10 Signs You May Have A Hormonal Imbalance - And What To Do About It
Vikki Ede 
Hormones are like chemical messengers & govern nearly every cellular action in our body. Did you know that sex hormones are NOT vital for survival?
As a Natural Menopause Coach one of the most common questions that I get asked is - How do I know if my hormones are out of balance?
Is this something you have been wondering about too? If yes, then keep reading....
If you are a member of the Menopause Support Group you already know that you don’t feel great all of the time. Maybe you are having problems sleeping or you are having hot flushes, or you've developed a meno-belly, anxiety or achy joints.
If you visit your Doctor they may well dismiss your symptoms or blame them on menopause and offer you medication.
Whilst it's true these (and many more) can be common symptoms as you move through menopause, in truth, menopause is NOT the root cause.
The true cause is hormones that are out of balance.
As you start to navigate your menopause journey, your hormones start to shift but unfortunately these hormones shift at different rates to each other, and the uncomfortable result can be a hormonal imbalance.
Hormones are like chemical messengers that communicate with different cells in your body and your brain and govern nearly every cellular action in our body.
As they shift, they cause different symptoms.
As a menopausal woman, it might surprise you greatly to learn that our sex hormones like oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone, while very important, are not actually essential for survival. I know right!?!?
They’re required in more of a “beauty capacity” (keeping our skin, hair & nails looking great) and are responsible for that whole sex and fertility shebang.
On the other hand, our stress hormones (like cortisol) are absolutely critical to survival because they regulate heartbeat and blood pressure, and shuttle glucose into our cells - essentially feeding our brain, among other life-sustaining functions.
These hormones are so crucial, in fact, that in times of chronic stress, “hormone of stress” cortisol will be made at the expense of sex hormones (one of the reasons I'm ALWAYS going on about magnesium!). No wonder we can start feeling out of whack at certain stages of life!
So, what happens when hormones stop playing nice?
We can often experience a ripple effect, even when there’s a slight hiccup in hormone function.
Also, due to the interconnected nature of your endocrine system, one hormonal imbalance can lead to an additional one, causing multiple symptoms and overlapping health issues.
The 10 most common signs that you probably have a hormonal imbalance
- Poor sleep - not being able to fall asleep or stay asleep
- Fatigue that’s not alleviated by sleep
- Night sweats and hot flashes
- Resistant excess weight and body fat, especially around the belly
- Low libido or sexual dysfunction
- Acne or other skin issues
- PMS symptoms
- Foggy thinking (brain fog!) and difficulty concentrating
- Mental health issues - depression and anxiety in particular
- Mood changes like irritability and anger
The main causes of hormonal imbalances
While there are many causes, here are the most common ones that have been identified:
- Age and stage of life
- Chronic stress
- Medications (e.g. the Pill)
- Toxins and endocrine disruptors like xenoestrogens
- Poor nutrition and lack of adequate key nutrients
- Blood sugar regulation problems
- Disrupted circadian rhythm
- Chronic inflammation (e.g. leaky gut & digestive system inflammation)
Simple food and lifestyle habits to support and rebalance your hormones naturally
Eat whole foods: processed, packaged foods offering little to no nutritive value will also offer little to no fuel for your hormones.
Be sure to eat fresh, over packaged foods, including plenty of vegetables, fruits, and quality sources of free range and grass fed meats and eggs. Also, if tolerated - nuts, seeds, and legumes in moderation.
Grains and dairy may cause or exacerbate hormonal problems for some people.
Eat more good fats: Good fats are essential for hormonal health because sex hormones need fat as a building block - and your body can only use the ones you give it.
Healthy fats also help with sugar cravings and blood sugar imbalances.
Opt for sources of good fats from whole foods, such as avocados, raw nuts & seeds, coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, real butter or ghee (grass fed preferable), wild-caught salmon, and free range eggs - yes, you can eat the yolks!
Eat more fibre: aim for 35-45g a day to help detox out excess oestrogen. Great sources of fibre include ground flax seeds, chia seeds, hearty veggies like carrots, beets, and broccoli. In general, the darker the colour of the vegetable, the higher the fibre content.
Eat more chocolate - haha, what I really mean is magnesium! Real cacao is rich in magnesium - which is great for detoxification. But don’t just rely on chocolate as sadly unless it's very high quality the sugar will simply override any benefits for your body! Magnesium supplementation is where it’s at! My fave brand for Magnesium is Natures Sunshine MAGNESIUM
Move daily: Working out on a regular basis, engaging in resistance (or strength) training, and incorporating a specific workout called HIIT (high intensity interval training) has been proven to be especially beneficial for keeping our bodies AND our hormones fit. Whatever you do, try workouts that you love and that will keep you coming back for more, because as we know, consistency is key!!!
Better sleep: getting deeper, more restorative sleep can be the key to supporting your hormones, above all other measures (but that doesn’t mean you should ignore the other ones!) Remember Magnesium? That's my top supplement for improving sleep too.
Stress management & self-care: the truth is - stress can be devastating for hormonal health.
We need to equip ourselves to manage the stress and “business” of everyday life through the actions that bring back balance and wellbeing to our bodies AND our minds - like good nutrition, exercise and sleep!
Learn better coping mechanisms (like breathing techniques), practice mindfulness and be sure to engage in daily self-care.
Get more sunshine: or more importantly, Vitamin D!! Vitamin D is CRUCIAL for your hormonal health and your immunity. I supplement with the Natures Sunshine VITAMIN D3
Drink more water: for hydration and to keep those bowels moving! Aim for half of your body weight in ounces (example: 150lbs = 75 ounces of water OR roughly 2.2 litres)
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, then the 5 Day Curb Your Carb Cravings Challenge will help by regulating your blood sugar and ensuring that you receive the vital nutrients that your body is calling out for.
As a result you will notice a decrease in anxiety & flushes and an improvement in mood & sleep. Just for starters.
The 5 Day Curb Your Carb Cravings Challenge kicks off on September 20th, click the button below to register so that you don't miss out.
References
https://draxe.com/benefits-high-intensity-interval-training/
https://www.womenshealthnetwork.com/hormonalimbalance/what-is-hormonal-imbalance.aspx