Hormonal Imbalance in Women (Causes, Symptoms, Remedies, Diet)

Hormonal imbalance has become a trending disorder in women’s health. Girls as young as 14 years are falling prey to hormonal disorders. In fact, there are plenty of changes that occur in a woman’s body right from infancy to old age. These changes are brought about by hormonal imbalances which can be detrimental to health. There can be a variety of factors that are responsible for these imbalances such as physiological changes, lifestyle, age, and diet. Read on to know more about the Hormonal imbalance in women. The causes of hormonal imbalance in women as well as the symptoms of hormonal imbalance. Home remedies and diet in Hormonal imbalance in women.

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Hormonal Imbalance in Women:

Hormones act as messengers that tell us what and when to do. From metabolism to fertility, hormones have a vital role to play and they affect everything in the body. Hormone levels may go out of balance as they are never stable. Let us take a detailed look at the various causes.

Causes of Hormonal Imbalance in women:

Mental and emotional stress:

Mental and emotional stress can result in the disruption of hormones. When the body experiences chronic stress, it utilizes progesterone and transfers it into the stress hormone called cortisol.

Diet:

Poor diet consumption can have a big impact on hormone balance. Crash diets, fad diets, and yo-yo diets are all one- way tickets to the imbalance of hormones. Junk foods and processed foods have become a major reason of concern in hormonal issues. It not only limited to the food you eat But details like cookware and storing the foods in plastic containers have also been marked as a reason for hormonal imbalance.

Inflammation and pain:

Digestive issues such as diarrhea, acidity, constipation, and bloating are all signs of inflammation. This leads to the suppression of the hypothalamus that regulates the production of the thyroid, adrenal, and sex hormones. The inflammation also affects the liver that can hamper the metabolic processes in the body.

Puberty:

During puberty, special hormones are released called gonadotropin-releasing hormones which secrete two more hormones called follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone. This leads to weight gain, hair growth around genitals, and underarms.

Menstruation:

There are two hormones called progesterone and estrogen that impact menstruation. These hormones regulate the menstrual cycle. During this period the body undergoes several changes. Irregular menstruation is not only an important cause of hormonal imbalance in women, but it is also a major symptom of this disorder.

Hormonal Drugs like Birth control Pills
Pregnancy
Menopause

Other Causes which are common for hormonal Imbalance in men and women are :

Medical disorders like Diabetes, Cushing Syndrome, Tumors (benign or cancerous), and Cancer treatments.
Dysfunctioning of the thyroid gland – Hyperthyroid or hypothyroid issues, as well as Thyroiditis
Hypogonadism
Disorders of the adrenal gland and adrenal insufficiency
Pituitary gland dysfunction or tumors.
Injuries and trauma

Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalance in women:

There is a wide range of symptoms that can confirm that your hormones are not in balance. Check for these pointers if you are feeling uncomfortable in your own shoes and you doubt that you may have a hormonal imbalance problem. Some of these symptoms include-

Fatigue:

It is normal to feel sluggish and exhausted sometimes. But if you do not recover even after taking the right amount of rest, a balanced diet, and hydration then you should consider checking your hormone levels.

Persistent weight gain:

Most of the women tend to believe that age is responsible for putting on weight that is inevitable but that’s not the case. In fact, there can be an underlying hormonal imbalance which makes it tougher to lose weight. The various glands in our body such as the thyroid, endocrine gland, and digestive system play a major role in hormonal imbalance that leads to weight gain.

Poor sleep patterns and insomnia:

If you are not getting the right amount of sleep then hormonal imbalance could very well be the reason. A hormone called progesterone which is produced by the ovaries is responsible for sleep. If this hormone level is lower than the required level then it can affect your sleep pattern. Lower levels of estrogen can trigger night sweats and hot flashes that can make it difficult for you to fall asleep.

Depression, irritability, and anxiety:

Depression, irritability, and anxiety are clues that indicate that your hormones are out of balance. This is caused due to a drop in the estrogen levels which affects your brain chemicals such as dopamine, and serotonin. Read – Benefits of vitamin D in depression.

Digestive issues:

Slow digestion, bloating and gas are commonly experienced when there is an imbalance of hormones. Hormonal imbalance may be associated with poor eating habits. As your body does not have optimal digestion it results in starving. Watch our video on How to get instant relief from indigestion and gas, Acidity causes and home remedies, and Home remedies and permanent treatment of constipation.

Loss of libido:

Loss of libido is a noticeable symptom of hormonal imbalance. It is a result of the imbalance of testosterone and estrogen.

Memory Fog:

Hormones have an effect on your brain. The changes in the progesterone and estrogen levels can lead to a foggy head and hamper your memory.

Sweating:

Night sweats and sudden hot flashes can be an indicator that your hormones are not in balance. This is a commonly seen symptom after menopause when the levels of hormones are unstable.

Breast changes:

Breast change is a result of a decrease in estrogen levels which causes the change in the shape and size of the breasts.

Facial hair:

This problem is referred to as Hirsutism. There is excessive growth of hair in a male-like pattern. These hair are dark and coarse. This problem often arises from excess androgens and testosterone. Read- Hirsutism remedies.

Acne:

Acne is a very common problem associated with hormonal imbalance during puberty. The typical characteristic includes acne growing on the T zone of the face. Adult acne is most formed on the lower side of the face , lower cheeks, and chin. These acnes are mostly visible at the time of menstrual cycle. or during PCOS.

Irregular Menstrual cycle and problems in conceiving:

Many women get to know about their hormonal imbalance only when they think of planning their family and start tracking their cycles. An irregular cycle is a symptom that shows that something is not right in there. Read – Conceiving in PCOD / PCOS.

Home Remedies for Hormonal Imbalance in women:

In order to treat the above-mentioned symptoms, there are some natural remedies that you can try at home. Here are some home remedies for treating Hormonal imbalance in women.

Diet :

The number one and the most important way to balance your hormones is to improve your diet. A healthy diet is a foundation to help balance your hormones. The first step to a healthy diet is to eliminate all refined carbohydrates, sugar, dairy, caffeine, and alcohol that can contribute to hormonal imbalance.

Replace all this foodstuff by unprocessed, whole, plant-based, organic, and whole foods. Choosing to consume these foods can have a huge impact on the hormonal balance.

Read :

Regular physical activity:

Focus on including some relaxing activities such as walking and swimming in your routine. Strength training and yoga are specifically very powerful remedies when it comes to treating hormonal imbalance in women. Fish pose, Surya namaskar, Malasana, Ujjayi Pranayam, Mandukasana, as well as butterfly pose are all very helpful in achieving hormonal balance. Read – Yoga Vs strength training Vs Cardio. And the importance of yoga for weight loss.

Prioritize Sleep:

Inadequate sleep will not keep the hormones in balance. During sleep, your body removes toxins, relaxes and recharges your mind and create hormones. Lack of sleep has a tremendous impact on the hormones. Watch this short video on benefits of sleep.

Stress Management :

Chronic stress can exacerbate the imbalance of hormones. The solution to this is to find something that you enjoy doing. This might include yoga, dance, music, meditation, etc which can help you melt away your anxiety, tension, and stress.

Take supplements wisely:

We live in an atmosphere where the food is robbed of important nutrients because of over-farming, the air that contains harmful compounds and water that is contaminated with chemicals. Hence the supplements may sometimes be needed to balance estrogen.

Limit the caffeine intake:

Too much caffeine consumption can wreak havoc on your endocrine system and disturb your blood sugar hormone. Replace coffee with healthy and beneficial herbal teas or add a tablespoon of cold-pressed extra virgin coconut oil if you find it difficult to cut down the coffee. It will add beneficial fats in your diet. Other than coffee, there are various other foods and drinks that contain caffeine, you must try and avoid this food. Some examples are energy drinks, soft drinks, black tea, chocolates, and baked items containing chocolates.

Go Vegan :

Many people have reported benefits in their hormonal status, acne, and menstruation problem when they gave up on dairy products and meat consumption. Going vegan and eating only plant-based foods have several benefits on your hormones, weight, acne, and overall health. Check out this amazing and very simple Indian vegan diet plan for weight loss.

EndNote:

I hope the points discussed above in the article will help you in finding out the reason behind your hormonal imbalance and then treating it. A good lifestyle goes a long way to treat hormonal imbalance in women. The above-mentioned strategies if followed with consistent efforts can definitely help you achieve true holistic health.