A hormone imbalance can often be the root cause of your symptoms but it doesn’t have to be the end of the story.
What woman hasn’t blamed feeling a little “off” on her hormones? We all do it. Mood swings, lack of sleep, anxiety, acne, and weight that just won’t budge can all be tied to a hormonal imbalance. You may be right in blaming one of the 50 hormones in your body for these symptoms. But, that doesn’t mean you should excuse your symptoms or accept them as normal.
Occasionally experiencing symptoms associated with hormonal imbalance may not be a cause of concern, but if your symptoms you attribute to PMS or peri-menopause persist for long periods of time, it is time to get to the bottom of it.
A hormone imbalance is often the root cause, but it doesn’t have to be the end of your health story.
If you’re wondering how to balance your hormones naturally, I’m here to offer you a solution. Instead of covering up or excusing your symptoms of hormonal imbalance, let’s look at the root cause and learn how to balance your hormones naturally.
What is a Hormone Imbalance?
There are nearly 50 hormones, or chemical messengers, in your body that regulate everything from sleep to metabolism. They are all part of the endocrine system, a network composed of glands responsible for maintaining proper communication, development, and regulation of the body’s cells.
Your hormones normally fluctuate, however, the modern environment is full of toxins that disrupt the functioning of this system. Often referred to as endocrine disruptors, these toxins commonly contribute to your hormonal imbalance.
When you have too much or too little of a certain hormone, you end up with a hormonal imbalance.
Common hormones people find they need to rebalance and optimize include thyroid, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, and insulin.
Causes of Hormonal Imbalance
There are natural changes that cause hormonal imbalance like puberty and menopause. On the other hand, some hormonal imbalances have underlying causes that are not part of the natural aging process.
Toxins
Toxins are found all over the environment, but they may not be what you think. Beauty products like makeup, shampoo, perfume, and household cleaning products like soaps and air fresheners are common sources of toxins our body has to find a way to process out. These products are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and may contain harmful chemicals. Even more, when chemicals undergo testing, they are often tested as single agents for safety and not with the hundreds of other chemicals they are combined with or exposed to on a daily basis. This makes it nearly impossible to know if exposure to a chemical is truly safe. Even products that do have tight regulations such as medical equipment and medication can contain harmful toxins.
These chemicals are often endocrine disruptors that can either block certain hormone receptors or mimic hormones causing an interruption to the delicate balance in our bodies.
Check a trusted source like Environmental Working Group before purchasing products to use on your body and in your home to see where it lines up with safety standards
Stress
Chronic stress is another cause of hormonal imbalance. It affects your adrenal glands by increasing levels of cortisol.Over time this disrupts downstream processes like the optimal functioning of your thyroid, healthy weight regulation, causes high blood pressure, increases glucose in the bloodstream, and disrupts both your digestive and reproductive systems.
Poor Diet
Eating too much sugar and processed foods lead to increased levels of the hormone insulin. Too much insulin results in obesity, heart disease, and insulin resistance. In addition, processed foods contain preservatives and pesticides that can act as estrogen-mimicking hormones and can lead to estrogen dominance.
Signs and Symptoms of a Hormonal Imbalance
Not everything points back to a hormonal imbalance. Here are the signs and symptoms to look out for that most likely indicate your hormones are out of balance:
- Weight gain or weight loss
- Chronic fatigue
- Mood swings, anxiety, or depression
- Low libido
- Brain fog
- Headaches
- Hot flashes/night sweats
- Trouble sleeping
- Thinning, brittle hair
- Heavy menstruation
- Lack of menstruation
Why Birth Control May Not be the Best Option
It is common practice for a prescription for birth control to be given to help “balance” hormones and get rid of the unwanted symptoms. . Unfortunately, hormonal birth control has been overprescribed to band-aid problems without addressing the root cause of those problems. Birth control is not as harmless as people think, it is notorious for depleting your body of key nutrients, may cause fertility issues later on, and can be dangerous for people with unknown underlying clotting disorders. While there are some situations where you may want to take hormonal birth control, it is not the best method to balance your hormones.
How to Balance Your Hormones Naturally
There are natural ways to beat your hormones and bring them back into balance. You should always consult your medical provider before attempting any type of treatment. However, many of these natural solutions are simple lifestyle changes. Here’s how you can improve your health and begin to experience relief.
Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Chronic inflammation leads to hormonal imbalances like thyroid disease, insulin resistance, and adrenal fatigue. Eating an anti-inflammatory diet will help you combat inflammation. You can restore your health and balance your hormones by avoiding certain inflammatory food like:
- Artificial colors, flavors, and sweeteners
- Dairy products
- Food that you have an allergy, intolerance, or sensitivity to
- Fried foods
- Gluten
- Processed foods
- Refined oils
- Sugar
- Trans fats
Replace these foods with healthy fats, quality protein sources, and lots of fresh vegetables and fruits.
Avoid Toxins
This may be easier said than done, but it is worth it for your hormonal health. Buy non-toxic personal care products and household cleaners to help mitigate the number of toxins in your home. If it’s too expensive to buy all new products, try to replace one at a time and you can find numerous DIY recipes online for non-toxic homemade products. Click here to view my favorite clean beauty brand.
Exercise
Exercise increases the levels of dopamine in your brain which help reduce stress. It also helps your body release serotonin which can aid in sleep and digestion. Exercise promotes healthy estrogen metabolism, keeping estrogen in balance, and may even boost testosterone. The hormones you need to balance will help determine what type of exercise is best for you. That may be longer aerobic exercise or shorter, high-impact workouts.
Stress Relief
Stress disrupts your body in so many ways. Many times hormones are difficult to balance until you address the stress in your life. Try and incorporate at least one stress management practice into your daily routine to help lower cortisol levels. That could include prayer, journaling, meditation, taking a walk, or breathing exercises.
Supplement
In addition to lifestyle changes, certain supplements can work wonders and help relieve your hormonal imbalances. For example, low levels of B vitamins, vitamin D, iron, zinc, magnesium, and iodine can lead to a hormone imbalance. Taking vitamins and supplements along with a healthy diet can help correct nutrient deficiencies and promote balanced hormones. In addition, certain phytonutrients and adaptogenic herbs, like berberine or chaste berry, can help optimize your hormone levels.
Be sure to discuss which supplements are best for you with your medical provider because everybody is different. It’s important to know which nutrients you are deficient in before supplementing.
How Functional Medicine Can Help Balance Your Hormones Naturally
Functional medicine looks to the root cause of your hormonal imbalance. It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach and utilizes extensive testing to determine your exact health situation. A functional medicine practitioner won’t hand you a medication that covers up your symptoms. Instead, they will explore and help you implement natural methods to balance your hormones.
Interested in working with Dr. Morgan Miller to balance your hormones? Book a consult here!