,” says Dr Libby.
Q&A with Dr Libby Weaver
Why is progesterone important for female health?
Progesterone is a powerful hormone. Its job from a reproductive perspective is to hold the lining of the uterus in place but biologically progesterone acts as an anti-anxiety agent, an antidepressant and a diuretic.
The only place we make progesterone in the first half of the menstrual cycle, is from the adrenal glands, which sit just on top of the kidneys. In over 17 years of practice I’m yet to see a women’s progesterone levels within the normal range, typically they’re very low – and the consequences to female health are significant.
How does stress influence our natural hormone balance?
Adrenaline communicates to every cell in your body that your life is literally in danger and cortisol communicates to every cell in your body that there’s no food left in the world. A woman’s body links progesterone to fertility therefore the last thing she would want is to bring a baby into a world where it perceives you are not safe and there is no food. Your body is therefore thinking it’s doing you a great big favour under what it considers stressful conditions, so it shuts off the adrenal production of progesterone. The result can then be an imbalance between estrogen and progesterone. Symptoms of this can include breast tenderness, anxiety, digestive issues, food cravings (generally sugar), fluid retention and headaches. It has been reported that around 85% of women in the western world suffer from the symptoms of PMT and it doesn’t have to be that way.
Is there anything that helps women transition into menopause?
Menopause is the ceasing of the ovarian production of hormones, at its simplest level. The two main ovarian hormones are estrogen and progesterone.
Progesterone also plays other roles in the body aside from those linked to fertility. As previously mentioned it’s an anti-anxiety agent, an antidepressant and a diuretic. To support someone into menopause I would apply strategies to support adrenal progesterone production. Stress is also of particular importance in menopause. Adrenal production of cortisol (a stress hormone) means adrenal production of progesterone can be compromised. Be mindful of what stresses you. Stress can be physical or emotional but the impact on the body is the same.
What does the thyroid gland do and how does it influence our health?
The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland that sits around the windpipe at the base of the neck. The thyroid gland is one of the largest endocrine (hormone producing) glands in the body.
The main function of thyroid hormones is to convert the calories in food into useable energy for the body. If thyroid hormone levels drop below normal levels, metabolism inside cells slows down and energy levels drop. If thyroid hormone levels become too high, metabolism and all body processes speed up. These hormones also help control body temperature, heart rate and help regulate the production of proteins. A functioning thyroid gland is an essential component of having outstanding health and well-being.
Many women suffer from low energy, aside from reaching for a cup of coffee – how can we help our energy production?
Low energy can be a complex one as it could indicate a number of underlying biochemical issues such as iron deficiency anaemia, adrenal fatigue or even a virus or bacterial infection. However, it can also have psychological reasons. For example you may be in a job or relationship that drain you. When you don’t feel like you’re living your values it is a lot more likely you will feel uninspired and subsequently tired. Also, consider the people you surround yourself with, do they uplift you, or do they drain you?
It has been reported that 1 in 5 women in New Zealand and Australia suffer from IBS, what can we do to support our digestive health?
The health of the gut is central to every aspect of health. It is through our digestive system that we absorb all of the goodness out of our food, a process that is absolutely essential for life. Many aspects of modern life can affect the health and integrity of the gut. Food, infective organisms and stress hormones are just a few of the potential culprits. Yet, there are so many simple and effective ways you can support or boost your digestive power, which I will discuss in my seminar.
What is the most common female body misconception you hear?
Unfortunately there are just so many! However, a common one I experience in clinical practice is mistaking a bloated stomach for excess abdominal fat. People often end up putting themselves on really calorie restrictive diet but all we really need to do to begin with is address their digestive health. When it comes to our health the parts of our body that frustrate or sadden you are simply messengers asking you to eat, drink, move, think, breathe, believe or perceive in a new way. See them as the gift that they are.
Dr Libby will be in a town near you soon with her new seminar, Understanding the Mysteries and Magic of the Female Body. For those in rural communities the seminar will also be available as an online seminar, from the 15th of April. For more information or for tickets visit www.drlibby.com.
