Hormones are your body's chemical messengers. They travel in your bloodstream to tissues or organs and affect many different processes, including mood, sexual function, and metabolism. Though they are tiny...they are mighty! When hormones don’t function as they are supposed to, neither do you.
What are some of the tell-tale signs that your hormones may be out of balance? Check out the list below and see if any of these apply to you:
- Unexplained fatigue
- Weight gain specifically around your midsection and thighs
- Sudden decreases in your sex drive
- Mood swings
- Depression and anxiety
- Difficult periods
- Muscle aches, tenderness, and stiffness
Wondering what causes hormonal imbalances in women? Here are 3 of the top offenders.
- Endocrine disrupting chemicals: Bisphenols found in plastics, and phthalates found in many perfumes, are some examples of endocrine disrupting chemicals. These man-made chemicals mimic naturally occurring hormones in the body such as estrogen and thyroid hormones, potentially leading to either overstimulation of receptor sites or blocking of receptor sites, preventing the natural hormones from binding where they should.
- Diet: Consuming dairy, caffeine and red meat may favour the inflammatory and proliferative characteristics of many women health concerns. One study titled “A prospective cohort study of meat and fish consumption and endometriosis risk,” published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, found that women who ate more than two servings per day of red meat had a 56% higher risk of developing endometriosis than women who consumed one serving or less of red meat a week.
- Negative emotional states: Stress causes the body to release the hormone cortisol, which is produced by the adrenal glands. High cortisol lowers estrogen levels, which can result in the deposition of fat in the mid-section of the body. When estrogen is lowered from continuous cortisol production, female hormone imbalance symptoms such as night sweats, PMS, and mood swings can get worse.
Not sure where to begin to decode your body’s messages? Join the Somerset Sisterhood today, an interactive online platform designed by Naturopathic Doctors to give women the tools they need to master their hormones and reclaim vibrant health. Learn more by visiting https://somersethealth.ca/join.