Using the Brainbodyhack “Lady Shot” , we can support our body and brain in hormonally demanding phases and thus reduce symptoms such as headaches, abdominal pain or depressive moods. We can act on the challenge as smart brain users.
Problem and Goal
What’s the problem?
Nature has arranged a woman's body in such a way that at a certain time of our cycle, the hormones estrogen and progesterone drop sharply. If this drop is very pronounced, we notice corresponding symptoms, such as headaches, abdominal pain or depression.
What’s the goal?
As smart brain users, we can do many things to alleviate these symptoms by learning what happens in our bodies and applying that knowledge accordingly.
Hack
Which hack can help us to reach our goal?
When using the Brainbodyhack “Lady Shot” as smart brain users, we can support our hormone balance in the luteal phase.
The ladies among us know only too well that our bodies are under the influence of our hormones. Of course, this is also the case with men, but the change is often clearly noticeable in women. Nature has arranged it in such a way that at a certain time of our cycle, the hormone progesterone, among other things, drops sharply. If this drop is very pronounced, we notice corresponding symptoms, such as headaches, abdominal pain or depressive moods.
But there is something we can do to alleviate these symptoms.These sypmtoms are triggered, among other things, by the increase in inflammatory processes.
Examples
We can support our body during this time by mitigating the inflammatory reactions.The following mixture – loosely based on Dr. Stacy Sims 1 – can reduce PMS symptoms:
- 1 gram of omega-3 fatty acids
- 45 milligrams of zinc
- 200 milligrams of magnesium
- 80 milligrams of willow bark extract (or aspirin, because some people can't tolerate willow bark)
- 30 mg saffron extract
- Optional Optional turmeric and ginger extract
- Bei niedrigem Ferritinwert im Blut (bei Frauen häufig der Fall): Eisen
Why does it work?
Inflammatory processes play a major role here. When sex hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, decrease, this triggers the release of inflammatory compounds such as prostaglandins and the enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2), which play a major role in fluid balance in the body.
The efficacy of willow bark extract on inflammation has been well studied 2. Together with turmeric and ginger extract and omega 3, COX-2 can not only be inhibited, but it can also trigger anti-inflammatory mechanisms. 2. Zusammen mit Kurkuma-, Ingwer Extrakt und Omega 3 kann COX-2 nicht nur gehemmt werden, sondern es können auch entzündungshemmende Mechanismen ausgelöst werden.
Magnesium is involved in many metabolism processes and can reduce the effects of stress and relieve muscle spasms. The body uses more magnesium and zinc during the luteal phase. Increasing magnesium and zinc levels can therefore help relieve pain and cramps.
Iron is important for the conversion of tryptophan into 5-HTP, the precursor of serotonin and also melatonin. Also, the active ingredients in saffron extract can increase the release of serotonin in the brain, thereby leading to the improvement of symptoms 3 . There is evidence that low serotonin levels increase symptoms 4.
"We know that estrogen and progesterone have an impact on serotonin levels, which in turn has a direct effect on mood."
Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences
Of course, this mixture should be seen as a supplement to a balanced lifestyle, light exercise, good and above all protein-rich nutrition and few harmful substances are the basis on which the recommended cocktail is built during this time.
Progesterone-promoting foods include:
- Vegetables: tomatoes, cucumber, celery, carrots, garlic
- Seeds and cereals: buckwheat, oats, flaxseed, sunflower seeds
- Fruits: lemons, bananas and berries
- Nuts: hazelnuts, almonds and pistachios
- Herbs and spices: yarrow, honey clover, lady's mantle, saffron
Hack Rating
I have tested all hacks for time, cost and efficiency (minimal, low, medium, high, very high). Here is my personal rating for today's hack:
Time required: low
Cost: low – medium
Efficiency: medium - high Knowing about the inflammatory processes, the serotonin level and the recommended active ingredients have made a decisive difference for me.
More on the subject
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1069032/
- https://www.drstacysims.com/blog/nail-a-pr-at-every-phase-of-your-menstrual-cycle ↩︎
- Efficacy and Safety of White Willow Bark ↩︎
- https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1471-0528.2007.01652.x ↩︎
- Die prämenstruelle Depression ist auf eine Fehlregulierung des Neurotransmitters Serotonin im Gehirn zurückzuführen ↩︎