I am a terrible listener. Usually I am going headlong into a conversation, running my mouth and never listening to a word that comes out of the other person. But lately I have been listening to my body. A lot. I suppose it isn’t that difficult when it is yelling at you that it doesn’t like the way you’ve been treating it. No exercise. Processed foods. Stress. My body was definitely saying, “no thank you!”

So, I’ve been doing a lot of research and experimenting lately to try to find the lifestyle that works for me. Or rather what can I do to bring out the best in my body. I’ve always wondered, “how to do those other mamas raise 4 small children, take care of their marriage, keep their home together, and find the inspiration, energy, and time in the day to run their own business?” Well, I’d hypothesize a lot of it has to do with good health.

Taking out the gluten in my life has been a challenging, but very pivotal step for me toward better health. I feel physically able and so many physiological ailments have disappeared. (It does feel like they have disappeared.)

But I was starting to feel groggy again during the middle of my menstrual cycle. I couldn’t concentrate on anything. I felt perpetually tired and sleepy. And I was more on edge, ragged, and less inclined to be productive.

After a look at my symptoms and some Internet searching (oh, that can be scary) I came to hypothesize that perhaps I have an estrogen imbalance.

Estrogen and progesterone work together in the female body. Though these hormones are known to help many bodily functions such as circulation and brain activity, the function they affect perhaps most profoundly is reproduction. But hormonal balance is quite delicate. After the first day of a woman’s period and up to ovulation, estrogen levels increase. After ovulation, estrogen levels subside a bit and progesterone levels increase. This luteal phase is when the implantation of a fertilized embryo can occur and new life begins. If the body’s progesterone production is low, estrogen levels in the body rise to compensate.

Stress, poor diet, excessive weight, hormone replacement therapy and environmental exposure to xenoestrogens can cause an estrogen imbalance. Xenoestrogens, or environmental estrogens, can exacerbate high-estrogen symptoms. Xenoestrogens are chemicals and substances that work within the body like estrogen and are found in pesticides, processed foods, pharmaceuticals, and plastics. Just think about how many of those items we come in contact with each day. I had four of these five factors in my life. It is no wonder my body is telling me, too much!

Symptoms of high estrogen levels are all those good PMS symptoms. Fatigue, water retention, weight gain, forgetfulness, moodiness, depression, breast tenderness, and on and on. Google it. It’s all right there. A simple test can actually determine if you in fact do have high estrogen levels.

High levels of estrogen are linked to some types of breast and ovarian cancers. This was the eye-opener that got my butt in gear to try to do something about it.

There is of course synthetic hormone therapy, but I wanted to start natural. (And since I admittedly have a fear of doctors, I wanted to go the least invasive route.) I decided that magnesium and B-6 supplements were a good place to start. And boy did these little supplements make a huge difference for me.

I feel normal after taking these little pills. Low levels of magnesium and B-6 are linked to high estrogen imbalance. I have been taking these supplements for about a month now and I feel more energetic, clear of mind, optimistic, and stronger.

I always knew my cycle was a bit unusual and I had a really difficult time participating in regular life routines. But I didn’t realize a diet change and adding a few supplements to my diet would truly brought my life back into line. Now I am eager to find out what adventures lie ahead, and I am super happy that I can actually be there. Listening to your body is so vital to living a full life.

NOTE: I should add, I am not a doctor, nor do I have medical training in this area, so I can’t advise you how to decide what medical and lifestyle choices would be best for you. If you do have a suspicion your body isn’t working well, consult your doctor. Feeling whole can open a whole new world out there.