Where is this Rage Coming From?

Ever wondered who the hell cut your fuse so short and why your buttons are so easily pressed? It’s because you don’t deal with Cortisol flooding your body in the same way that you did in your 20s. It’s almost like our patience, ability to rationalise and that youthful serenity dries up, leaving you standing on the precipice of losing your temper at any given moment. And how do we deal with that fury, stress and Cortisol driven rage? We comfort ourselves with processed fare, alcohol and decide that the day has just been too stressful to move our bodies - we decide that we will help ourselves tomorrow, but when tomorrow comes, it's filled with more of the same adolescent petulance, bad drivers and unmanageable workloads that have the potential to send us over the edge. This results in us forming habits that impact our health and hormonal balance negatively.

Gluten is a hormone disruptor and it can impact your Oestrogen and Progesterone levels. Your digestive tract can become inflamed, which in turn can increase your Cortisol levels. DT suggests that if you are experiencing moments of blind rage, it might be worth cutting out gluten temporarily to see if it makes any difference. So swap out the pasta and bread for some rice, quinoa, oats, buckwheat, corn and teff. Always try and buy organic where possible to avoid pesticides that can be found on regular grains.  

BPA is found in cans, plastic bottles and microwave popcorn. DT highlights that, without noticing, you may be filling up on products containing Xenoestrogens, toxins that mimic oestrogen.  

Triclosan is found in some deodorant, toothpaste, antibac soap and body wash and is associated with a decrease in the levels of some thyroid hormones. 

Phthalate which is found in some scented candles, perfume, body lotions, air freshener and plastic wrap are endocrine disruptors and are detrimental to human health. 

Alcohol also has a detrimental effect on our Oestrogen levels.  As devastating as it is, alcohol is a toxin that our liver has to metabolise; this extra pressure on our liver decreases its ability to detox Oestrogen. DT is not suggesting that you should sacrifice that Friday night glass of wine (cough - bottle), but you should be conscious of how much you are drinking.  Swapping out some of your booze intake for Kombucha or WillPowder’s Nootropic energy boost, Brain Powder is a great way of getting the same kick, but without the liver damage. 

Not only does DT highlight what can really throw you out of sync and hurl you into a fit of rage, she also provides some brilliant hacks that can support your Oestrogen regulation:  

A diet rich in fibre is great for an Oestrogen detox as it increases the passage of Oestrogen through the bowels. Sources of fibre goodness include: beans (lentils, pinto, kidney and black beans); fruit (apples, pears and kiwi fruit); veg (carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, watercress and other brassicas); seeds and nuts (flaxseeds sunflower seeds and walnuts); grains (white rice and quinoa). Be sure to soak overnight grains and beans to oxalates which can be anti-nutrient. 

Have a good cry and let your tears rid you of the excessive Cortisol you don’t need.