There are some unwanted symptoms you face but have obvious explanations. For instance, you’re feeling more irritable than ever and blame it on Mercury Retrograde… Your hair has been falling out more than usual, but you’ve just bleached it… You’ve had unusual breakouts, but you’re overstressing at work.
Most of these symptoms could be a result of a hormonal imbalance or could be because of another reason. The questions are: how do you know that you need to get your hormones checked? What are the warning signs you may have a hormonal imbalance? How does a hormonal imbalance affect you?
Hormonal imbalance may be the cause of many unwanted symptoms – hair loss, weight gain, irritability, or even breakouts. And because hormones aren’t visible to us, it’s always mixed up between other reasons that cause the same symptoms.
Generally, hormones are chemicals released in the body and pass through our bloodstream. They affect our bodies tremendously and a slight imbalance is often underestimated, when in fact, it affects us so much.
A hormonal imbalance is when the hormones are either released excessively or under the usual amount. A healthy hormonal balance regulates our bodies in many aspects such as our appetite, metabolism, sleep quality, brain function, and mood among others.
Hormone fluctuations are inevitable – they come at various stages. For women, hormones fluctuate when they hit puberty, during menopause, and of course, pregnancy. There are also other factors such as your diet, lifestyle, stress levels, sleep pattern, and medical conditions.
How do you know when your hormones need to be checked?
Here are signs you might have a hormonal imbalance and need to get checked:
- Irregular periods
- Depression
- Irritability
- Hot flashes
- Mood swings
- Low libido
- Weight gain
- Fatigue
- Decreased brain function
- Headaches
- Bloating
- Digestion problems
- Hair loss
- Acne flares
- Joint pain
- Cold intolerance
- Heat intolerance
- Cravings
Many other factors could lead to these symptoms other than a hormonal imbalance. But, if you feel like you have a lot of these symptoms, it’s best to get your hormones checked and do some lifestyle changes to regulate your hormones.
How do you fix a hormonal imbalance?
Consider your caffeine intake
I used to be one of the people who would do anything for the sake of their health, except quit caffeine until it has gone too far – I’d wake up with unexplained anxiety, have an energy crash in the middle of the day, and have irregular sleeping patterns.
Excessive caffeine intake can cause hormonal imbalance even if you’re not ready to admit it. It’s hard to quit all of a sudden, but you can try out low caffeine options or try out other energy-boosting drinks such as matcha.
Consider your alcohol intake
I know that asking you to quit caffeine and alcohol is not the answer you’ve been looking for – or look forward to. But, cutting off or cutting back on alcohol will change your entire life. Alcohol affects your blood sugar levels greatly which takes a toll on your hormones, in addition to the many harmful side effects alcohol has.
Regulate your stress levels
Stress takes a toll on your hormones because stress releases a hormone called “Cortisol” which supports your body with dealing with stress. Unfortunately, these days stress is inevitable because of how busy we tend to get.
However, you can find ways to self-soothe and release some of the stress and take a break when life gets overwhelming.
Take care of your diet
The phrase “you are what you eat” isn’t an exaggeration. If you have a bad diet, you’re going to feel bad. If you eat well, you’re going to feel good. A “good” diet doesn’t mean that you cut off everything you’re craving, but to balance things out.
Try to indulge in sugary foods every once in a while. Add more protein and vegetables to your meals. Cut back on dairy products and those full of starch and simple carbohydrates such as flour, pasta, bread, etc…
Also, don’t be afraid of eating fats. There are healthy ones that keep your hormones in check and are beneficial for your body. So, try to include healthy fats in your meals.