Achieving Hormonal Balance: Natural Solutions

Our hormones play a critical role in the day-to-day functions of our bodies, from regulating metabolism and growth to influencing mood and behavior. Essentially, hormones work as messengers within the body, traveling through the blood to various organs and tissues to trigger various bodily processes.

That said, hormonal imbalances can occur as a result of certain types of endocrine and immune damage, which can cause weight problems, mood swings, metabolic issues and more. 

Fortunately, there are several natural solutions you can use to rebalance your hormones and restore homeostasis within the body.

The Importance of Hormonal Balance

Our hormones are essential to maintaining overall health and vitality. Specifically, they control a variety of processes including:

• Metabolism
• Growth and development
• Sexual function
• Reproduction
• Sleep-wake cycle 
• Mood 

How exactly do hormones influence these functions? 

Hormones communicate in two ways. The first is by way of endocrine glands, such as the pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, thymus and adrenal glands, which secrete hormones. For example, one gland will produce a hormone to stimulate another gland to produce its hormone. The second is by way of the endocrine glands and organs. For example, the thyroid gland produces thyroid hormones that travel to the liver, muscles and adipose tissue by way of the bloodstream to regulate food breakdown and energy production. 

That said, it’s not only endocrine glands that produce hormones. Hormone secretion also occurs in the:

• Kidneys
• Liver
• Gut
• Placenta
• Fat tissue

Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalance

If hormone production is inhibited throughout the body, you can experience health problems that can impact your day-to-day life. These include:

• Metabolic issues – A hormonal imbalance can affect the way your body processes and absorbs food. This can cause constipation, loose bowel movements, irregular heartbeat, fatigue, high cholesterol levels, numbness or tingling in the hands, temperature intolerance, dry skin and hair, darkened skin or skin tags, extreme thirst, frequent urination and/or excess body fat. 
• Sexual issues – These may occur in sex hormones, such as testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone. In women and people assigned female at birth, it’s common to experience blemishes on the face, chest and/or upper back, hair loss, heavy/irregular menstrual cycles, excess body hair, hot flashes, infertility, low sex drive and/or vaginal dryness as a result of a lack of this natural hormonal balance. Men and people assigned male at birth can experience a loss in body hair, issues with sex drive, infertility and/or loss of muscle mass. 
• Mood issues – In other cases, a hormone imbalance can impact your mood and cause feelings of nervousness or unease. This can occur if the thyroid produces too much of the thyroid hormone or you experience a growth hormone deficiency. 

What Causes Hormonal Imbalances?

It’s natural to experience hormonal changes during puberty, gestation and menopause. However, hormone levels may also fluctuate as a result of:

• Stress – When the brain and body perceive stress, they release a cascade of a hormone called cortisol, which can impact other hormone producers and affect the levels of insulin, thyroid hormones and reproductive hormones in the body.
• Medications – Certain medications, like hormonal birth control, can alter hormone levels in the body. Some corticosteroids and antidepressants can also influence hormone production.
• Steroid use – Steroids mimic the male sexual hormone testosterone. As such, using an unsafe level of steroids can impact natural testosterone levels which in turn can affect sexual and reproductive health. 

In other cases,  hormonal changes may occur from abnormal cell growth in the body, endocrine gland damage and/or an autoimmune condition.

Natural Solutions For Hormonal Health

If you’re experiencing symptoms of hormonal imbalance, it’s important to visit a healthcare provider who can identify the underlying cause and recommend management and/or treatment plans.

That said, it may also be possible to promote hormonal health by way of natural solutions and prioritizing a healthy lifestyle. 

#1 Eat A Lot of Protein

Protein is one of three essential macronutrients your body needs to function properly. Adequate protein intake helps to regulate muscle growth, bone health and metabolic function. It also plays a role in the production of peptide hormones, which influence growth, metabolism, appetite, reproduction and your body’s stress response.

Eating protein also decreases ghrelin, a hunger hormone, and increases levels of hormones that help you feel full and satiated. 

To consume the daily recommended 15 to 30 grams of protein per meal, you can incorporate protein-rich whole foods, such as:

• Lean meats
• Poultry
• Seafood
• Dairy products
• Seeds and nuts
• Legumes

That said, if you’re trying to figure out how to eat more protein, you can also incorporate easy and convenient protein shakes that can act as nutrient- and protein-dense meal replacements. You might also want to consider incorporating more metabolism boosting foods into your diet to support this process. 

#2 Regularly Exercise 

Evidence suggests that daily movement such as high-intensity interval training, strength training and cardio, can help reduce insulin levels and increase insulin sensitivity. This hormone plays a crucial role in regulating blood sugar levels by facilitating the uptake of glucose into cells to be used for energy.

Regular exercise may also boost levels of such hormones as testosterone, IGF-1, DHEA and growth hormone (HGH), which help maintain muscle mass and healthy weight loss. 

#3 Prioritize Your Gut Health

Your gut contains a complex microbiome that can impact hormone production and in turn, energy production, appetite and feelings of fullness. 

To help maintain a healthy microbiome, you can:

• Regulate your stress levels – Stress can disrupt your gut microbiome. As such, it’s important to take a step back and destress with meditation, journaling, spending time with loved ones, walking or indulging in your favorite hobby.
• Get enough sleep – Maintaining seven to eight hours of sleep a night can help to regulate the gut microbiome.
• Eat slowly – Eating slowly can help the body break down and process foods, which can help to ease digestive discomfort.
• Drink plenty of water – Water is believed to increase the biodiversity of the gut microbiome, which can help regulate bowel movements and promote a healthy gut.
• Use prebiotics and probiotics – These supplements, which can be found in the INVIGOR8 Superfood Shake, can increase the number of beneficial microbiota found in the gut.
• Change your diet – Incorporating high-fiber whole foods, such as vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts and fruits, can positively impact gut health. Further, attune to any foods that may cause gastrointestinal discomfort as this may be a sign of a food intolerance. 

INVIGOR8: A Natural Wellness Solution

Maintaining a healthy hormone balance in the body is critical to your overall health and wellness. Hormonal imbalances can significantly impact your body, affecting everything from metabolism and mood to reproductive health and immune function and causing a wide range of symptoms and health issues, including fatigue, mood swings,infertility, and difficulty achieving healthy weight loss.

As such, it's essential to prioritize practices that support hormone balance, such as regular exercise, a balanced diet, stress management techniques and adequate sleep.

To ensure you’re eating enough protein throughout the day, you can count on the INVIGOR8 Organic Superfoods Powder, which contains 20 grams of protein per serving as well as prebiotic and probiotic complexes and comes in delicious flavors ranging from naturalstrawberry whey protein to salted caramel protein. For additional weight loss support, we also offer our full weight loss kit, which includes our organic superfoods powder, unflavored collagen peptides, and natural appetite control support. 

Sources:

1. Cleveland Clinic. Hormones
2. Healthline. 10 Natural Ways to Balance Your Hormones
3. Cleveland Clinic. Hormonal Imbalance
4. Healthline. 10 Science-Backed Reasons to Eat More Protein