3:30itis could it be your hormones?

3:30itis could it be your hormones?

As the clock ticks over to 3:30pm many of us experience a small case of 3:30itis which may cause anything from lethargy, the inability to concentrate and the need to procrastinate. The biggest question is how do you cure 3:30itis? Is it as simple as eating an apple, having a glass of water, going for a walk, choosing an interesting work task? Or, could it be something more serious, like your hormones?

To find out more about your hormones and the vital role they play in your body as well as to find a professional complementary healthcare practitioner visit www.tellmeabouthormones.com.au. The website contains credible, easy to read information to help educate you about hormones, the role they play in our health and the importance of consulting a professional complementary healthcare practitioner who can assess your hormone health and advise of a suitable complementary treatment plan.

Naturopath Andrea Hepner explains how 3.30itis affects many people in this piece:
3.30itis affects many people. Usually you experience symptoms such as low energy and a sugar craving. However, you can also experience a headache, brain- fog or you can even start to feel dizzy.

We experience 3.30itis when there is a drop in our blood sugar levels. This is also known as hypoglycemia. The hormone insulin is involved in this process.

Insulin is the "gate keeper" for allowing sugar inside our cells to be burnt up. When insulin locks onto a receptor on the cell, the "gates" open and sugar travels into the cells to give us energy and vitality- therefore we can think a lot clearer, feel good and have a lot more energy.

Insulin is a regulator of blood sugar levels, so it is important to keep insulin levels nice and steady. If your insulin levels are going up and down like a see-saw, when they go down, you can start to suffer from 3.30itis.

If you suffer from 3.30itis for an extended period of time, this can result in type two diabetes in the future, so you want to take action and stop your sugar cravings now!

To keep your blood sugar levels nice and even, choose wholegrains, cereals (no added sugar) and porridge (not quick oats). A 'wholegrain' cereal means that you can see the whole grain- so make sure it hasn't been processed through a machine.

Start the day with a wholegrain bread, non-toasted natural muesli or porridge. Unfortunately, coffee can have an affect on your blood sugar levels, so it is important not to drink too much- try to have ½ strength if you need to have it.

Make sure you have a morning snack- reaching for the coffee or sweet biscuits will upset your blood sugar levels and could give you 3.30itis later in the day- so grab a piece of fruit, some nuts or carrot sticks with hummus.

Eat plenty of vegetables or salad with protein (fish, chicken, nuts, and red meat) at lunch and dinner.

Instead of reaching for the chocolate at 3.30- grab an apple or some almonds instead. It is so much healthier and you will notice a huge difference after a couple of days.

If you are still getting sugar cravings, sprinkling cinnamon onto your breakfast or your fruit will help with blood sugar regulation and keep you "up and at em" during the whole day.When your blood sugar levels are stable throughout the day, you will no longer feel the need to procrastinate or feel unmotivated to do anything. Eating the correct food throughout the day will help you feel like you can think clearly again, give you more energy and help to you get better results at work because you can be more productive.

If you are still having trouble with 3.30itis, see a naturopath. Naturopaths will look at your diet in a greater detail and help you to make the changes you need so that you don't have to suffer any longer. They can also give you potent nutrients and herbs to stop 3.30itis, get you feeling fantastic again and help you to be proactive in your own health. It's better to be proactive, rather than reactive.
- Andrea Hepner

The Period Pain Guru and Naturopath, Andrea Hepner has been helping women who experience period pain and related symptoms for many years. She is also a specialist in hormonal imbalance and fertility issues. To contact Andrea Hepner for treatment call 1300 21 44 25 or go to www.periodpain.com.au