What is hormone imbalance?
Hormone imbalance refers to when the body's hormones are produced in the wrong amounts, resulting in too much or too little of a certain hormone. This affects the complex hormone feedback system and can negatively impact physical and mental health.
Some key causes of hormonal imbalance include:
- Poor diet: Eating lots of processed foods and not enough whole foods can affect hormone levels. Consuming unhealthy fats instead of healthy unsaturated fats found in avocados, nuts and olive oil is problematic.
- Chronic stress: High cortisol levels over long periods can wreak havoc on reproductive and thyroid hormones among others. Finding healthy ways to manage life's stressors is essential.
- Lack of exercise: Regular movement helps hormones stay balanced as exercise positively impacts insulin, cortisol and sex hormones. Get at least 30 mins of activity daily.
- Thyroid disorders: The thyroid is extremely sensitive and issues like hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism throw off every other hormone system in the process.
Some common symptoms of hormonal imbalances include:
- Unexplained weight gain or weight loss
- Sleep disturbances
- Depression, anxiety, irritability
- Low libido
- Digestive issues
- Infertility
- Headaches
If you suspect a hormone imbalance, it's imperative to consult an endocrinologist for proper testing and diagnosis of which hormones are impacted. Getting to the root cause instead of just treating surface symptoms is key.