How do you balance hormones naturally and why is it so important? Hormones aren’t just for the reproductive system. They help regulate the entire body’s processes from hunger, mood, sleep, stress, and weight among other things.
What is Hormonal Imbalance?
Hormones are essentially chemical messengers that use your bloodstream to travel throughout your body. Hormonal imbalance occurs when there’s too much to too little of a certain hormone in the bloodstream. Hormones have an essential role when it comes to bodily functions
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Symptoms of hormonal imbalance
There are signs and symptoms associated with hormonal imbalance. You can get various symptoms based on the hormones that are imbalanced. Here are some symptoms of hormonal imbalance:
- Unexplained and sudden weight gain or weight loss
- Always fatigued
- Skin breakouts: rashes and acne
- Increased thirst and hunger
- Muscle weakness and aches
- Depression, anxiety, increased irritability, and nervousness
- Hair loss
- Insomnia and difficulty sleeping
Causes of hormonal imbalance
There are various causes of hormonal imbalance. With today’s lifestyle hormonal imbalance has relatively increased. Some popular causes of hormonal imbalance include:
- Diabetes
- Pregnancy
- Stress
- Medication
- Injury or trauma
- Poor diet & being overweight
- Birth control
- Chemotherapy & cancer
How to balance hormones naturally
Given the importance of hormones how can you balance hormones naturally? Here are a few ways you can try and balance your hormones naturally
Avoid Sugar
If you want to balance your hormones naturally you should avoid sugar. Sugar is linked t a number of health issues like diabetes, obesity among other diseases. To avoid imbalance, Exclude processed sugar from your diet. This will ensure you have maintained blood sugar levels and optimize your insulin. Consuming a lot of processed sugar and refined carbs can make you gain weight and develop diabetes which may lead to hormonal imbalance.
Stress Management
Stress has a couple of side effects on your body and can take a toll on your hormones. Always try and manage your stress levels by engaging in activities like meditation, yoga, and affirmations. Try various stress management skills to avoid high blood pressure and anxiety that may come as a side effect of stress.
Consume enough protein
Protein provides amino acids that your body can’t make. Protein helps in controlling the hunger hormone as it leaves you feeling full for a longer period of time. This hormone helps in controlling your appetite. To ensure you have a healthy hormonal balance include enough protein in your diet.
Get High-Quality Sleep
Sleep for at least 7 to 8 hours a night to ensure your hormones are balanced. Poor quality sleep and irregular sleep patterns have been known to cause hormonal imbalance. Poor sleep can affect your insulin levels. You crave high-carb foods which all lead to hormonal imbalance.
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Engage in Regular Exercise
Exercise is great when it comes to maintaining and balancing your hormones. Regular exercise can maintain your insulin levels. Physical activity might help regulate your stress levels which can also cause hormonal imbalance.
Eat healthy and enough
Maintain a healthy diet to avoid any changes to your hormones that may cause an imbalance. Avoid eating too much or too little as it may affect your insulin levels. In some instances eating too little food has been known to cause weight gain. Eat foods that are rich in fiber and omega 3. They help in controlling and maintaining insulin levels.
Consult a health professional
If you have tried out all the natural ways of balancing your hormones and nothing seems to be improving. You might want to consult your doctor. Your situation might need hormonal therapy or advanced treatment.