Hormones play a crucial role in our overall health. Having a hormonal imbalance means you have too much or too little of a certain hormone. Those changes have effects on the entire body.
It is normal for hormone levels to fluctuate at different times of your life but there are certain health issues that can cause significant changes.
I recently read an article comparing hormones to a cake recipe. As a former baker, I can relate. Too much or too little of an ingredient can make or break a recipe. In this case, the endocrine system doesn't get the recipe right.
Endocrine system
The endocrine system is a series of glands that produce and secrete hormones that the body uses for multiple functions.
Hormone producing glands
Ovaries- female sex hormones, secrete estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone
Pineal- produces melatonin, plays a role in body’s internal clock
Adrenal- produce hormones that control sex drive and cortisol. Cortisol helps you respond to stress
Thyroid- control metabolism and the way your body uses energy
Pancreas- produces insulin, controls blood sugar levels
Parathyroid- controls amount of calcium in blood and bones
Pituitary- trigger growth
Hypothalamus- body temperature, hunger, moods, release hormones from other glands, control thirst, sleep, and sex drive
Testes- produce the male sex hormone, testosterone, and produce sperm
What are hormones?
Hormones are chemical messengers that impact your cells and organs functions. They are responsible for the regulation of major bodily processes.
Signs & Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalance
Irregular periods
Vaginal dryness
Infertility
Weight gain
Depression & Anxiety
Fatigue
Low libido
Changes in appetite
Digestive issues
Hair loss
Hair thinning
Brain fog
Chronic acne
Excessive sweating
Bloating
Puffy face
Conditions associated with hormonal imbalances
PCOS (Polycystic ovary syndrome)
Breast cancer
Ovarian cancer
Diabetes
Thyroid dysfunction
Infertility
Metabolic disease
Causes
Causes of hormonal imbalance differ depending on which hormones are affected.
Common causes:
Hormone therapy
Medications
Hormone drugs (birth control)
Stress
Tumors
Toxins
Poor Diet
Cancer treatments
Body too acidic
Causes specific to women
Puberty
Mensuration
Menopause
Pregnancy
Breastfeeding
Dietary & Lifestyle Changes
Diet can either restore or contribute to hormone imbalances. Limiting your intake of of processed foods, red meat, dairy, sugar and soy can make a huge difference.
Foods to avoid
Red Meat
It has been associated with a host of women's reproductive issues. Factory farmed animals are injected with antibiotics and fed soy. Soy throws off estrogen levels and blocks the body's ability to absorb minerals like iron, zinc, calcium and magnesium.
Dairy
Dairy products, specifically milk, yogurt and cheese contain estrogen. It's packed with artificial growth hormones and synthetic estrogen. Estrogen is given to cows to speed up their growth and force them to produce unnatural amounts of milk. It's also extremely inflammatory which increases symptoms.
Starchy foods
White bread, white pasta and potatoes. Starchy foods turn into sugar that increase insulin and cause sugar imbalances. These foods are often void of any nutritional value.
Caffeine & Alcohol
Caffeine and alcohol place stress on the liver and inhibit its ability to eliminate excess estrogen.
Sugar
Artificial sugar causes changes in the release of hormones and sends the body into a stressed state. It adds stress to the adrenal glands and thyroid. Your adrenal glands respond by sending out a cortisol and adrenaline which in turn leads to the imbalance.
Image Credit: Photo by Alexander Schimmeck on Unsplash
Foods to eat
I recommend eating plants. Sounds simple enough, right? They consist of fruit, vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds. Studies show that women with vegetarian and plant based diets have lower estrogen levels than those with meat centered diets. Hormones are made from healthy fats, and plant-fiber filters toxins from the body.
Want to go plant based and don't know where to start? Check out my Plant-Based Transition Guide
Image credit: Daria Shevtsova
Exercise & maintain a healthy weight
Estrogen can be overproduced by abdominal fat. Being overweight makes you susceptible to reproductive issues which can lead to even more weight gain. The more you sweat, the better so its important to get moving. Exercising can be as simple as taking walks around the block.
Hydrate
Dehydration has an impact on the production of cortisol.
Avoid hormone disrupting chemicals
Hair Care & Cosmetics
Many hair products on the market today contain chemicals that disrupt hormones and lead to reproductive issues. They introduce toxic chemicals into the scalp. The chemicals are known as endocrine disrupters which means they disturb the natural functions of the endocrine system which is responsible for the production of hormones. This applies to personal care products and cosmetics as well.
Bisphenol A (BPA)
Found in products like canned foods and plastic.
Image credit: Getty Images
Pesticides
When shopping for produce, opt for organic. Pesticides have been linked to infertility and affect testosterone levels.
Image credit: Chelsie Craig
Glycol Ethers
Found in commercial cleaning products. They disrupt the endocrine system and interfere with hormonal functions.
Image credit: Gilaxia
Herbal Recommendations
Anti-Fibroid Tonic or Capsules-This tonic is formulated to nourish the female endocrine system, support estrogen, prevent women's reproductive issues, combat existing ones.
Iron Tonic or capsules- Daily dose of iron rich herbs. When you are low on iron, you are susceptible to disease.
Liver Cleanse-Removes excess estrogen, toxins and aids the body's detoxification.
Full body detox- The digestive tract contains most of the body's immune system so parasite cleansing is always my recommendation when kickstarting your wellness journey. The parasite cleanse gives your body the ability to expel mucus, toxins and inflammation which fuel reproductive issues. It also gets your body going in the right direction and allows you to get the maximum benefit of any herbal regimen that follows.
Once the parasite cleanse is complete, I recommend a colon cleanse and lymphatic cleanse. Colon cleanse to remove the years worth of toxic waste, bacteria and fecal matter. The lymphatic cleanse to cleanse toxins and debris from the cells and alleviate symptoms of a congested lymph. These products are also available separately.
Electric Multivitamins-Iodine rich. Regulate your metabolism, digestion, mood, and more.
Women's Wellness Herbal Tea Blend- This blend is formulated to strengthen and improve reproduction naturally. Other benefits include: anti-inflammatory, nourishes the uterus, alleviates PMS.
Women's Health Package- I’ve bundled up a package to combat uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome and other reproductive health concerns for women. This package has been formulated to focus on the body as a whole as opposed to addressing one issue or symptom. The goal is to restore balance and rid the body of acidification.
Women's Wellness Tincture-This blend is formulated to strengthen and improve reproduction naturally. Other benefits include: anti-inflammatory, nourishes the uterus, alleviates PMS.
Wild Yam Root Tincture- helps the uterus work more efficiently.
Yarrow Tincture- It tones the muscles and increases muscular activity of the uterus to encourage menstruation.
Red Raspberry Leaf-Tones uterus, strengthens uterus, vitamin and mineral rich.
Maca Root- endocrine adaptogen, balance levels of the hormone estrogen, enhance fertility and improve sexual performance and libido.
Birth Control Detox- Detoxifying, hormonal support, Detoxifies body of synthetic estrogen.
Natural skin & hair care alternatives
Checklist
-Avoid acidic foods like meat, dairy, soy and artificial sugar. Stick to plant-based foods and stay hydrated.
-Balance estrogen. This includes avoiding eating out of cans and plastic containers.
-Exercise and maintain a healthy weight.
-Consider an herbal regimen
-Minimize toxic chemicals like hair products, deodorant and perfumes.
-Clean without chemicals.
If you have any questions, you can contact me here.
Sources & Useful Articles
EWG Skin Deep® Cosmetics Database
Toxic Cosmetics and Personal Care Products - NWHN
Exposure to Toxic Environmental Agents | ACOG
15 Signs of Estrogen Dominance – Chapel Hill Gynecology
What is the Endocrine System? | Endocrine Disruption | US EPA
Endocrine Glands & Their Hormones | SEER Training (cancer.gov)
EWG's 2020 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce
Microsoft Word - TR 95 - Volume 1.doc (ecetoc.org)
Sugar Is Wreaking Havoc on Your Hormonal Health | Observer
Secret Sugars: The 56 Different Names for Sugar (virtahealth.com)
Hormonal effects of soy in premenopausal women and men - PubMed (nih.gov)
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