Hormones are responsible for many different things - from hunger to feelings of stress and ovulation - which means that when your hormones are imbalanced, you can suffer from all kinds of symptoms. Most commonly, however, people with a hormone imbalance will experience irregular periods, PMS, insomnia, anxiety, skin issues or mood swings. But these are just a few! Here are a few ideas on what to look for in your hormones and what to do when they're outta whack!
Symptoms to look out for
This can be different for each person, but any of the symptoms we've already mentioned that are getting you down are worth enquiring about. Other symptoms include low mood, depression, thinning hair, breast tenderness, weight gain or fertility issues. However, if your gut feelings are that something is up, it's a good idea to get a professional's advice.
Can lifestyle factors cause imbalanced hormones?
In general, lifestyle choices can have a massive impact on our health, but your hormones can be especially affected. Stress, lack of sleep, too many processed food, sugars or toxins have throw your hormone balance off course.
Our hormones need healthy fats and proteins so aiming for a portion of each and every meal is a good goal. Fruit, veg, whole grains and complex carbs are full of fibre which helps flush out toxins.
There are 6 things you could consider when thinking about hormonal health
- Nourish - Consuming food which has lots of nutrients in are great for your hormonal health (rather than processed foods which have little nutrients in). Also good fats and a variety of fruit and veg will help you stay nourished.
- Nurture - While diet is very important for your hormonal health, so is nurturing your body and mind. Activities like meditation and yoga will help look after your adrenals and thyroid.
- Exercise - Exercise is also great for adrenaline levels and relieves stress. Doing some sort of physical activity (even a walk) can really help your hormones.
- Rest up - We all need time to relax and restore. We recommend you do this daily, even if just an hour before bedtime - sleeping counts as well!