The holidays are meant to fill your heart – not drain your energy. Yet between travel, gatherings, stress, and indulgence, many women notice increased fatigue, mood swings, bloating, and disrupted sleep.
Understanding how your heart, hormones, and habits interact is the foundation for staying balanced and energized all season long.
How the Holidays Affect Hormonal and Heart Health
As daylight shortens and routine shifts, your body may be producing more cortisol, the primary stress hormone. Elevated cortisol disrupts estrogen, progesterone, thyroid function, and metabolism, according to a 2022 study in Stress and Health.*
Cold weather also reduces circulation, forcing the heart to work harder to keep tissues oxygenated. Combined with sugar, alcohol, and lack of sleep, this creates the perfect storm for hormonal imbalance and low energy.
Nitric Oxide: Your Winter Wellness Secret
Nitric oxide helps your blood vessels relax and improves oxygen and nutrient delivery throughout your body. It also supports insulin sensitivity and hormone signaling.
Clinical research in Nitric Oxide: Biology and Chemistry confirms that dietary nitrates significantly improve vascular function, supporting heart health and endurance.*
Additional research in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences confirms nitric oxide as a primary regulator of circulation.*
The “Holiday Health Trio”: Nourish, Move, Restore
- Nourish with Winter Superfoods
| Food | Why It Helps | Festive Use |
| Beetroot | Improves blood flow | Soups, roasted sides |
| Leafy Greens | Supports hormone metabolism | Grain bowls, omelets |
| Pomegranate | Protects blood vessels | Yogurt, salads |
| Citrus & Berries | Enhances nitrate absorption | Smoothies, teas |
| Garlic & Herbs | Supports blood pressure | Stews, roasting |
A 2020 systematic review in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition confirms that beetroot improves blood pressure and endothelial function.*
Long-term data in Current Atherosclerosis Reports (2011) confirms that dietary nitrates protect , not harm, cardiovascular health.*
- Move for Energy and Mood
Regular movement boosts nitric oxide and supports estrogen and cortisol regulation. Even 20 minutes of walking improves circulation and lymphatic drainage.
3. Restore Through Quality Rest
Chronic stress and poor sleep disrupt hormone balance and metabolic health. Recovery is a non-negotiable part of winter wellness.
When to Check In with a Specialist
Ongoing fatigue, mood changes, bloating, cold sensitivity, or irregular cycles may signal deeper imbalances. A Comprehensive Wellness Panel at Revibe Health can assess:
- Hormones
- Thyroid health
- Inflammation
- Nutrient status
- Cardiovascular risk
Your Holiday Health Checklist
✅ Eat nitrate-rich vegetables
✅ Move your body daily
✅ Prioritize sleep
✅ Manage stress intentionally
✅ Schedule a wellness check-in
Your health doesn’t take a holiday – with mindful choices, your body can thrive through every season.
Ready to feel your best through every season? Schedule a wellness visit at Revibe Health and learn how a personalized approach to hormone and heart health can help you thrive – naturally.
Sources
Bryan N.S., Loscalzo J. (2009). Nutritional epidemiology in the context of nitric oxide biology: A risk–benefit evaluation for dietary nitrite and nitrate. Free Radical Biology and Medicine. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1089860309001165
Hord N.G. (2011). Dietary nitrates, nitrites, and cardiovascular disease. Current Atherosclerosis Reports.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11883-011-0209-9
Ignarro L.J., Buga G.M., Wood K.S., Byrns R.E., Chaudhuri G. (2019). Endothelium-derived relaxing factor produced and released from artery and vein is nitric oxide. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.84.24.9265
Kapil V., Weitzberg E., Lundberg J.O., Ahluwalia A. (2015). Clinical evidence demonstrating the utility of inorganic nitrate in cardiovascular health. Nitric Oxide: Biology and Chemistry.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.niox.2015.04.004
Stephens M.A.C., Turner R.J. (2022). Stress, the HPA axis, and health outcomes: insights into the role of cortisol. Stress and Health.
https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.3154
Zamani H., de Joode M.E.J.R., Hossein I.J., Henckens N.F.T., Guggeis M.A., Berends J.E., van Breda S.G.J. (2020). The benefits and risks of beetroot juice consumption: a systematic review. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition.
https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2020.1746629