Did you know that you have a natural anti-anxiety hormone?

Women have a hormone that is produced in the ovaries and the adrenal glands that is like valium bathing the female mind. It helps reduce anxiety and is known as the peaceful hormone. It also helps us sleep soundly through the entire night.

What is this amazing hormone? Progesterone.

Progesterone acts on the gamma amino butyric (GABA) receptors in the brain (the same receptors sleeping pills, anti-anxiety medication and even alcohols act upon), producing a calming effect. GABA is the primary inhibitory transmitter in the brain. If you wake between 2am and 4 am wide awake, you likely have a progesterone deficiency.

Progesterone also affects the elasticity of our skin, memory, is anti-inflammatory, is a natural diuretic and helps normalize blood sugar. It also stimulates that cells that make new bone called osteoblasts. Translation, it keeps us looking and feeling our best!

Unfortunately progesterone leaves our bodies first and leaves us quickly. You can have a low progesterone level as early as your late 20’s! Many women think that their increased irritability, los of enjoyment of life and trouble sleeping if from their 24/7 lifestyle but it is likely more often due to a progesterone deficiency

Here are 7 common symptoms associated with low progesterone:

1. Anxiety
2. Waking at night
3. Fibrocystic breasts
4. PMS
5. Bone loss
6. Low libido
7. Infertility or irregular periods

Here are 3 simple and natural things you can do to help your own body produce more progesterone:

• Vitamin C. A dose of 750-1000 mg has been shown in studies to raise progesterone in women.
• Selenium. 200-400 mcg/day was shown to boost production of progesterone in an Italian study.
• The spices turmeric, thyme and oregano are also useful for progesterone. Use in cooking whenever you can.

Topical progesterone is also available over-the-counter.

If you find that it takes a bit more energy to keep your cool or that you are no longer sleeping through the night I encourage you to look to progesterone as a way to help. You can go to www.drtami.com and take a free hormone quiz to see where you might lie and what you can do with nutrition, supplements and lifestyle changes to feel even better.

Remember, fine is a four letter word. You deserve to feel FABULOUS!

Dr. Tami Meraglia is double board certified MD in Cosmetic and Integrative Medicine, who focuses on hormones and ways to boost and balance them. She has a particularly unique knowledge on testosterone in females and how it affects everything from weight loss to sex drive. Her approach is to use natural remedies such as nutrition, targeted supplements and real life stress tools that are both physically and mentally effective, to treat her patients. The Hormone Secret is her first book was released April 14, 2015.

Image courtesy Flickr