Hormones Are Not Just About Periods and Menopause
When most people hear the word hormones, they think PMS, hot flushes, or mood swings but hormones govern far more than that.
They control energy, mood, metabolism, sleep, skin health, libido, fertility, stress response, and immune function.
Yet in today’s modern world, hormone disruption has become almost normalised. We see:
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Chronic fatigue
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Irregular cycles
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Adult acne
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Anxiety and irritability
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Thyroid sluggishness
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Infertility and PCOS
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Menopausal discomfort
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Unexplained weight gain
We’re told this is just ageing. Just stress. Just female biology.
But beneath the surface of all this? Nutritional deficiency. And one key missing piece is healthy fat specifically, fat-soluble vitamins from animal sources, like tallow.
Why Tallow?
Tallow is rendered fat from grass-fed cattle used for centuries in European and British cooking and traditional remedies.
Before seed oils took over supermarket shelves, tallow was the standard cooking fat in homes and restaurants.
It is:
1. Nutrient-dense
2. Stable under heat (unlike vegetable oils)
3. Rich in vitamins vital for hormonal balance
Let’s break this down.
Seed Oils vs Tallow: A Silent Hormonal Crisis
Modern diets are overloaded with industrial seed oils sunflower, rapeseed, vegetable, soybean, canola.
These oils were never meant for human consumption. They are chemically extracted, often from genetically modified crops, then deodorised and bleached to appear edible.
Once inside the body, they oxidise easily, increasing inflammation and disrupting cell membranes including those of hormone receptors.
In contrast, tallow is naturally stable, meaning it does not turn rancid when heated. It supports cell membranes rather than damaging them.
If your body is made of cells…and cells are made of fat…
Then the fats you eat are literally building your hormone system.
The Fat-Soluble Vitamin Connection
Tallow is rich in vitamin A, D, E, and K2, all of which are crucial for hormone production and regulation.
Let’s look at how each one supports balance:
Nutrient | Role in Hormones |
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Vitamin A (Retinol) | Supports thyroid hormones, skin cell turnover, fertility, and progesterone balance |
Vitamin D | Required for sex hormone production and mood regulation |
Vitamin K2 | Directs calcium, supports bone density, reduces PMS and menopausal symptoms |
Vitamin E | Protects ovaries and testes, improves blood flow, supports adrenal function |
Most people today are deficient in these fats because they’ve been replaced with processed oils and low-fat diets.
Tallow as a Hormonal Food
Unlike synthetic supplements, tallow delivers these nutrients in their most natural, bioavailable form.
This means the body recognises them and uses them efficiently like plugging missing parts back into a machine.
When used consistently, tallow may support:
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Thyroid function — boosting metabolism and energy
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Progesterone production — easing PMS irritability, anxiety, and tender breasts
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Cortisol regulation — balancing stress response
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Post-menopausal moisture and elasticity — both inside and out
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Libido and vitality
How to Use Tallow for Hormonal Support
Tallow can be used in two primary ways: Internal nourishment and Topical repair.
1. Eat It As a Daily Ancestral Fat
You can cook with tallow the same way you’d use butter or coconut oil.
Add it to:
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Roast vegetables
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Frying eggs
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Seared meats
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Homemade chips and roasted potatoes
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Bone broth and soups
Starting your day with protein + tallow stabilises blood sugar, reducing hormonal crashes throughout the day.
2. Apply It to Skin Nourish Through Absorption
Did you know the skin absorbs nutrients directly into the bloodstream?
Tallow balms and creams can:
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Soothe hot flushes around the chest and neck
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Calm hormonal breakouts
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Support elasticity in thinning menopausal skin
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Help cracked nipples postpartum
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Soothe eczema caused by histamine imbalance
When applied, it mimics our skin’s own oils meaning it doesn’t sit on top like a synthetic lotion, but melts into the lipid barrier, restoring it from within.
Is Tallow Safe for All Hormone Stages?
Yes, tallow is suitable for:
1. Teenagers with hormonal acne
2. Women with PMS or cycle irregularities
3. Pregnancy & breastfeeding (ancestral cultures gave women extra fat for fertility)
4. Postpartum healing
5. Perimenopause & menopause for dryness and irritation
6. Men with testosterone decline
Hormones are not just a “woman’s issue” they are human biology, and tallow nourishes them across life stages.
Why Skincare Matters in Hormonal Health
Many people only think about diet when addressing hormones but skincare plays a hidden role.
Most commercial moisturisers contain:
1. Endocrine disruptors
2. Synthetic fragrances
3. Petrochemical bases
4. Stabilising agents that mimic oestrogen
These enter the bloodstream and confuse hormone receptors.
Switching to 100% natural lipid-based skincare like tallow balm removes hidden hormonal stressors from your daily routine.
Modern Science Meets Ancient Instinct
Our ancestors didn’t have the language of “hormone balance,” but they had tradition. Pregnant women, new mothers, and elders were given:
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Bone marrow
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Organ meats
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Animal fats like tallow
Why? Because these foods build life.
Today, science has finally confirmed what tradition always knew:
Animal fats are foundational to hormonal resilience.
Tallow is Not Just Skincare It’s Hormonal Nourishment
If you’ve tried every supplement, every low-fat diet, every hormone-balancing tea and still feel out of sync it may be time to return to the basics.
Your body wasn’t built on seed oils and synthetic creams. It was designed for ancestral foods that rebuild you from the inside out.
Tallow isn’t trendy. It’s timeless.
And for hormones, that may be exactly what’s needed.