Do you experience

fatigue
period problems
trouble regulating your weight
fertility challenges or
changes in mood?

Hormone imbalances are very common especially in women over 30 years old. You can have a hormone imbalance before it’s bad enough to be ‘diagnosed’ as a specific condition. If you’re experiencing symptoms then it’s likely you can benefit from improving your hormone balance.

Here are the top 5 hormone imbalances and what you can do to improve your symptoms.

THYROID

While you can have an over functioning thyroid, the most common imbalance is an under functioning thyroid or hypothyroidism. This can be an autoimmune condition (Hashimotos) or may be bought on by ongoing stress or nutrient deficiencies such as Iodine, Zinc, Selenium and Iron. It’s also more common in females and if you have a family history of thyroid issues.

Symptoms of hypothyroidism include

fatigue
weight gain
constipation
brain fog
hair loss
cold hands/feet
dry skin
mood changes
irregular periods
high cholesterol

Most testing is only based on your TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) as this is generally covered by Medicare. However you need to see your TSH, T3 and T4 levels to understand how well your thyroid is really functioning.

Your levels can be on the low side but you may be told your thyroid is ‘fine’ if it’s still within range. However you want your levels to be optimal, not just scraping in at the bottom of the range, and this is where quality supplements and lifestyle changes can help.

PROGESTERONE & ESTROGEN

Progesterone and Estrogen can become imbalanced over time from many factors including ongoing stress, use of the OCP, thyroid issues, poor food choices and sedentary lifestyle.

Symptoms can include

PMS
anxiety
irregular cycles
painful and/or heavy periods
endometriosis
fertility issues

You may also experience

fluid retention
headaches
bloating
sore breasts (especially prior to your period)
fibroids
cysts
low libido

This hormone imbalance may contribute to symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, and may also play a role in the development of breast and ovarian cancers.

As you can see these two hormones can contribute to many symptoms and have a huge impact on how we feel mentally and physically.

You can check your levels through a blood or saliva test – usually this is done around day 21 of your cycle or after ovulation (Luteal Phase). Again your results may be ‘in the range’, however if you are on the low side and experiencing symptoms, you could benefit from treatment. You need to check Progesterone and Estrogen together so you can determine if they are in a healthy balance.

CORTISOL

Cortisol is our major stress hormone, and can be helpful in small amounts, however if we experience ongoing stress our cortisol levels can increase.

This can cause symptoms such as

anxiety
insomnia
irritability
weight changes
feeling ‘wired and tired’
high blood pressure
digestive issues

If this stress and high cortisol continues for too long, we can then reach burn out stage where our cortisol level plummets – resulting in exhaustion and chronic fatigue, ‘adrenal fatigue’, low mood, dizziness and low blood pressure.

Our body considers cortisol ‘essential’ in that it helps protects us from danger by giving us the energy to fight or run. However much of the danger and stress we experience in the modern world can be imagined stress – and this has the same side effects on our body.

Ongoing changes in cortisol, such as ongoing stress, has a big impact on the balance of our other hormones such as thyroid and progesterone – as our body prioritises producing cortisol to protect us.

This is why stress management is so important for keeping your hormones in a happy balance. Ongoing stress can also contribute to inflammation and accelerated ageing. Chronic stress also impairs our immune system which protects us from infections and inhibits cancer development.

Cortisol is meant to be higher in the morning and reduces over the day, so the best test to get checks your salivary cortisol a few times over a 24 hour period to see what your cortisol pattern is.

INSULIN

Insulin is produced by your body to keep blood sugar levels stable.

Fluctuations in blood sugar levels can contribute to fluctuations in energy and mood, and contribute to weight gain. You may also experience sugar cravings and insulin resistance is common in PCOS and contributes to the development of Diabetes.

In general, keeping your blood sugar stable and minimising sugars in your diet has an anti-aging and anti-inflammatory effect in your body and brain, so it’s a good habit to get into for long term health and quality of life.

You can do a fasted blood glucose or Insulin blood test, or there are more in depth testing options such as HBA1c.

Insulin is heavily influenced by our food and lifestyle choices – so what we do most of the time will have a big impact on Insulin and our hormone balance.

TESTOSTERONE

While Testosterone is higher in men, levels in women are also important and can contribute to symptoms and hormonal issues.

Low Testosterone can contribute to

fatigue
low libido
weight changes
muscle weakness

High Testosterone may contribute to PCOS, excess hair growth, adult acne and fertility issues.

You can check Testosterone through a blood or saliva test.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO SUPPORT HORMONE BALANCE?

STRESS MANAGEMENT – this is a big one for most people and something we need to practice every day! Become aware of what causes you stress, and how you can perceive and respond to situations to reduce the stress you experience. There are also some simple daily habits you can incorporate to help calm your nervous system - read here.

NUTRITION – Minimise sugars, include quality protein and fats and a variety of colourful vegetables – as these provide the building blocks for hormones. You can read more here about the importance of counting nutrients over calories.

EXERCISE – if you’re already stressed and tired, low intensity exercise may be more beneficial for you. Try slow walks outside, a bike ride, or gentle yoga. Listen to how your body is feeling and find movement you enjoy.

MINIMISE HORMONE DISRUPTING CHEMICALS– these are found in many products we use every day, especially as women. The main group is called phthalates and are found in fragrances, plastics, body/skin care, cosmetics and cookware. Using a water filter is important to minimise fluoride (which can inhibit Iodine and Thyroid function) and chlorine and pesticides which disrupt our good gut bacteria.

GUT HEALTH – is really important for elimination of excess hormones and the toxins and chemicals that can disrupt hormones and health. If you experience digestive symptoms, especially constipation, chat to a Naturopath about how you can improve your digestive function.

MAGNESIUM is a calming mineral and can help calm your nervous system, and therefore help with stress, sleep, anxiety, headaches and tension. Taking magnesium can also help with blood sugar, thyroid hormones and progesterone – so it can be a great supplement to start on. Take 300mg per day of magnesium glycinate or chelate.

There are also specific nutrients and herbs to support hormones depending on your imbalance. Vitex may help with low progesterone, iodine deficiency is common in thyroid issues, and the herb Licorice may help improve low cortisol.

If you’d like to test your hormones or get support to improve your hormone levels, please send me a message.