Common Symptoms Of Hormonal Imbalance In Women
Before you start taking ANY new herbs or supplements, I also encourage you to learn as much as you can about your specific hormonal imbalances. The more you know, the more targeted you can get in your supplement and herb approach, saving you time and money while getting you better results.
Check out this post for the most common hormonal imbalances and symptoms in women, or take this free quiz to investigate further.
Once youve done a bit of research to become your own health advocate, seeking out a functional medicine doctor or naturopathic practitioner who specializes in hormone health to administer root cause testing can make a huge difference in helping you rebalance your hormones quickly and effectively.
How To Balance Hormones Naturally
1. Swap Carbs for Healthy Fats
Foods that balance hormones include a variety of fat-containing foods that provide short, medium and long-chain fatty acids. Your body needs various types of fats to create hormones, including saturated fat and cholesterol.
Not only are these essential fats fundamental building blocks for hormone production, but they keep inflammation levels low, boost your metabolism and promote weight loss.
Healthy fats have the opposite effect of refined carbohydrates, which lead to inflammation and can mess with the balance of your hormones.
My four favorite sources of anti-inflammatory, healthy fats include:
- coconut oil, avocados, grass-fed butter and wild-caught salmon.
- Coconut oil uses are plentiful for example, coconut oil has natural anti-bacterial and fat-burning effects.
- Avocado benefits include improving heart health, lowering inflammation, controlling your appetite and contributing to your daily intake of fiber and nutrients such as potassium.
- Salmon nutrition is also impressive: its one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which are known to lower inflammation and help with cognitive functions. Omega-3 fatty acids are a large component of brain-cell membranes and are important for cell-to-cell communication in the brain. Research shows that omega-3 fatty acids help protect against hippocampal neuronal loss and reduce pro-inflammatory responses.
2. Supplement to Fill Nutritional Voids
3. Address Emotional Imbalances
6. Get More Sleep
Vitamin D: Get Some Sun
Vitamin D is just as important as calcium for bone health. Without vitamin D, your body can’t absorb calcium. Most adults need 600 IU daily. Those 71 and older need 800 IU per day. Vitamin D is in many foods and supplements, but there’s another source: the sun.
Tip: You may have heard that your body produces vitamin D when exposed to sun. That’s true, but even small amounts of sun can lead to skin damage. It’s best to focus on food and use supplements if you don’t get enough in your diet.
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Best Supplements For Transgender People
The content and opinions on Top10Supps are meant to be informative only. They are not medical advice or intended for the diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of any health problems. We may receive a commission if you buy something using a link on this page.
In nutrition school, a lot of what I learned about how to determine nutrient needs for an individual was based on gender. Calculating calories, macronutrients, vitamins, and minerals are all based on being either male or female.
But, what if you dont fit comfortably into either of those labels?
Approximately, 1 million Americans identify as transgender . It is believed that this number may not be totally accurate since gender identity is not usually recorded on population surveys and the population seems to be increasing.
To be honest, I didnt learn anything in school about how to provide nutrition recommendations to a transgender individual. This is unfortunate because this population, just like people identifying as female or male, have different health and nutrition-related concerns and needs that should be appropriately addressed.
Due to the lack of knowledge and training on the part of healthcare professionals, like myself, the specialized needs of the transgender population frequently are overlooked or ignored.
A survey by the Center for American Progress found that up to 19% of transgender individuals have been refused medical care due to their gender identity.
What Are The Causes Of Hormonal Imbalance
Typically, the most common causes of hormone imbalances include improper diet, lack of hydration, changes in mineral balance, stress, or infection. Gut health also plays a major role in hormonal balance, because your gut microflora is directly tied to hormone levels. For women, hormonal birth control is often a common culprit due to the presence of added hormones in the body, which can easily throw off your body’s natural balance.
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Herbal And Alternative Medicine:
I love using herbal formulations with my patients in order to provide safe and effective relief for their symptoms. Herbals are a gentle way to treat for many symptoms such as hot flashes, painful periods, unpredictable periods, hormonal acne, fertility, sleep, and more! Here are some common herbal supplements to balance hormones and combat these unwanted issues
Unfortunately, there are so many wonderful herbal supplements to balance hormones that I cannot possibly mention them all. It is also important to know that there is more to herbs that simply checking what health issues they are indicated for. They also have synergistic properties, which means that some herbs work better together! A naturopathic doctor can come up with a herbal formula that is dosed safely and appropriately for your individualized health history and concerns. There are also pre-made supplements on the market which are formulated for hormone balance. My trustworthy brands in this category include Vitanica and Femenessence.
What Causes Hormone Imbalance
Hormone imbalance can be caused both by external and internal factors. Some of the main causes of hormonal imbalance are:
- Hormone therapy, a cancer treatment that blocks or alters the hormones that fuel cancer development.
- Eating disorders lead to increased production of stress hormones, which cause higher levels of stress, depression, and sleep issues.
- Certain foods that contain hormone-disrupting substances. E.g. Even wild fish may be contaminated with high levels of mercury, which causes hormone imbalance.
- Cancer treatments, like chemotherapy, cause hormone imbalances mainly associated with changes in sexual health.
- Stress is known to throw hormones out of balance and cause mood swings, irregular menstrual cycle and increased libido in both genders.
- Injury or trauma can cause adrenal glands to produce insufficient amounts of hormones, which result in dehydration, fatigue and hormone imbalance weight loss.
Here are the 5 most common hormone imbalances to look out for:
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What Supplement Brand Is Best
In the past Ive recommended products available at health food stores, but I always dreamed of formulating my own supplements that met my extremely high standards. I finally decided to do it when, a few years ago, some of the supplements sold at big-box retailers were outed for not containing the ingredients listed on the label.
I really get peeved when women waste money on health-promoting products that dont work, because that happened to me at the beginning of my hormonal health journey. Its almost impossible to know which brands to trust, and once you find a reliable source, then its time to decide which of their million products to actually purchase.
Id finally had enough of the confusion. So I created Balance by FLO Living, the first and only cycle-syncing supplement set.
The five formulations in Balance by FLO Living provide the essential micronutrient support that you need to balance your hormones. Think of them as your personal insurance policy against endocrine disruptors like stress, coffee, environmental toxins, lack of sleep, and plain-old modern life.
You no longer have to waste money on low-quality supplements or supplements that dont target your unique hormonal profile. Ive formulated all the essential supplements you need to heal your hormones with the highest quality ingredients. The Balance FLO supplement kit is thoroughly researched, rigorously tested, and perfectly suited to meet your needs.
Essential Vitamins And Supplements That Help Balance Hormones
Hormones can cause issues for many women, especially upon entering perimenopause. All sorts of frustrating fluctuations can occur, and these fluctuations impact nearly every aspect of a womans life. When our hormones are imbalanced, we may experience major mood swings and irritability. We might have trouble sleeping. We may experience a . We might gain weight. We may lose our energy and zest for life. As a result, our relationships may suffer, and we may feel as if our quality of life has suddenly dropped dramatically as well.
Fortunately, there are all sorts of tried and true ways to help balance hormones. One such way is by ensuring youre getting all the right hormone-balancing nutrients from your diet. Supplementing with certain vitamins and supplements may help as well. Relief is possible, with the right approach.
Read Also: What Vitamins And Supplements Should I Take Daily
How Do Vitamins Affect Your Hormones And Mood
We all experience feelings of nervousness, anxiety and apprehension. Some of us will even struggle with conditions such as depression at some point in our lives. While fluctuating emotions are part of being human, sometimes they can be heavily influenced by whats going on inside of our bodies, not just our minds.
Hormones play a key role in the emotional state of both men and women, but as women we are more likely to experience extreme and sudden changes in mood as a result of our hormones, mainly due to the monthly cycle and changing levels of progesterone and estrogen.
Imbalances in hormones can affect our physical health, as well as our mental health. The hormonal shifts caused by the menstrual cycle, the menopause and pregnancy, can lead to irritability, lethargy, cravings and more for many women. A decrease in testosterone levels that typically occur in men in their 50s, can cause hair loss, weight gain and lethargy. In both sexes, imbalances of certain hormones can lead to thyroid problems and diabetes.
The good news is that with the right nutrition, vitamins and lifestyle, we can help support and regulate our hormones, thereby lessening some of the unwanted physical and mental symptoms of hormonal imbalances.
Lets Understand Estrogen Dominance First
It can happen due to two main reasons:
Reason #1: You have insufficient progesterone to oppose estradiol, the aggressive estrogen that has been connected to the growth of pathogenic cells like in the case of fibroids, cancers, and endometrial tissue.
Reason #2: The way your body is breaking down estrogens to the various estrogenic metabolites, is not favorable to you. I call them the dirty estrogens.
Due to a poor liver function, inappropriate diet, nutritional deficiencies, gut issues, chronic constipation, and use of conventional skincare and cleaning products, your body is receiving and/or creating too much of the antagonistic or dirty estrogen metabolites that cause harm.
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How Do I Naturally Balance Female Sex Hormones
My hormones feel so out of balance a female patient will tell me. Im tired of feeling crappy and terrible all the time. Do I need to do hormone replacement to feel better, or is there a natural way to get my hormones in balance?
Hormone imbalances are epidemic these days. When talking about hormones, I want you to think of a symphony. All of them interact, so when one gets out of whack, others quickly follow. There are many key players in this orchestra adrenals, thyroid, insulin but today, were focusing on womens sex hormones.
While many things can cause an imbalance in our sex hormones, the good news is that many women can fix these imbalances without medications.
You might never know this from conventional medicine, which seems to subscribe to the idea that women are destined to suffer throughout their reproductive life. Women suffer from mood and behavior swings resulting from the three Ps: Puberty, premenstrual syndrome , and peri-menopause , or the three Ms: menstrual cramps, menopause and mental anxiety!
Are Womens Bodies Defective?
Why do sex hormone levels drop up to 90 percent during the aging process? Are women destined to suffer from impaired mood, muscle loss, poor sleep, memory difficulties, and sexual problems?
Of course not!
The truth is: Women do NOT need to suffer.
These and other imbalances are all fixable.
Do You Struggle with Out-of-Balance Sex Hormones?
I have premenstrual syndrome.
I have monthly weight fluctuation.
I feel bloated.
Supplements You Should Be Taking After Menopause
Hormonal shifts are responsible for most of the wonderful side effects of menopause, including an increased risk of certain diseases and conditions. When estrogen drops, the risk for osteoporosis and heart disease risesas does the tendency to suffer from symptoms such as hot flashes, mood changes, and vaginal dryness.
To combat this, vitamins and supplements can be a key component of a woman’s care during and after menopause, but the process of deciding which ones to take can be overwhelming. “When it comes to supplements for menopause, there isn’t just one pill,” says Jacqui Justice, a clinical nutritionist at the NY Health & Wellness Center. “It’s a process. It’s a complex system.”
Keep in mind that supplements are not regulated or evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, but you can often get a better quality supplement with fewer fillers and more of the key ingredient when you purchase them through a certified practitioner, says Mark Menolascino, MD, a board-certified physician in internal medicine, holistic medicine, and advanced hormone management and anti-aging medicine, and key medical opinion leader at Lycored. “Functional medicine practitioners like me use pharmaceutical-grade supplements that have been tested prior to and after manufacture. They are 99% pure, whereas the average retail supplement may be only 1 to 20% pure and full of binders,” explains Menolascino. “If you work with a practitioner who understands the quality, then there is a huge benefit.”
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How Can A Woman Balance Her Hormones Naturally
If you havent quite gotten to the point that you need supplements yet, but youd like to take the initiative toward balancing your hormones, there are plenty of available to achieve your goals, some of which are listed above. Additionally, changes to your daily routine can help mitigate stress levels, improve sleep quality, and maintain healthy hormone levels through exercise and other healthy practices. Since stress and sleep are such major factors in a womans hormonal health, taking active steps to reduce stress and getting plenty of restful sleep can dramatically improve your bodys immune function and hormonal balance.
And, as always, be sure to have an open discussion with your doctor about any concerns regarding hormone health. Your body has its own set of unique needs, and while theres plenty you can do on your own to take care of them, professional medical advice is always helpful to find out what are good for womens hormones.
Whats The Best Hormone Balance Supplement For Women
The raspberry leaf is widely used by women due its health benefits.
Its mainly used for its uterine therapeutic effects, but it also helps women by increasing fertility, preventing miscarriage, decreasing heavy menstrual flow, easing pregnancy nausea, and relieving menstrual cramps.
Due to its healing powers, tablets of raspberry leaf have also become available.
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How Does Vitamin D Affect Womens Health
Sometimes a little bit of sunshine is the best medicine. A walk in the park or a bike ride probably puts you in a good mood, and a moderate amount of sun is also good for your physical health. While youre outside soaking up rays, your body is busy making vitamin D. Thats good news, because this hormone thats boosted by exposure to sunlight plays an important role in womens health.
We have known for a long time about vitamin Ds critical role in bone health. More recently, though, vitamin D has been linked to having a potential role in a number of chronic diseases, including heart disease, cancer, inflammation and autoimmune disease.
Erin Michos, M.D., associate director of preventive cardiology at the Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease, explains why vitamin D is important for womens health and how to make sure youre getting enough.
Folic Acid For Pregnancy And Beyond
Folate, or folic acid â found in leafy greens, brown rice and granary bread â is crucial if youâre thinking about trying for a baby, as itâs needed for preventing birth defects such as spina bifida.
PLOS One
Folic acid supplements could also help balance out hormones as you age by reducing menopausal hot flushes. Researchers think that folate affects the neurotransmitters that are involved in triggering hot flushes.
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Which Product To Start With
It all depends on your health and on which links are broken or not working optimally in your body to detox you from the dirty estrogen metabolites.
My recommendation is:
If you are highly symptomatic , start with all three products:
You can save money when you get the Estrogen Reset Kit, which contains all three of these products.
If you are not that symptomatic and/or budget is an issue for you, start with Sulforaphane .
If the symptoms do not subside, add DIM and Calcium D-Glucarate.
Stasis Estrogen Balance Supplement
This is a supplement that you can find on Amazon, and claims to be able to help with hormone balance, support menopause, PMS, PCOS and even weight loss!
Diindolylmethane supports healthy estrogen balanceand doesnt let your estrogen get too high, or too low.
By helping support optimal estrogen balance, products that contain DIM may help women deal with the uncomfortable symptoms from menopause, PCOS, perimenopause, hormonal cystic acne, and weight management.
When estrogen is well-balanced, many may find the uncomfortable side effects such as night sweats, acne, hot flashes, and fluctuating moods disappear.
Stasisis a great supplement to start trying to balance female hormones, and feel better!
The best part? Its 100% natural and found in cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli.
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