Hormones play a critical role in our overall health and well-being. They control our body's various processes - from metabolism to sleep - and a hormonal imbalance can cause a range of health problems. Let's explore seven ways hormonal imbalances disrupt your health and lifestyle and the issues that can arise.
1. Mood Swings - A hormonal imbalance can cause mood swings, irritability, and anxiety. Estrogen and progesterone imbalances can lead to these issues and can also play a role in depression.
2. Weight Gain - Did you know that hormonal imbalances can lead to weight gain, especially in the abdomen? Insulin resistance and other metabolic hormone imbalances can add up the pounds.
3. Trouble Sleeping - Sleep patterns can be disrupted when our endocrine system isn't in balance. Progesterone is responsible for promoting sleep, so a deficiency in this hormone can cause insomnia.
4. Fatigue - Feeling like you never have enough energy, no matter what? Check your hormones. Hypothyroidism, for example, can be the cause of your fatigue, as can a deficiency in vitamin D.
5. Infertility - Obviously, a healthy endocrine system optimizes fertility, for both men and women. Issues such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and low progesterone levels from imbalanced hormones can impact fertility.
6. Acne - Excess androgen levels can lead to oily skin and acne, and imbalances in estrogen and progesterone can cause the same.
7. Sexual Dysfunction / Low Desire - Low levels of testosterone can cause things like low libido, erectile dysfunction, and other sexual dysfunctions.
If you're experiencing any of the above symptoms, it may be common, but it is not normal and you don't have to live this way! Healthy lifestyle habits like cutting out synthetic fragrances and other toxic ingredients in the products you use every day, regular exercise, a balanced diet focused on whole foods, and other natural solutions will help support healthy hormone function in the body and relief from the symptoms we talked about in this article, along with others. And you may want to speak to a healthcare professional to determine if a hormonal imbalance could be the root cause of your symptoms.
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