10 signs you may have a hormonal imbalance – and what to do about it

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Hormones are like chemical messengers, and govern nearly every cellular action in our body.

While very important, our sex hormones like estrogen, progesterone and testosterone, are actually not essential for our survival.

They’re responsible for sexual functioning and fertility, as well as in more of a “beauty” capacity – keeping our skin, hair & nails vital and youthful looking.

On the other hand, stress hormones (like cortisol & epinephrine, also known as adrenaline) are critical to our survival because they synthesize proteins, maintain cellular electrolyte balance, regulate heartbeat and blood pressure, and transport glucose into our cells – essentially feeding our brain.

These hormones are so crucial, that in times of chronic stress, cortisol (the “hormone of stress”) will be made at the expense of sex hormones. No wonder we can start feeling whacked out at certain stages of life!

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So what happens when hormones stop playing well together?

We can often experience a ripple effect, even when there’s a slight hiccup in hormone function.

Also, due to the fact that the interconnected nature of your endocrine system, one hormonal imbalance can lead to an additional one, causing multiple symptoms and overlapping health issues.

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The 10 most common signs that you probably have a hormonal imbalance

1. Poor sleep – not being able to fall asleep or stay asleep
2. Fatigue that’s not alleviated by sleep
3. Night sweats and hot flashes
4. Resistant excess weight and body fat, especially around the belly
5. Low libido or sexual dysfunction
6. Acne or other skin issues
7. PMS symptoms
8. Foggy thinking (brain fog!) and difficulty concentrating
9. Mental health issues – depression and anxiety in particular
10. Mood changes like irritability and anger

Most people have a combination of a few different symptoms, which allows us to dive deeper into one specific area to focus on or test first, like stress hormones or detoxification.

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The main causes of hormonal imbalances

While there are many causes, here are the most common ones that have been identified:

• Age and stage of life
• Chronic stress
• Medications (e.g. the Pill)
• Toxins and endocrine disruptors like xenoestrogens
• Poor nutrition and lack of adequate key nutrients
• Blood sugar regulation problems
• Disrupted circadian rhythm
• Chronic inflammation (e.g. leaky gut & digestive system inflammation)

Our hormones also fluctuate throughout our lives and even daily, which makes it harder to pinpoint exactly which part of the endocrine system is most affected.

The truth is, most of us (of not all of us!) will experience hormonal imbalances at one point or another. How they show up for you specifically depends on many factors, like your genetics, diet, stress levels, environment, and even childhood trauma.

The good news is, you can take charge of your hormonal imbalance, however it’s showing up for you, by starting with the steps outlined below.

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Simple ways to support and re-balance your hormones naturally

Eat whole foods: processed, packaged foods offering little to no nutritive value will also offer little to no fuel for your hormones.

Be sure to eat fresh over packaged foods, including plenty of vegetables, fruits, and quality sources of free range and grass fed meats and eggs. Also, if tolerated – nuts, seeds, and legumes in moderation.

Grains and dairy may cause or exacerbate hormonal problems for some people.

Eat more good fats: Good fats are essential for hormonal health because sex hormones need fat as a building block – and your body can only use the ones you give it.

Opt for sources of good fats from whole foods, such as avocados, raw nuts & seeds, coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, real butter or ghee (grass fed preferable), wild-caught salmon, and free range eggs – yes, you can eat the yolks!

Exercise daily: Working out on a regular basis, engaging in resistance (or strength) training, and incorporating a specific workout called HIIT (high intensity interval training) has been proven to be especially beneficial for keeping our bodies AND our hormones fit.

If stress and fatigue is big factor in your life at the moment, start with yoga, nature walks or pilates.

Better sleep: getting deeper, more restorative sleep can be the key to supporting your hormones, above all other measures (but that doesn’t mean you should ignore the other ones!)

Better sleep can be achieved by setting a set time to go to sleep and wake up (even on the weekends!) and setting a calming evening routine. (more tips here)

Stress management & self-care: the truth is – stress can be devastating for hormonal health.

We need to equip ourselves to manage the stress and “business” of everyday life through the actions that bring back balance and well being to our bodies AND our minds – like good nutrition, exercise and sleep!

Learn better coping mechanisms (like breathing techniques), practice mindfulness and be sure to engage in daily self-care. (more tips on how to better cope with stress here)

Now it’s time to take what you’ve learned and put it into action! Choose one area to focus on, like sleep, and make a commitment to make one habit change to improve your sleep this week.