Hormones, such as estrogen, testosterone, adrenaline and insulin — are extremely important chemical messengers that affect many aspects of your overall health. Hormones are secreted by various glands and organs including your thyroid, adrenals, pituitary, ovaries, testicles and pancreas. The entire endocrine system works together to control the level of hormones circulating throughout your body, and if one or more is even even slightly imbalanced it can cause widespread, major health problems.
Conventional treatments for hormonal imbalances usually include synthetic hormone replacement therapies, birth control pills, insulin injections, thyroid medications and more. Unfortunately, for most people suffering from hormonal disorders, relying on these types of synthetic treatments often does three things:
- It makes people dependent on taking prescription drugs for the rest of their lives in order to keep symptoms under control
- It simply masks the patient’s symptoms, but does not resolve them, which means that the patient can continue to develop abnormalities in other areas of the body while the disorder progresses
- It causes a higher risk for serious side effects such as stroke, osteoporosis, anxiety, reproductive problems, cancer and more.
The good news is there are ways to balance your hormones naturally. Below you’ll learn what type of hormonal imbalance your specific symptoms might be pointing to, what the root causes of your hormonal problem are, and how you can help treat the problem without experiencing the negative side effects associated with synthetic treatments.
Signs & Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalances
Some of the most common signs and symptoms of hormone imbalances include:
- Infertility and irregular periods
- Weight gain or weight loss) that is unexplained and not due to intentional changes in your diet)
- Depression and anxiety
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Low libido
- Changes in appetite
- Digestive issues
- Hair loss and hair thining
Symptoms of hormonal imbalances can range drastically depending on what type of disorder or illness they cause. For example, high estrogen can contribute to problems including endometriosis and reproductive issues, while symptoms of diabetes often include weight gain, changes in appetite, nerve damage, and problems with eyesight.
Some specific problems associated with some of the most common hormonal imbalances include:
- Estrogen dominance: changes in sleep patterns, changes in weight and appetite, higher perceived stress, slowed metabolism
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS): infertility, weight gain, higher risk for diabetes, acne, abnormal hair growth
- Low estrogen: low sex drive, reproductive problems, menstrual irregularity, changes in mood
- Hypothyroidism: slowed metabolism, weight gain, fatigue, anxiety, irritability, digestive issues, irregular periods
- Low testosterone: erectile dysfunction, muscle loss, weight gain, fatigue, mood-related problems
- Hyperthyroidism & Grave’s Disease: anxiety, thinning hair, weight loss, IBS, trouble sleeping irregular heartbeats
- Diabetes: weight gain, nerve damage (neuropathy), higher risk for vision loss, fatigue, trouble breathing, dry mouth, skin problems
- Adrenal fatigue: fatigue, muscle aches and pains, anxiety and depression, trouble sleeping, brain fog, reproductive problems
Risk Factors & Causes of Hormonal Imbalances
Hormonal imbalances are multi-factorial disorders, meaning they are caused by a combination of factors such as your diet, medical history, genetics, stress levels and exposure to toxins from your environment.
Some of the major contributors to hormonal imbalances include:
- Food allergies and gut issues: gut health plays a significant role in hormone regulation
- Leaky Gut Syndrome / lack of beneficial probiotic bacteria lining your intestinal wall makes you more susceptible to hormonal problems including diabetes and obesity
- As inflammation usually stems from your gut and then impacts nearly every aspect of your health
- Being overweight or obese
- High levels of inflammation caused by a poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle
- genetic susceptibility
- Toxicity: exposure to pesticides, toxins, viruses, cigarettes, excessive alcohol and harmful chemicals
- High amounts of stress and a lack of enough sleep and rest
Balance Hormones Naturally
- Eat healthy fats – including coconut oil and avocados
- Supplement with adaptogenic herbs: Ashwagandha, Rhodiola and Holy Basil (Check with your DBM Physician before proceeding)
- Balance your intake of Omega-3 to Omega-6 fats
- Improve gut health and heal Leak Gut Syndrome
- Eliminate toxic kitchen, beauty and body care products
- Exercise – especially interval training
- Reduce stress and get more sleep
- Watch your caffeine and alcohol intake
- Get sufficient natural Vitamin D – from SUNSHINE
- Back off birth control pills
Final Thoughts on Hormonal Imbalances
- Hormonal imbalances affect many millions of people worldwide in the forms of common disorders like diabetes, thyroid disorders, menstrual irregularities, infertility, low testosterone and estrogen dominance
- Symptoms include feeling anxious, tired, irritable, gaining or losing weight, not sleeping well and noticing changes in your sex drive, focus and appetite
- Causes for hormonal imbalances include poor gut health, inflammation, high amounts of stress, genetic susceptibility and toxicity
- Natural treatments include eating an anti-inflammatory diet, consuming enough Omega-3s, getting good sleep, exercising and controlling stress
Article Adapted From Source.: To read complete article, visit Dr. Axe’s website:
