Why Are My Hormones Imbalanced?
Hormones are substances produced in one part of our body that provide functions in another part of the body. Almost every part of the body is impacted by hormones and almost all hormones are related together. They work in a balancing system. When one is low, another will become high. Over time, hormone imbalances can cause chronic issues that can lead to diseases or even cancer. The female reproductive system especially relies on hormone balance. If you have hormone imbalances you may notice symptoms like hair loss, irregular period, infertility, intense PMS, fatigue, weight loss or weight gain, feeling cold, or weak joints. Here you can find the answer to the question “why are my hormones imbalanced?”.
Source: NIH
1. Not Eating Enough
Not eating enough is another one of the answers to the question “why are my hormones imbalanced?”. The nutrients in our food contain building blocks that the body uses to make hormones. If you are not consuming enough food, then the nutrients will be prioritized towards other mechanisms in the body rather than hormone production. Specifically, amino acids, which come from protein sources, are building blocks for many hormones. Fiber supports gut health resulting in better hormone regulation because estrogen is passed through the gut. Many B vitamins are crucial for hormone and energy production, regulating stress levels. Meeting your energy needs may be confusing, but the rule of thumb is to start eating when you feel slightly hungry and to stop eating when you feel satisfied. Make sure to eat a variety of different foods so that your body gets all the nutrients it needs. Each meal should have a plate that has ¼ protein,¼ whole grains, ½ fruits and vegetables.
Source: 22254027, NIH, 31394787, 7386123, 17099205
2. Not Enough Rest
Not having enough rest during sleep and between exercise bouts is another answer to the question ‘why are my hormones imbalanced?’. When you sleep your body produces the hormone melatonin which supports our circadian rhythm or our body clock. This body clock helps us relax at night to go to sleep, and it wakes us up in the morning by stimulating our cortisol. With not enough well-rested sleep, melatonin will not be produced enough and our body clock will become shifted. During the mornings you may be extra tired and at night time you will feel wide awake. Because melatonin is a hormone and impacts cortisol levels this will impact many other hormones in the body. Additionally, exercise is a stress on the muscles and we must have enough recovery after in order to properly repair the muscle tissues to build stronger. If you exercise with the same intensity every day without rest days or more low active days this causes fatigue on the body. Depending on your form of exercise you may be damaging your joints with high impact forms of exercise like running. High stress on the body will cause reproductive hormones to take a back seat because it won’t feel prepared to support a baby when the body is so high stress.
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3. PCOS
PCOS is another answer to the question ‘why are my hormones imbalanced?’. PCOS stands for polycystic ovarian syndrome which is a common hormonal disorder in women. The 3 main diagnostic criteria for PCOS are having irregular periods, high androgen levels, and/or ovarian cysts. Androgens are male dominant hormones like testosterone and DHEA. While they should be high in men, they are also needed in women but in small amounts. When women have high levels this causes an imbalance in the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. Some common symptoms of PCOS include acne, hair loss, acne, facial hair growth, oily skin, insulin resistance, and weight gain. If you have been experiencing some of these problems and frequently question ‘why are my hormones imbalanced?’ PCOS may be your answer.
4. Thyroid Problems
Lastly, thyroid problems may be the answer to your question ‘why are my hormones imbalanced?’. The thyroid gland is one of the strongest proponents of metabolism. Found in the throat, the gland produces T3 and T4 hormones. These need to be balanced, or else this will cause hypothyroid (doesn’t produce enough T3 and T4) and hyperthyroid (produces too much T3 and T4). Both scenarios are not beneficial for metabolism, but specifically, hypothyroid because it causes fatigue and hormone distress. When the thyroid is not producing enough thyroid hormones, the nutrients from food will go towards fat stores instead of energy usage resulting in fatigue. Other hormones like estrogen and progesterone will decrease as a result too because the body perceives that there isn’t enough food to make sufficient energy to fuel daily needs.
