Understanding Hormonal Imbalance

Most people think if their hormones are out of balance, it'll show up in their bloodwork. But many times that’s not the case. This is especially true with adrenal issues.

Hormonal imbalance causes are complex, but hopefully, this article will shed some light on this important topic for you.

Why You Need to Understand Hormonal Imbalance Causes

It takes a significant problem within the body for a hormone to show up as out of balance on a test. Just because your hormones appear "normal" doesn't necessarily mean you're perfectly healthy.

Sometimes a significant percentage of a gland, like the adrenals, needs to be dysfunctional before a problem even shows up on a test. This is why you need to look at all the symptoms, not just blood tests, to identify hormonal imbalance causes.

For example, if you think you have a sluggish thyroid, look for symptoms of low thyroid like:

• Fatigue

• Weight gain

• Hair loss

• Feeling cold

• Constipation

• Brain fog.

Even if your labs are “normal,” if you have these symptoms, there is a good chance your thyroid needs support. Unfortunately, many conventional doctors don’t address subclinical symptoms like this.

But there’s another critical piece to the hormone puzzle many people, including doctors, miss. They treat the symptom – the hormone imbalance – instead of addressing the root cause.

If you have a thyroid hormone deficiency, they give you a thyroid hormone prescription, and magically you're supposed to be better.

While taking a hormone like this seems like a logical solution, this approach fails to ask the most important question—what caused the thyroid to slow down in the first place?

Until you answer that, you’ll never truly fix your hormonal imbalance causes. And what happens if you stop taking the medication? You’ll likely go back to having symptoms, which will send you back to the doctor for more medication.

To fully understand this, it's helpful to first understand what hormones do in the body.

Hormones are Messengers

Hormones are communications or messages sent throughout your body. Just like you communicate by speaking and listening to others, your hormones communicate by carrying messages.

They do this by traveling through the bloodstream to connect to receptors on cells. Think of receptors like little mailboxes waiting for their mail—the hormones.

This communication is what triggers specific functions within the body—everything from sleeping to growing hair to burning fat. We have around 600 different hormones working for us in the body. It’s quite an amazing communication system.

Yet, it often breaks down, resulting in hormonal issues that cause a range of frustrating symptoms. To understand why your hormones get out of balance, it’s important to know a little bit about where they’re produced—the glands.

Why Supporting Your Glands Is Critical to Understand Hormonal Imbalance Causes

Glands make hormones and release them into the bloodstream. They also receive feedback about the hormones to make sure everything is working as it should. If a gland isn’t working correctly, you won't make enough hormones (or you could produce excess.).

Yet, glands are often ignored in the quest to understand hormonal imbalance causes.

Unfortunately, conventional medicine usually treats hormone imbalances with medications instead of supporting these powerhouse glands.

Taking synthetic hormones for years on end, such as thyroid medication, can cause your gland to shrink and become even more dysfunctional. In other words, it makes you dependent on the medication for life, which in my opinion, is not a solution.

So, what’s the better approach? Supporting the glands naturally, so they can start producing hormones at optimal levels again. Here are a few simple ways to start doing this.

5 Powerful Ways to Support Your Glands (and Correct Hormonal Imbalance Causes)

Here are my top five strategies to nourish your endocrine system so you can begin balancing your hormones naturally:

1. Eat a Nutrient-Dense Diet

Focus on whole, unprocessed foods like healthy fats, grass-fed meat, wild-caught fish, organic low-carb vegetables, nuts, and seeds.

A nutrient-dense diet will give your body the building blocks it needs for hormone production, like zinc, magnesium, B vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids.

Avoid processed foods, added sugars, and inflammatory vegetable oils, as they can contribute to hormone-related conditions.

2. Reduce Stress

Chronic stress disrupts hormone balance. When we experience stress, our bodies release the hormone cortisol. While some cortisol is normal and even necessary, high levels day in and day out throw off our delicate hormone balance.

Incorporate stress-reducing activities like deep breathing exercises, spending time in nature, and prioritizing quality sleep. You may also find that managing stress can positively impact other areas of your health.

3. Balance Blood Sugar

Blood sugar spikes and crashes disrupt insulin, one of our main hormones. When you eat sugary, processed carbs, your body pumps out lots of insulin to shuttle that glucose into your cells.

Over time, your cells become less sensitive to insulin, leading to insulin resistance, and a whole cascade of hormonal issues.

Focus on balancing blood sugar by eating regular meals, pairing protein and healthy fats with carbs, and limiting your intake of processed foods and added sugars.

4. Prioritize Sleep

Adequate sleep (around 7-9 hours per night) is crucial for hormone regulation, especially the stress hormone cortisol, and melatonin, our sleep-wake hormone.

Implement good sleep hygiene practices by creating a relaxing bedtime routine, maintaining a cool, dark room, and avoiding screen time before bed.

5. Address Nutrient Deficiencies

Specific nutrient deficiencies contribute to hormonal imbalances. Common deficiencies that can contribute to hormonal imbalance causes include deficiencies in vitamin D, iodine, zinc, and magnesium.

Talk with your primary care provider about getting your levels checked, and consider a high-quality multivitamin or specific supplements if you're deficient.

Balancing Act

Achieving clear, radiant skin often involves more than just topical treatments; it requires understanding the complex interplay between hormones and diet. Hormonal fluctuations can significantly impact skin health, leading to conditions like acne.

One effective approach to managing this is through a tailored hormonal acne diet, which focuses on foods that help balance hormone levels and reduce inflammation.

Incorporating nutrient-rich foods, such as leafy greens, nuts, and seeds, can support hormone regulation and improve overall skin clarity.

Additionally, reducing the intake of high-glycemic foods and dairy can minimize breakouts by preventing spikes in insulin and testosterone levels, which are known to exacerbate acne.

By addressing hormonal imbalances through diet and lifestyle adjustments, you can pave the way for healthier, clearer skin while effectively managing the underlying causes of acne.

Conclusion

If you are struggling with hormonal issues, remember there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Instead of masking your symptoms with medications that may worsen your hormonal imbalance causes, support your glands so they can heal, recover, and produce hormones naturally again.

And be sure to check in with your healthcare professional if you have concerns or are struggling with hormonal imbalances.