As you age you may wonder why is it that when we are young, we get sick less frequently? In addition why is the incidence of cancer, heart disease, stroke and other chronic illnesses so low when we are young? You may be startled to learn that the answer is pretty simple. We are full of hormones, we are young and we have not had the time to destroy our natural hormone balance. This is what happens as we age: we abuse our bodies with bad food, lack of exercise, stress, relationships and jobs that do not turn out the way we had hoped they would. The wear and tear alone on our bodies will cause problems. The stress of everyday living can give you pimples and make you want to stuff yourself with cookies and ice cream, but most importantly it will also erode your delicate hormone balance.

Because of this hormonal imbalance you may find yourself experiencing more PMS then usual, maybe a hot flash or two. As this sets in you may find you cannot sleep well at night. You may toss and turn and wake up in a pool of sweat. Along with all of these problems your sex drive leaves you and you start to gain an inordinate amount of weight just by looking at the food.

When this has happened your hormone balance has been thrown off. Initially, it may only be that you are not ovulating as regularly as you used to. Most importantly this means you no longer make the quality and quantity of progesterone your body desperately needs in order to keep the estrogen balance safe and healthy. As your progesterone goes, too much estrogen stimulates your insulin to widely fluctuate. These insulin fluctuations translate into food cravings. You then crave sugar, not just regular fruit sugar, but cookies, cakes, and ice cream. The cycle is a vicious one as you crave processed carbohydrates, which destroy your body and further erode your hormone balance.

As we age, we also find ourselves less resilient and less likely to bounce back from the smallest of illnesses. Because your immune system is not as strong and able to fight off attacks you will become sicker easier and stay sick longer. And this is all because your hormone balance is off and balance, called homeostasis, is no longer an easy thing to achieve.

You then may also start gaining weight because your thyroid hormones are also slowing down and with estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, insulin and cortisol in the picture; they create a slowing metabolism scenario that can lead to chronic illnesses. At this point your worries may include diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis and any other illness that will give your doctor a reason to exist, make the drug companies rich, and you sick. It falls to you to make sure this does not happen to you.

Here are some tried and true tips that will help keep your hormones balanced. As with any health-related recommendations be sure and check with your physician before making any significant lifestyle changes or beginning any new medical treatment.

1. Eat a diet high in protein, limit processed carbohydrates, stay with low saturated fats, avoid soda, alcohol, coffee and sugar substitutes.
2. Make exercise a daily ritual. Challenge yourself to move every day for 1 hour for the rest of your life
3. Deal with stress constructively. Seek out help for stressful issues. Promote an honest way of life. Do not lie to yourself or others. Do not be embarrassed that you are human.
4. Get plenty of sleep. Health care experts recommend no less than 5 hours of sleep per night with the optimum being between 7-9 hours. Take steps to insure you can sleep well.
5. Studies show that people who have deep and meaningful relationships with others have a significantly higher degree of health. While happily married people seem to benefit from this the most, if you are not dating nor have a significant other consider deepening bonds with family and friends. Your hormone balance will be happier too.
6. A satisfying sexual relationship is also helpful in maintaining a healthy hormonal balance. Look to establish an intimate connection with your partner for the benefit of both of your health.
7. If necessary explore the options of synthetic or bio identical hormones to insure you are keeping your hormone balance alive and well. Consult your health care professional for advice on hormone replacement and your need for it.
8. Live a life full of gratitude and passion. Studies show that when people have a job, hobby, or interest they are passionate about they are both healthier and happier.