Do you want to know the real reason many women suddenly put on weight once they hit 30?

We lament about it with our friends and most of us just resign ourselves to what we believe to be an unavoidable fate. But what we don’t realise is that we can actually do something about it.

I’m not referring to diet and exercise, which many of us do intensify when we begin to balloon, often to no avail. Want to know why?

The unsuspecting culprit behind sudden and unexplained weight gain in our 30s (and even 20s for some) is… Hormonal imbalance.

Yes, let’s talk about this terribly unglam topic for a moment. 

Hormonal imbalance in women can cause our entire systems to go out of whack. Despite our best efforts towards slimming and weight loss, we still pile on the pounds. Despite our best efforts to implement healthy living habits, our body keeps craving sugar. We suffer poor sleep quality and ensuing irritability, not to mention the additional period problems and discomfort!

 Aside from age, several other factors can also contribute to hormonal imbalance in women. These include unwise food choices, stress, chemicals in cigarettes, and toxins in skincare and personal care products.

How do you know if your hormones are imbalanced without taking a blood test? You can do a DIY check for the following symptoms:

 1. Period Check:

• Irregular, absent periods

 2. Weight Check:

• Unexplained weight gain or weight loss
• Difficulty in losing weight

 3. Skin Check:

• Acne or pimples on the chin

 4. Energy Level Check:

• Fatigue
• Lack of energy
• Low sex drive

 5. Mood Check:

• Mood swings and irritability

If you suspect your hormones may be in a state of flux, don’t fret. There are many things you can do to control hormonal imbalance. Here are five healthy living tips to start with: 

 1. Make gradual adjustments to your diet

Cut down on sugar: A lot of foods we eatcontain processed sugar, which we may not even realise, such as canned drinks and sugared coffee.

Add healthy fats: Our body needs a variety of fats for a healthy balance of hormones. Include avocados, wild salmon and grass-fed animal products in your diet.

 2. Change personal care and skincare products

According to Environment Working Group, an American advocacy organisation, the average woman uses 12 products containing 168 different ingredients a day. Take a quick look at the ingredients on the labels of the products you use and check if they contain hormone-disrupting chemicals such as triclosan, parabens and phthalates.

 3. Address stress

Exercise, spend time outdoors, and get some fresh air and sun. Go for spa and massage treatments to help relax and de-stress your whole system.

 4. Consume supplements

Supplements fill the nutritional voids in our diet. Consume oral supplements such as evening primrose oil.

There are also topical supplements that help to support our hormonal functions, such as Meditrina Ageless Herbal Cream. Combining the wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine and natural and preventative therapies, the topical cream can be used at home, or as a massage complement atone of our spa partners.

 5. Sleep more!

The most overlooked remedy to hormonal imbalance in women is actually just sleep. We’re talking 7 to 8 hours of good quality sleep every night. Lack of sleep is one of the worst habits contributing to a hormonal imbalance. Because good sleep allows the body to recover properly and helps keep stress hormones balanced. Poor sleep, coupled with excessive stress, can lead to higher levels of morning cortisol (known as the stress hormone), decreased immunity and focus, and a higher susceptibility to anxiety, weight gain and depression. To get your hormones nicely balanced and functioning optimally, try to get to bed by 10 p.m. ideally, and stick to a regular sleep-wakecycle as far as possible.

We know it’s hard, especially under the stress of city life. But with these healthy living tips, it is possible to control hormonal imbalance and keep our bodies in an optimal state of wellbeing.