Restore balance by making holistic shifts to your diet and lifestyle and learn to support clients to do the same in our Hormone Health Course.

Sara Jensen was at a loss. She had tried everything in her power to have a child, something she had always dreamed of. The Hugh & Grace co-founder had given up running, even though that had been such an important part of her life. (She has been an ultra-marathoner, regularly logging 100-mile weeks.) She had been doing acupuncture three days a week, even though she utterly despised needles. She had spent a fortune on fertility treatments, elite doctors, and all kinds of bloodwork. 

And still, nothing. 

It was during the sixth round of IVF treatment that she finally broke down. What was the cause of these unexplained infertility issues?

“What chemicals are you spraying around your house?” Her doctor asked her. “What skincare and wellness products are you using?” 

What goes in (and on) your body directly affects your hormones, the doctor explained. Sara remembers that during her IVF treatment, she was prescribed a hormone cream. She would rub a small amount on her skin at night, and the next day a blood test would reveal that her hormone levels had spiked.  

“If a small amount of cream can have such an impact on my hormones,” she remembers thinking, “everything else can, too.” 

Sara’s story has a very happy ending, of course. With the assistance of two family members who volunteered to be their surrogates, Sara and her husband, Ben, had two miracle children: Hugh and Grace. Inspired by what they learned throughout their journey, they created Hugh & Grace, a line of high-performance products that help reduce chemical exposure. 

So how significant of a problem is this, really? It’s far more critical than pretty much anyone realizes. 

The average man applies over 80 chemicals a day, Jensen says, and the average woman applies over 160 a day. That’s on top of the hundreds of additional chemicals that we’re exposed to in our natural environments. 

But Jensen stresses that there are simple things you can do to improve your hormone health, and implementing them doesn’t need to be overwhelming, stressful, or expensive.  

How to Avoid Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and Optimize Your Hormone Health 

So how can you avoid endocrine-disrupting chemicals and improve your overall hormone health? There are endless ways, and you can easily work them into your daily routine. 

Jensen recommends very simple lifestyle changes, such as never touching receipts, using a water filtration system, and avoiding using plastics, when possible. She also advises using products that are third-party tested. (Most aren’t.) 

Jensen also encourages taking work breaks and going for walks, getting enough sunlight during the day, and listening to focus-enhancing music during your workday. 

“Listening to music can elevate your dopamine levels, enhance your focus, and ease work-related stress, which in turn helps regulate your cortisol,” Jensen says. 

As for physical things you can do during the day to boost your hormone health, Jensen recommends moving every hour — even for just a few minutes — to promote blood flow and maintain energy, and taking a minute throughout your day to bounce on the balls of your feet. Doing so stimulates your lymphatic system, supports detoxification, and enhances circulation. 

Jensen is also a proponent of deep squats, which regulate stress hormones, improve insulin sensitivity, and promote the release of testosterone and growth hormones. 

And going back to the earlier point about water filtration, staying hydrated throughout the day is so key because it supports energy, mental clarity, and hormone function, as well as nutrient transport, detoxification, and temperature regulation. 

If you’re looking to set the foundation for whole-body hormone health, Jensen recommends Hugh & Grace’s The Routine, which supports improved physical, mental, sexual, and skin health. It includes Hydrate + Detox (super pre- and probiotics, L-Glutathione, and more), Marine Collagen Peptides (Jensen puts the collagen in her morning coffee), and a morning supplement. 

Jensen advises using these products at the start of every day, and she directly attributes these products to helping her get off anxiety medication, lose weight, and improve her skin. 

What Is the Future of Hormone Health? 

Interest in hormone health, and the importance of it, has increased significantly in the last few years.  
 
But this is only the beginning, Jensen predicts. As it becomes more and more mainstream, it will continue to be a focal point of the holistic health and wellness movement. 

“Hormone health is the next gut health,” Jensen says. 
 
And according to Jensen, hormone health is projected to be a $50-80 billion market by 2030. 

You can learn all about the latest in hormone health in our best-in-class Hormone Health Course. You’ll dive deep into hormonal imbalances and their varying symptoms, the endocrine system, and how to maximize your nutrition for optimal hormone function. The course will help you make actionable, holistic shifts to your diet and lifestyle (and if you’re a Health Coach, you’ll learn to support clients to make those same changes). 

You’ll hear invaluable insights and innovations from leading hormone health minds, including holistic nutritionist Christa Orecchio, functional medicine doctor Carrie Jones, and sexual health specialist Susie Gronski. 

Learn more about the Hormone Health Course and enroll in the next cohort (beginning in January 2025) today.