It’s no secret that our hormones fluctuate at various points. For many women, the first mention of hormones comes hand in hand with puberty, and from then on is strongly associated with pregnancy and menopause.
But these aren’t the only times a woman can experience a hormone imbalance. In fact, our hormones not only play a huge role in our reproductive system but can also affect our sleep patterns, stress responses, appetite, anxiety, and every other mood in between — it’s no wonder you’ve seen the term popping up more and more frequently.
So, how can you tell if you have a hormone imbalance? And what does that mean? From the symptoms to look for to solutions like taking a hormonal balance supplement, here’s the information you need to better grasp how your hormones affect your body.
What hormones are we talking about, exactly?
When it comes to the hormones primarily responsible for an imbalance, it's not necessarily the ones you assume. The most commonly imbalanced hormones are cortisol (the stress hormone) and insulin (the blood sugar hormone).
And the reason these two head honchos can have such an influence is because they strongly disrupt how thyroid hormones, oestrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and melatonin work in the body. They can cause a domino effect which can then present a few problems.
The signs of hormone imbalance and what to look out for
A hormone imbalance can affect everyone differently, but here are some common signs to look for:
- Insomnia —If you’re struggling to fall asleep or sleep through the night.
- Fatigue — If you’re getting adequate sleep (7-9 hours) but still feel tired and struggle to get out of bed.
- Emotional PMS symptoms —More prevalent mood swings, upset feelings or energy crashes than usual.
- Hanger strikes — If you tend to get hangry, A LOT!
- More frequent bowel movements — This can include diarrhoea and the constant need to urinate.
- Irregular menstrual cycles — Cycles that are longer, shorter, or fluctuate outside of 21-35 days. Or if you experience heavy bleeding.
- Low libido — A drop in the desire for sexual pleasure.
What’s a girl to do about it?
If you’ve found yourself ticking off one or more of the above symptoms, you may be experiencing an imbalance in cortisol, insulin or both. So what can be done about it?
Be mindful about what you eat
Eating a healthy, balanced diet can go a long way when it comes to your overall well-being. And if you need another reason to keep on top of it, think of your blood sugar.
Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats and protein are key players, but so is making sure you’re eating enough, often enough, and allowing your body to absorb the nutrients it needs. To avoid spikes and dips in your blood sugar throughout the day, you should be eating every 3-4 hours. Try to be prepared at mealtimes and always have healthy snacks on hand to avoid getting to the ‘starving’ stage before eating.
And you know that age-old advice of sitting down to eat? Get on board with that, too. Give your gut the opportunity to absorb your food's nutrients by mindfully chewing and eating with a relaxed mindset (rather than on-the-go rushed meals in between meetings).
Consider taking a hormonal balance supplement
Another way to ease your symptoms from the inside is to consider taking a hormonal balance supplement. B vitamins, in particular, have become well known for helping with the struggles of hormonal ups and downs.
There are 9 types of B vitamins, some of which can be found in foods like salmon and leafy greens, but a hormonal balance supplement like the Ora Hormonal Balance Oral Powder provides an easy way to up your intake. It contains a synergistic blend of adaptogens, which work alongside vitamin B6 to support the symptoms of a hormone imbalance. This includes aiding with energy levels and easing stress, which can lead to low libido.
Another great thing about Ora Hormonal Balance is that it has a delicious chocolatey flavour that can easily be added to water or your favourite milk alternative. Plus, Ora products are stocked right here at Australian NaturalCare, ready to be delivered straight to your door.
Exercise regularly
Getting physical on a regular basis can help to rebalance your hormones by stimulating feel-good transmitters. For example, studies have proven that exercise can increase dopamine levels in the brain, which decreases the feeling of stress. Additionally, working out also helps to boost serotonin, which can promote a good night’s rest and help ease your fatigue.
So, what kind of exercise are we talking about? Any is always better than none, but the higher intensity, the more these hormones are released. Try incorporating some extra squats, lunges and pull-ups into your routine.
Cut back on alcohol
Remember how we talked about how food can affect your blood sugar? Well, alcohol is kind of like eating a big jar of lollies, just via a different delivery method.
It heads straight to your bloodstream, raising your blood sugar levels and sending your oestrogen on a rollercoaster ride. One of the liver’s main jobs is to detox oestrogen, but because alcohol has the liver working overtime, an excess of oestrogen can be left in the body. This can then trigger longer periods, heavier bleeding, breast pain, headaches, and enhanced PMS. So you can see why cutting it out completely could be a total game-changer.
Quit smoking
We all know smoking is a bad habit, right? But you may not know that it's been linked to increasing the production of cortisol, the very stress hormone that can wreak havoc across many of our body functions.
Manage your stress
Speaking of stress, reducing some of your daily pressures can also help you to reach a healthier level of cortisol and rebalance your hormones. If you’ve taken on too much at work or aren’t allowing yourself the time and space to relax your mind, start prioritising it.
Whether you de-stress by exercising, having dinner with friends, or meditating, block out time in your diary daily to fit it into your schedule.
Take note of your caffeine intake
We get it, life is crazy, and caffeine is the secret to getting through it for so many. But if you’re having trouble sleeping, are experiencing energy crashes and really rely on your coffee to get you going in the morning, it might be time to ease off.
Replace a cup a day with decaf or a half-strength to start and see how you feel. Better yet, swap one of your cups for a smoothie using a hormonal balance supplement. We’re not saying you have to quit coffee altogether but monitoring how you feel after caffeine and making an adjustment can go a long way.
And remember, finding the reasons for your hormone imbalance can take time. But once you try a few things and discover what works, you’ll be well on your way to set them right again.
To learn more about hormonal balance supplements or lifestyle changes that can improve your overall well-being, check out our blog, or contact our team for additional information.
