Other Ways To Balance Your Hormones
Besides vitamins for hormone balance, you can also use some other natural strategies to achieve the same effect. Consider making a few long-term lifestyle changes that include:
- Regular exercise. Choose high-intensity interval training circuits to boost your metabolism and yoga to soothe your stress.
- A hormone balance diet, including foods like organic tempeh, wild-caught salmon, bell peppers, and veggies like broccoli and bok choy.
- Use essential oils that can help balance your hormone levels.
- Stay away from stimulants like caffeine for a while, especially as you get your hormones back into balance. Instead, opt for natural energy boosters like Pick Me Up, a herbal formula designed to give you clean energy and pure focus.
Struggling With Sugar Cravings
In Hormone Harmony Academy I teach my Get Off The Sugar Roller Coaster Protocol where I take you step-by-step through how to create balanced meals that leave you feeling satisfied, full for hours and not experiencing massive dips in energy. I also share my top 6 Tips To Instantly Beat Sugar Cravings when they strike . Ready to get off the sugar roller coaster and stop craving sweets? Find out more about my online course here.
What’s Within Our Control
Some hormones arent at all within our control. Sometimes theres nothing we can door not doto alter some of them. Sometimes thats goodsince many have to do with growth, development and large life changes. At other times, thats bad. For example, in type 1 diabetes, the pancreas can no longer make insulin and patients with diabetes have to inject it daily.
However, there are a lot of things we do every day that trigger our hormones.
Technically, we cant control hormones, but we can certainly do things to influence them, he notes. Foods we choose to eat or drink can cause our hormone levels to go up or down. Extra weight can also have a significant impact on the way hormones work.
Here are examples of how the level of some common hormones can make you feel and what you might do to change them:
Don’t Miss: Does Nugenix Have An Estrogen Blocker
Your Hormones Your Health
Feeling bloated, irritable, or just not your best? Shifts in your hormones could be to blame. Hormones are chemical âmessengersâ that impact the way your cells and organs function. Itâs normal for your levels of them 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 your levels to go up or down, too.
How Can I Balance My Hormones Naturally 7 Tips That Work
This post may contain affiliate links.
When your hormones are out of balance, it can wreak havoc on your body and overall health. It can make you feel exhausted in one moment and high strung the next, it can increase cravings and prevent weight loss, and youll likely notice that your mood is up, down and all around. There are medications you can take to balance hormones, but not everyone wants to go that route. So, the question stands: How can I balance my hormones naturally?
Luckily, there are plenty of tips to help you balance your hormones in completely natural ways. Making a few lifestyle changes can help you sleep better, feel better and live a happier life overall. If youre experiencing signs of hormonal imbalance, dont ignore them! Get to the root of the problem and balance them naturally!
Don’t Miss: Tubal Ligation Cause Early Menopause
Can Probiotics Help Balance Hormones
Can probiotics balance hormones? Definitely!
How? The direct answer is that if the wrong bacteria are predominating in your gastrointestinal tract you reabsorb old estrogens, instead of eliminating them through your colon. But the whole issue actually extends way beyond this to many areas of women’s wellness, including why we gain body fat, and how successfully we detoxify!
In the industrialized world, all of us are being faced with an estrogen load.
We are being increasingly exposed to hormonally disrupting chemicals that act as ‘Xenoestrogens’ . These are molecules similar enough to estrogen in structure that they bind its receptors, and elicit an estrogenic response. Phthalates and bisphenols in plastics, styrenes from styrofoam, herbicides, pesticides, parabens and other chemicals in many sunscreens, cosmetics, skincare, deodorants, toothpaste, and volatile organic compounds in air pollution are examples of substances that are creating an ever-increasing estrogen burden.
The problem is that estrogen is “mitogenic”….i.e. it makes cells divide. When influences from xenoestrogens are added to our own endogenous estrogen production, the resulting estrogen burden can:
Estrogen also increases body fat. In a pre-modern world, where food was often scarce, more body fat meant an increased chance of successful pregnancy, which was a survival advantage.
So what can we do about it?
As we have reviewed in these 2 articles:
Continue to be well,
Consider Supplements And Alternative Medicines
There is some evidence that alternative therapies or supplements may address some hormonal issues.
For instance, a found that a Chinese herbal therapy routine resulted in doubled pregnancy rates among female participants with infertility when compared to Western, drug-based treatment.
A reports that Nigella sativa, known as black seeds or fennel flower seeds, helped raise estrogen levels in an animal model.
If studies in humans confirm these findings, the supplement may be beneficial for people going through menopause.
The following tip may benefit males:
Read Also: Does Melatonin Cancel Out Birth Control Shot
How To Treat Hormonal Imbalances
At the Center for Womens Health in Wichita, Kansas, we develop a personalized plan to help get your hormones and your life back in balance. Depending on your issues, treatment options may include:
- Low-dose antidepressants for mood and hot flashes
- Omega-3 supplements for distress and depression
- Vaginal estrogen to treat vaginal dryness
- A healthy diet and regular exercise program
- Hormone replacement therapy
- BioTE® Hormone Pellet Therapy
Breast Changes Might Be An Estrogen Imbalance
Estrogen that is too high or too low may lead to changes in breast tissues. High estrogen may cause lumpy or dense breast tissue, even cysts. Estrogen levels that are too low may cause decreased breast tissue density. In one study, postmenopausal women who took estrogen plus progesterone hormone replacement therapy experienced an increase in breast density compared to women who took a placebo. Xenoestrogens are compounds that mimic estrogen function in the body. They are naturally occurring in some plants and fungi but they are also found in some drugs, industrial by-products, and pesticides. Non-naturally occurring xenoestrogens may produce a number of harmful effects in the body, including effects on breast density and the risk of breast cancer. They may also disrupt the endocrine system. If you notice any breast changes or are concerned about your estrogen levels, see your doctor for an evaluation.
Recommended Reading: Nugenix Estro-regulator Review
Herbs Nutrients And Nutrition Options For Hormone Balance
As a Naturopathic Physician, I am lucky to have so many tools in my toolbox to provide treatment options to my patients having hormonal balance issues! Depending on symptom severity and patient preference, I can choose between a variety of options that will work best for them. This is one of the many reasons that I love Naturopathic Medicine and one of the reasons I often use supplements to balance hormones.
Do I Need To Stop Taking Maca Or Can I Take It Continuously
Native Peruvians have been consuming Maca daily for thousands of years. As it does not contain hormones and has been found to have no toxicity it can be consumed on a daily basis.
Did you find this post useful? Share it to help others change their lives!
Always awesome! Never spammy! Delivered weekly! Don’t miss a thing!
Recommended Reading: Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Cover Testosterone Therapy
Final Thoughts On Hormonal Imbalances
- Some of the most common symptoms of hormone imbalances include unexplained weight gain, fatigue, insomnia, and changes in hair, skin, and nails.
- Root causes of hormonal imbalances include compromised gut health, elevated inflammation, and high stress levels.
- Natural ways to balance your hormones include eating anti-inflammatory polyunsaturated fats, reducing your exposure to endocrine disruptors, getting adequate sleep, and using supplements to fill in any nutritional gaps related to gut health and vitamin D levels.
The Problem With Deficiencies In B Vitamins
Deficiencies in B vitamins can affect different hormones and neurotransmitters and lead to negative symptoms. Inadequate levels of B vitamins can negatively impact your mood and can cause irritability. Deficiencies in these vitamins can also drain you of energy, negatively impact your metabolism, and reduce your tolerance to pain.
What They Do
Taking a supplement that includes the different B vitamins can help alleviate the symptoms of hormone imbalance. Inadequate amounts of these vitamins will affect your hormones. Taking a supplement that increases the amount of vitamin B in your body will help restore balance to your system.
Who They Help
Vitamin B deficiency can affect men and women of all different life stages. Supplementation can be particularly effective in helping balance the hormones in those who have experienced hormonal imbalance. Men and women experiencing andropause and menopause, or even women in pre-menopause, will see an improvement in their symptoms after taking these supplements.
Your mood will improve, energy levels will increase, and PMS symptoms may be alleviated. These vitamins can also help positively affect your metabolism by helping you lose weight.
Recommended Reading: Can I Take Unisom And Melatonin
What’s Normal And What’s Not
Like any other part of the body, things can go wrong with hormones. If your hormones are out of balance, you might notice different symptoms, depending on which hormone or hormones are affected, says Bhavini Bhavsar, MD, a PeaceHealth endocrinologist in Vancouver, Washington. Discuss this with your doctor so that the right testing can be done.
Its also important to remember that it will be normal for hormone levels to fluctuate at different times in your life, she notes.
While you can try to affect specific hormones with certain foods or activities, remember that hormones typically rely on and play off of each other. Rarely can you affect just one hormone without having an impact on others since they work in concert with each other. If you want to effect a positive change in your hormones, its best to choose actions that help them all.
Herbal Supplement Blend For Female Hormones
Top Choice: Womens Balance from Gaia Herbs
How to use: take as instructed on package.
This is the third foundational supplement for hormones and its an herbal blend that contains:
- St. Johns Wort and Oats milky seed extract .
- Red clover and dandelion .
- Vitex and black cohosh .
This herbal blend is made by Gaia, a brand that I was first introduced to several years ago by my naturopath.
Since then Ive used many of their herbal supplements and have become a dedicated fan!
One thing that is great about Gaia is that they use the whole herb, not just one or two extracts from the herb.
The goal with this blend is to give you an extra boost and support, while you work on transitioning into a diet and lifestyle that support your hormones.
For a detailed breakdown of each ingredient in this blend and their benefits, be sure to read this post on herbs that balance female hormones.
You can get Womens Balance directly from Amazon.
Also Check: Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Cover Testosterone Replacement Therapy
Vitamin B6 Can Help With Pms
One of the best vitamins for hormone balance is vitamin B6. Its particularly useful when youre trying to address estrogen-related issues such as PMS and PCOS.
Studies show that taking a consistent supplementation of vitamin B6 can help with mood swings, irritability, cramps, fatigue, and depression that accompany PMS in women.
Should You Try To ‘reset Your Hormones’ For Better Skin Health
With a quick Google search youll find many so-called health experts promising that a “hormone reset” will improve your skin health. But most often these arent healthcare professionals, and their claims are largely unfounded. Still, dont feel bad if you were taken by the promise of better health, including for your skin. I can see how some patients would find the concept of resetting your hormones really appealing, but Im not sure this really translates medically, says Hollmig.
What is true is that if youre experiencing symptoms such as a specific skin problem, your doctor may consider a hormonal condition. For instance, if you have irregular periods, acne along your jawline, and excess hair on your lip and chin, your doctor may evaluate you for polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS. Excess levels of male hormones called androgens, as well as high insulin may play a role in the cause of PCOS, according to the Office on Womens Health. In this case, treatment via weight reduction or prescription medication, like birth control pills or spironolactone, may help regulate hormones.
RELATED: 7 Wellness Bloggers Best Tips for Taming Period Acne Flare-Ups
Don’t Miss: Breakthrough Bleeding On Bioidentical Hormones
Irregular And Heavy Periods
@stephiepatel on Instagram
I loooooove Maca! Its so true about the benefits, Im always regular and in the mood SJ Lee on Facebook
According to Lara Briden, ND – author, practising naturopathic doctor and an expert on hormonal balancing: Regular periods require a surge of female hormones in the right place and the right time. If stress is high, then oestrogen and progesterone cannot be there at the right time. They are depleted because the body needs cortisol instead. The result is irregular or difficult periods.
Cortisol affects periods in other ways. Excess cortisol suppresses thyroid hormone, which causes cycle irregularity, and excess cortisol makes the body resistant to insulin, which in turn causes failure to ovulate.9
Excess stress hormone cortisol can lead to irregular periods. Maca has been found to lower cortisol.
How Supplements Help To Promote Hormone Balance
If youve read any of my previous posts, then youve most like heard me say that inflammation is the root cause of hormonal imbalance symptoms.
Whether youre struggling with acne, weight gain, irregular cycles, hot flashes or countless other symptoms, inflammation is the common factor.
And once inflammation sets in, it puts a heavy toll on the body which can lead to:
- Overworked and sluggish liver.
- Accumulation of hormone-disrupting toxins in the body.
- Imbalance in gut bacteria and onset of leaky gut syndrome.
- Disruption of normal hormone production and hormone function.
- Increase in systemic stress, which disrupts the nervous system, as well as communication to the thyroid, adrenals and other organs.
So, how do you address all this and get back to feeling like yourself again?
Well, its all about increasing your nutrient intake.
One way to do that is to eat more nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory foods.
Another way of getting more nutrients into your body is to take good quality supplements with ingredients that:
- support the liver.
- boost gut health.
- nourish the nervous and reproductive systems.
- fight inflammation so that the adrenals, thyroid and other key hormone production organs can work more efficiently.
Now, if youre wondering can I skip supplements and only eat anti-inflammatory foods? the answer is, maybe.
For some women making healthier food choices is enough.
I mean, theres only so much kale, berries or sauerkraut you can actually eat in a day, right?
You May Like: Does Kaiser Cover Hormone Replacement Therapy
Sexual Desire And Performance
Maca is well known for its aphrodisiac properties, helping both men and women and thus often called Natures Viagra.
A 2009 study that involved male cyclists taking just 2 g of Maca or placebo for just 14 days resulted in a significant improvement in their sexual desire as a result of taking Maca compared to placebo.14
Another study published in the Journal Andrologia showed that men with mild erectile dysfunction who took 2.4 g of Maca experienced better sexual performance and well-being both physically and psychologically compared to placebo.15
More amazing effects of Maca on improving libido and sexual dysfunction were shown in a 2008 study done on mostly women aged 23-49.16
Studies show Maca significantly improves sexual desire and performance in both men and women.
Can Hormones Cause Acne
Many women experience monthly breakouts before or during their period. However, chronic acne is something different. Acne that does not go away may be due to excess androgens, male hormones like testosterone that both women and men have. Excess levels of these androgens make oil glands extra productive. Androgens also affect skin cells that line hair follicles. Excess oil and skin cell changes clog pores, leading to acne. A doctor may prescribe birth control pills, corticosteroids like prednisone , or anti-androgen medications to treat hormonally influenced acne. High androgen. levels may sometimes indicate polycystic ovary syndrome . Women with PCOS may experience infertility. High insulin levels can stimulate the production of androgens and may be associated with insulin resistance. Weight loss can help reverse insulin resistance.
You May Like: Does Kaiser Cover Hormone Replacement Therapy
Prioritize Sleep And Relaxation
In addition to a hormone balancing diet you can help balance hormones naturally with simple lifestyle changes, starting with a sleep routine and schedule that spans over the weekend. Theres a significant relationship between cortisol and sleep, the infamous stress hormone can leave your adrenal glands depleted when its overactive.
Our Tip: Leave the phone one hour before bed, avoid caffeine after 2:00 PM, and make relaxation time part of your schedule.
Tips To Balance Your Hormones Naturally During Menopause
When youre going through menopause, learning how to balance hormones naturally can be a great way to help you manage the more uncomfortable side effects of this transition.
Menopause can be a really challenging period in a womans life.
Hot flashes, weight gain, night sweats, anxiety, mood swings, hair loss, and a decreased sex drive are some of the most well-known symptoms that women, and people with a female reproductive system, may encounter during this critical time.
The physical and emotional changes can sometimes feel like a roller coaster that we cant wait to get out of.
Hormones are chemical messengers that help regulate multiple vital bodily functions. Estrogen, testosterone, insulin, adrenaline, cortisol, and ghrelin are all hormones that affect everything from your reproductive system, sleep , and energy, to hunger levels.
When hormones are out of balance, even the most mundane tasks can feel huge.
You can feel tired, out of sync, low energy, too hungry, or not hungry at all – you get the gist. Most people go after hormone-balancing medication, but not everyone qualifies for them. Thats why finding ways to balance hormones naturally can be really helpful.
If you, or someone you know, is experiencing some of the symptoms of menopause, these useful tips will help you feel better and get back into your personal groove.
Learn how to balance hormones naturally to slay your day and feel like you again.
Don’t Miss: Does Insurance Cover Testosterone Injections