“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease" - World Health Organization

Introduction:

One of the biggest problems of the 21st century in health & wellbeing is hiding in plain site!!

The self imposed daily stress on being connected 24/7, plus the poison we are putting into our digestive tract is harming our epi-centre of health... OUR GUT!

If you are a woman over 40 and dealing with mood swings, brain fog, stubborn belly weight, or unpredictable digestion… I can almost guarantee it's not just your hormones. It's likely poor gut health — and more importantly, the deep connection between the two.

The Gut-Hormone Highway

Your gut and hormones are in constant communication. In fact, your gut isn’t just digesting food — it’s helping regulate key hormones like:

• Estrogen

• Cortisol

• Insulin

• Serotonin

When your gut is inflamed, sluggish, or lacking in beneficial bacteria, it can throw your entire endocrine system off balance — especially during menopause, when hormonal shifts are already in motion.

Most women who become my client are a metabolic 'mess' by the time I see them, and their internal health has been a silent decline for 10, 15, 20 years, mainly because they have not looked after themselves properly with good healthy habits in diet, exercise and stress management.

Your gut is more than just a digestion station — it’s a control center for hormone regulation, especially in menopause. The microbiome (your gut’s good bacteria) influences estrogen metabolism, cortisol balance, and even serotonin production.

When your gut health is off, it can worsen symptoms like:

• Hot flashes

• Bloating

• Mood swings

• Fatigue

• Weight gain

What Eastern Holistic Practices Says About Digestion and Hormones

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), your digestion is part of the Spleen and Stomach system — it’s your Earth element, responsible for nourishment, stability, and energy (responsible for transforming food into usable energy (Qi)). When this system is weak and imbalanced, it can trigger many common symptoms listed in next section below.

Instead of isolating gut issues from hormone issues, TCM looks at the whole ecosystem of your body — where the Spleen, Liver, and Kidneys all play a role in digestion, stress response, and hormonal harmony.

Warning Signs Your Gut May Be Affecting Your Hormones

You may know these symptoms all too well, and your gut not your hormones could be the culprit.

• Irregular bowel movements

• Frequent bloating or gas

• Poor sleep and sluggish mornings

• Food sensitivities

• Cravings for sugar or carbs

Sadly my experience with many clients, at least 80% of them are on medication for mood disorders such as anxiety, depression, or have digestive complaints and on medication for acid reflux or IBS.

Merely treating the symptoms does NOT improve health, nor does it resolve the problem, it merely 'masks' the symptoms of a greater underlying imbalance, meanwhile the internal storm starts to spread and affect more organ systems.

A holistic approach investigates to find the root cause of the imbalance, this is exactly how I approach my new clients, looking at their current life situation and habits, past lifestyle factors, traumas, habits. All of these things need to be considered.

Symptoms do not appear overnight, they have been smoldering away silently in the background until the problem overflows into physical and emotional symptoms.

Important Gut-Supportive Shifts to Start Today

The first area you want to address is your lifestyle habits.

It is a scientific FACT that your health habits, or lack of, will determine the quality of your healthfulness.

Take note of this list if you want to improve your gut health and hormone harmony.

Dietary habits to stop:

• Consuming excess sugar, fat & chemicals in processed foods and fast foods, which worsen inflammation and disrupt both gut bacteria and hormone balance

• Drinking excessive alcohol

• Eating late at night or skipping meals

• Relying on caffeine crashes

• smoking

• drinking soda/ juice instead of 3 litres / 100oz water daily

Stress and sleep patterns to change:

• Chronic stress without management techniques, as elevated cortisol worsens hormone imbalance and gut inflammation

• Poor sleep hygiene and staying up late

• Overcommitting and not setting boundaries

Movement and body habits:

• Extreme dieting or calorie restriction, which can worsen hormone disruption during this sensitive time

• Excessive high-intensity exercise

• Completely sedentary lifestyle

Medication and supplement issues:

• Overusing antibiotics unnecessarily, which devastates gut bacteria

• Taking random supplements without understanding interactions or timing

• Ignoring prescription medication side effects that might be affecting digestion

Social and mental habits:

• Isolating yourself and avoiding support systems

• Negative self-talk about body changes, which increases stress hormones

• Ignoring symptoms or avoiding medical care for hormone and gut issues

3 Top Tips to Start Today ....

1. Warm Up Your Mornings
   Start your day with warm lemon water. This gently awakens digestion and supports Liver detoxification.

2. Add More Fiber — Especially Prebiotics
   START SLOWLY!! Feed your microbiome with fiber-rich foods like leafy greens, flaxseeds, chia, lentils, and oats. This supports estrogen metabolism and reduces inflammation (get my free Menopause Fiber Essentials)

3. Slow Down and Chew
   Digestion begins in the mouth. Mindful eating is about sitting, slowing down, being present and grateful for the nourishing food to repair and regenerate you body. Chew thoroughly and eat in a relaxed environment to activate your parasympathetic nervous system — your “rest and digest” mode.

Most women don't understand the different types of fiber foods, soluble, insoluble, how to combine them easily in foods to get the much needed 25g fiber per day. To take the guesswork out, grab my free guide that has grocery lists, and 25 ways to prepare your delicious veges 🥦. Click HERE >> Menopause Fiber Essentials

In Happy Gut Health 🍏

ALWAYS IN YOUR CORNER

BIG LOVE & GRATITUDE

Lisa X

Disclaimer: This information is not medical advice and is for education purposes only. For all medical concerns, consult your physician.

Watch this short video as Lisa explains the intimate connection between our gut health and hormone balance in ways you would not have imagined.