Hormones are chemical substances that are produced in the endocrine system. Each of specific hormones regulates a specific function in the body.
The overproduction of certain hormones causes change in the functions of some organs, and it means that hormonal imbalance in the body occurred. Hormonal imbalances in women which is followed by specific symptoms generally occurs due to an imbalance of two key hormones: estrogen and progesterone whic hare also the most important hormones in the female body.
The reasons for this imbalance can be divided into two main groups:
- Internal or physiological, and
- External
Physiological factors
– It is about changes in the reproductive cycle. In a normal menstrual cycle, the first 10- 12 days only estrogen is produced. Then ovulation ‘send’ information to the female body to produce progesterone hormones equilibrium, then there are no symptoms of hormonal imbalance.
Progesterone supports endometrial order to receive the fertilized ovum in the case of pregnancy. If fertilization occurs, the body ceases to produce two hormones and menstruation occurs.
But sometimes it happens not occur ovulation (typically premenopausal) and then estrogen produced in the month is not balanced by progesterone, which may only be produced during ovulation i.e. estrogen continues to be produced in the monthly cycle (one month period) and missed ovulation means that no manufactured progesterone.
External factors
The external factors that trigger hormonal imbalance in women include estrogen sources other than those naturally secreted in the body.
Nowadays, lack of progesterone affects many women before they even reach menopause.
This is due to a number of contributing factors:
- Xenoestrogens found in cleaners, soaps, sprays, herbicides and cosmetics
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Genetics
- Obesity
- Thyroid gland disorders
- Poor diet (especially a diet rich in fat, sodium and sugar, processed foods and caffeine)
- Rigorous diet (low in fat)
- A diet rich in meat and dairy products (these contain most hormones)
- Alcohol consumption
- Stress
- Contraceptives
- Hormone replacement therapy
- Hysterectomy
- Missed ovulation
- Pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals
- Environmental toxins and other pollutants
Symptoms
There’s a simple hormonal imbalance test you can do at home. Read through the most common symptoms and tick the ones that apply to you:
- PMS
- Monthly weight fluctuation
- Swelling, bloating and water retention
- Feeling heavy and overfed
- Headaches
- Mood swings
- Painful, enlarged breasts
- Feeling depressed
- Unable to deal with common everyday tasks
- Back, joint and muscle pain
- Premenstrual food cravings (especially for sugar and salt)
- Irregular cycles, heavy or very light bleeding
- Being infertile
- Using contraceptives
- Premenstrual migraines
- Breast lumps or cysts
- Family history of breast, ovarian or cervical cancer
- Perimenopausal symptoms including hot flashes, mood swings, headaches, irregular cycles, heavy bleeding, fluid retention, breast tenderness, vaginal dryness, muscle and joint pain, low libido, and weight gain
- Hot flashes
- Feeling upset
- Night sweats
- Insomnia
- Cold hands and feet
- Low libido
- Dry skin and hair
- Vaginal dryness
- Heartbeat
- Decreased memory and concentration
- Bloating and abdominal weight gain
- Facial hair
Now, add up your score and check what it means:
- If you have between 0-9 symptoms, you may have a mild hormonal imbalance.
- If you have between 10-14 symptoms, you have a hormonal imbalance.
- If you have over 15 symptoms, you have a serious hormonal imbalance.
Diagnosing Hormone Imbalances
You can easily get tested for a hormonal imbalance after discussing your symptoms with an endocrinologist. There are blood and urine tests that examine your thyroid hormones, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol etc. Urine tests are normally performed when hormonal changes are tested during pregnancy or ovulation.
It’s important to know that taking medications without medical supervision can put your health at serious risk.
Therapy
Once a hormonal imbalance is diagnosed, a specialist will describe adequate therapy. If the imbalance is caused by a tumor, a surgery can be one possible treatment.
Aside from standard therapy, lifestyle changes also play an important part during hormone imbalance treatment.
Increasing physical activity and reducing stress is vital, along with eating a healthy balanced diet and drinking lots of fluids, especially before menstruation.
The Importance of Proper Diet
Hormones play an important part for maintaining proper body function. They also affect your spiritual wellbeing.
And, diet is the most important tool for restoring hormonal balance.
The first thing you need to do is cut out sugar, caffeine and alcohol from your diet. Reducing stress and increasing physical activity is also important.
Excessive sugar consumption can trigger overproduction of insulin, estrogen and testosterone. In fact, any type of sugar and sugar can trigger these imbalances.
Hormonal imbalances are often caused by dairy products and gluten too.
Another group of hormone disruptors includes xenobiotics or environmental chemicals including pesticides in food.
Dairy products are one of the main culprits for hormonal imbalances as this food has over 60 hormones that contribute to this condition.
Reducing your intake of these foods and replacing them with healthy and beneficial food sources, such as organic food and filtered water, can correct the hormonal imbalance in your body.
Also, a specialist can put you on a 10-day detox program created according to your specific needs.
