Overview of Hormonal Imbalances

 

Hormones are your body’s chemical messengers. Produced in the endocrine glands, these powerful chemicals travel around your bloodstream telling tissues and organs what to do. They help control many of your body’s major processes, including metabolism and reproduction.

It’s normal for your levels to shift at different times of your life, such as before and during your period or a pregnancy, or during menopause. But some medications and health issues can cause them to go up or down, too.

Causes of Hormonal Imbalances

Numerous culprits contribute to these hormonal imbalances, and sometimes they overlap. 

Chronic stress

Stress is a biological response to demanding situations. It causes the body to release hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline. Many factors can trigger a stress response, including dangerous situations and psychological pressures, such as work deadlines, exams, and sporting events.

The physical effects of stress usually do not last long. However, some people find themselves in a nearly constant state of heightened alertness. This is chronic stress.

Nutrient deficiencies

A nutritional deficiency occurs when the body doesn't absorb or get from food the necessary amount of a nutrient. Deficiencies can lead to a variety of health problems. These can include digestion problems, skin disorders, stunted or defective bone growth, and even dementia.

Thyroiditis

Thyroiditis refers to a group of disorders that cause inflammation of the thyroid. Your thyroid is the gland located in the front of your neck below your Adam’s apple. The thyroid makes hormones that control your metabolism and affect how your body works.

Hormone Therapy

Hormone therapy is a cancer treatment that slows or stops the growth of cancer that uses hormones to grow. Hormone therapy is also called hormonal therapy, hormone treatment, or endocrine therapy.

Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalance

Hormone imbalance symptoms vary greatly depending on the hormone, but include:

• Weight gain or weight loss
• Sleep issues
• Sensitivities to cold and heat
• Changes in blood pressure or heart rate
• Mood disorders including irritability, depression, and anxiety
• Fatigue
• Appetite changes

Ways to Balance Your Hormones Naturally

Reduce or eliminate sugar and other food sensitivities.

Sugar keeps insulin elevated, knocking other hormones out of balance and paving the way for insulin resistance. Food sensitivities, including gluten intolerance, can also increase inflammation and contribute to hormonal imbalances, including elevated cortisol

Balance stress levels.

Chronic stress is all-around bad news for hormonal balance, as it can create or exacerbate  hormonal imbalances. Research has shown that six-months of practicing biweekly meditation could improve insulin levels, while also improving stress levels.

Address toxicity.

We are bombarded daily with chemicals nearly everywhere in the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the products we put on our bodies. Many of these chemicals are considered endocrine or hormone disruptors because they interfere with hormonal production and create wide-ranging damage. 

Lower inflammation.

Hormonal imbalances can increase inflammation, which in turn can further disrupt hormone production. When your adrenals over-secrete cortisol, other hormones, including insulin, become disrupted, leading to chronic inflammation. 

Treatment Reference