You may give little thought to hormones except during times of your life when it’s obvious they’re wreaking havoc, like menopause or puberty. However, hormones are essential chemical messengers produced by the endocrine glands that affect our bodies on many levels, from our organs to metabolism, mood, and even mental health. There are many symptoms of a hormone imbalance, and depending on which hormones or glands are working correctly, your symptoms will vary. Common signs of hormone imbalance are weight gain or loss, fatigue, muscle aches and tenderness, sweating, depression, acne, and dry skin.
Hormonal imbalance symptoms can also mimic the symptoms of other health conditions, some benign and others more concerning, so it’s important to consult with your GP to determine the cause of your symptoms, but if they have determined they’re hormone related, keep reading for effective ways to balance your hormones and potentially get relief.
Regular Exercise
We all know that routine physical exercise is a cornerstone to health and well-being and can also be the answer to restoring hormonal balance. Getting enough exercise greatly influences your hormonal health, so aim to get at least thirty minutes of exercise five days a week. This will enhance hormone receptor sensitivity.
Fix Your Gut
Your gut is also known as your second brain – did you know that Serotonin is produced in your gut? The connection from our gut to the rest of our bodies, including hormone balance, is well documented. You can get your gut healthier through pre and probiotic use, eating fermented food, and a more nutrient-dense diet.
Regular Sleep
Sleep is a critical time for our bodies when they undergo a restoration on deep cellular levels. While insomnia is rare, almost 40% of Americans report difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. When dealing with hormonal balance problems, lack of sleep only exacerbates them. Hormone levels rise and fall throughout the day based on your sleep quality, so curating a nighttime routine conducive to good sleep is paramount.
Supplements to Balance Hormones
There are supplements available that have been shown to help with hormonal issues. Incorporating a supplement to balance hormones into your healthy lifestyle is a great addition to helping you feel back to normal quickly. These supplements generally help calm, center, and uplift your mood – things that need help when dealing with a hormonal imbalance. Most hormonal supplements contain key ingredients like 5-HTP, Vitamin A, Glutathione, and Vitamin B5.
Reducing Stress
We know that stress is referred to as the silent killer – because it can be the root of many health ailments, from serious ones like cancer and heart design to more treatable ones like anxiety. Stress can also worsen hormonal imbalance symptoms, so limiting your stress can do wonders for your symptoms. Work on setting boundaries and learning healthy ways to cope with everyday stress.
Healthy Fats
While it used to be a trend to eat as fat-free as possible, today, we know better. Science supports the importance of eating healthy fats to help maintain balanced hormones, which will help with your appetite and metabolism. Healthy fats are easily obtained through foods like avocados, cheeses, eggs, dark chocolate, nuts, and fatty fish. Try to incorporate more of these foods into your home meals.
Stay a Healthy Weight
If your hormone imbalances are due to menopause, losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight can feel impossible, but it is possible, and it’s an important step to take in balancing hormones. Obesity is related to a lack of ovulation in women, so if you’re younger and having fertility issues, losing weight can also help. Trying to stay in the appropriate calorie range for current height and weight can be significantly impactful, as well as maintaining regular physical exercise, as mentioned earlier.
When our hormones are out of balance, it can feel like the imbalance impacts all areas of our lives, from the mental to the physical, and it’s true, the imbalance does. By implementing the above methods to manage your hormone imbalance, you can start the journey to feeling like yourself again. While no silver bullet exists for any medical condition, these have been shown to help. Always consult with your GP if your condition changes or worsens. Here’s to your health!
