Are you sick of feeling a bit off? Having a hormonal imbalance that won’t correct itself is frustrating but there are a few great vitamins for hormonal imbalance that can make a big difference.
As we know, life often gets in the way of our health and its not until we start feeling really crappy that we decide we need to do something about it. But it can be hard researching and finding vitamins for hormonal imbalance that will actually work but also fit into your budget. Some of us can’t afford to fork out 100s of dollars on expensive vitamins and supplements every month.
Below, we take a look at the main symptoms and causes of hormonal imbalance, including identifying the key hormones which are often the culprits to an out of whack system. Finally, we recommend the best vitamins for hormonal imbalance that will help you to live your best life, along with some lifestyle tips to improve your health and wellbeing.
Symptoms Of Hormonal Imbalance
Some of the common signs that you may have a hormonal imbalance include:
- Insomnia
- Weight gain
- Low libido/Altered sex drive
- Acne
- Recurring UTI’s
- PMS
- Painful and heavy periods
- Mood Swings
- Bloating
- Night sweats
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Migraines
It is quite normal for our hormones to fluctuate throughout life, as teenagers going through puberty, and as adults experiencing pregnancy or menopause later. However it is when these hormones don’t settle and balance out that we can experience symptoms like the ones listed above. This is when we need a helping hand – such as vitamins for hormonal imbalance.
Causes of Hormonal Imbalance
Many things can impact our hormones, including high stress, poor diet, lack of sleep, diabetes, menopause, pregnancy and many other issues. You might even think that you are managing things quite well, however hormonal imbalances will always prevail if things don’t change. Trust me, I’ve tried to ignore them for a long time!
Along with understanding specific vitamins for hormonal imbalance, you can also evaluate your lifestyle choices and see if there’s anything you can optimise. Rebalancing your hormones takes time, so why not develop healthy habits along the way? Your future you will love you for it.
Most Common Hormonal Imbalances
The most common hormones that could be imbalanced include cortisol, insulin, thyroid stimulating hormone, estrogen and testosterone. Although these are the usual culprits, it’s important that you consult your doctor and even get a hormone test completed to find out which hormone is causing you grief.
There are multiple hormonal tests available, including saliva and urine tests that your doctor can order for a small fee. The DUTCH test is a very thorough (although expensive!) hormonal test which is great for a complete overview of your hormones, which I have personally done. See my experience and review here.
Cortisol
Chances are if you’re stressed – you probably have a high level of cortisol swimming around in your body! Stress is the number one culprit for disrupting hormonal imbalance. Cortisol is released by the adrenal glands when your body perceives a threat, be it mentally, emotionally or physically.
Cortisol is great when we need it – it activates our “fight or flight” response and allows us to respond to situations with speed and quick-thinking. However, it is not great when we are under constant stress as the body struggles to lower our cortisol levels to the normal limits.
High amounts of stress can have many negative effects such as reduced immunity, mood fluctuations, headaches, digestion issues, sleep problems and can even lead to serious health issues such as heart attacks and strokes. But I have great news – there are many vitamins for hormonal imbalance that target stress levels and help to assist the body in dealing with our day-to-day situations.
Managing stress is vital to balancing your hormones – it’s one of the first things doctors and naturopaths address. Of course, we can’t all quit our jobs and responsibilities, but it’s important to implement ways in which we can deal with stress better and lower our cortisol levels. Very Well Mind have some great strategies in managing stress.
Insulin
You might be thinking – what does insulin have to do with my hormonal imbalance? Well some of the symptoms you may be experiencing – such as fatigue, mental exhaustion and mood irregularities can be caused by an insulin imbalance.
Although insulin regulation is something that usually only people with diabetes need to worry about, I’m here to tell you it matters to all of us. This is because insulin is a hormone that comes into action every time we eat carbohydrates. Carbs are broken down into glucose by the body and insulin is essential for what happens next.
After the body recognises glucose in its system, the pancreas secretes insulin which helps to move glucose into cells so that it can be used for energy. If you consume a high carb diet, it can be hard for the body to recognise the requirement for insulin and secrete enough so that the glucose can be used for energy. If that glucose isn’t used, it is then stored as fat.
This means that people with an insulin imbalance can often have fatigue and energy crashes. It can even lead to a disruption to other hormones, such as high testosterone, causing an increase in facial hair and acne in some people. If you suspect this may be something you’re dealing with – make sure you see your doctor or even an endocrinologist as blood sugar and insulin regulation is very important.
Testosterone
Testosterone is often only associated with men. I’m sure you’ve heard it said before – “his testosterone levels are through the roof” – meaning that someone is very self-confident. It may come as a surprise however that women do produce testosterone, albeit a smaller amount.
Testosterone is actually quite important in females, as it can affect fertility issues and disrupt menstrual cycles. Not to mention, it can change appearances due to oily skin, acne and the appearance of skin tags. See the graphic below for more symptoms caused by a testosterone imbalance.
If your testosterone is imbalanced, there’s a high chance that your other hormones may be out of whack too. So its important to look at all angles when determining which vitamins for hormonal imbalances may be right for you. Making nutrition and lifestyle changes can especially help to balance out testosterone levels.
Estrogen (Oestrogen)
Estrogen is a super important hormone for the female reproductive system. This means that when it is imbalanced – it greatly affects menstrual cycles and fertility in women. Estrogen dominance is one of the most common hormonal imbalances that women deal with. It is considered dominant whenever it is higher than progesterone, as they should normally be at a somewhat similar level.
On the other hand, low estrogen levels can produce a mirad of issues for women, especially those postmenopausal. Low estrogen increases the likelihood and risk of developing obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and other issues. Having a balanced amount of estrogen in our system is important as it can affect many aspects of our life, not to mention hormonal health.
Signs you may have an estrogen imbalance include:
- Acne
- Heavy and/or irregular periods
- Missed periods
- Severe PMS
- Migraines
- Anxiety
- Endometriosis
- Uterine fibroids
- Bloating and water retention
- Night sweats
- Mood changes
- Weight Gain
- Trouble sleeping
- Fatigue
You can be more susceptible to an estrogen imbalance if you are going through menopause, are stressed or have thyroid issues and poor nutrition. It’s important to note that with this hormonal imbalance, there are many things you can try to try and correct it. All is not lost!
Eating a diet rich in fibre and limiting alcohol intake is a good start to allow your body to clear out toxins. Who knew daily poos were so important! At the end of this article we will also recommend some great vitamins for hormonal imbalance that will definitely get you onto the road to recovery.
Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
Something your doctor may look at when determining hormonal imbalance is your thyroid hormones. Symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain or weight loss and changes in your mood can often be attributed to a thyroid imbalance.
The pituitary gland secretes a hormone called the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) which helps to control how our body uses energy. This means that it can often create changes that are related to metabolism, digestion and body temperature.
TSH controls the production of two thyroid hormones – thyroxine and triiodythyronine. Eating a healthy, nutritious diet, as well as taking vitamins for hormonal imbalance can assist your thyroid in functioning optimally.
So we’ve learnt about the different hormones that are commonly affected, but how can we support them to get our lives back on track? With vitamins!
Essential Vitamins For Hormonal Imbalance
Vitamin D
This is at the top of the list, and for good reason. Vitamin D plays a major role in the production and regulation of hormones, including progesterone and estrogen. It also helps to regulate blood sugar levels and insulin levels. Researchers in China have found that there is a direct link between vitamin D and estrogen levels. This means that when vitamin D levels are higher, estrogen levels are higher and vice versa.
Therefore, if you are struggling with low estrogen, vitamin D should be your best bet! You can absorb it from the sun by getting a daily dose of sunshine, or take it in oral supplement form. It is definitely budget friendly at $10 from Iherb for a bottle of 90 capsules.
Zinc
Zinc is one of the first vitamins that I actually ever heard of for it’s ability to balance hormones. It is vital for thyroid function, immunity and hormone and cell synthesis. Zinc has the ability to reduce the effects of androgen dominance (testosterone) – including acne, PMS, vaginal dryness and irregular periods.
Zinc is a micronutrient that does not get stored in the body and therefore needs to be taken in from food or through vitamins. It can be found in meat, seafood, legumes and nuts. Zinc is one of the great vitamins for hormonal imbalance and can be found for just $10 from Iherb.
Vitamin B12 complex
One of the reasons you may have an hormonal imbalance is due to a reduced ability to clear out toxins. Just like toxins, excess hormones also need to be able to be excreted in order to maintain healthy levels. Vitamin B 12 is one of the great vitamins for hormonal imbalance due to its detoxification capabilities.
Low vitamin B12 can often be the cause of low energy levels, mood instability and increased inflammation in the body. Fatigue is often a major side effect of hormonal imbalance, so a vitamin B12 supplement may be just the thing to give you a boost. The best version of vitamin B12 to take is methylcobalamin, as it is easily absorbed. Just be sure to take it in the morning, not the evening as it will give you an energy boost! You can grab it from iherb for $15.
Omega 3 Fish Oil
Omega-3s are vital in the production of hormones, as they are the building blocks of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Taking omega-3s can also help to lower inflammation and stabilise blood sugar levels, which all impacts hormonal balance. Inflammation and high blood sugar levels are major stressors for the body, as mentioned above in the chat about cortisol and insulin.
Omega-3s are found in healthy fats such as salmon, walnuts, flax seeds, chia seeds and egg yolks. However if you struggle to get this variety in – taking a high quality omega 3 is just as good. Try this one from Vitamin King for $37.
Stress management + Nutrition = The BEST vitamin for hormonal imbalance
In a recent survey performed by Stress in America, it was found that America is one of the most stressed countries in the world. Approximately 94% of workers reported feeling stressed at work, a huge indicator of chronic stress. It is evident that stress is the number one factor affecting our lives, happiness, and hormones.
By effectively managing stress and choosing a healthy, nutritious diet you can start to feel better. The vitamins mentioned above are great additions, however a similar importance does need to be placed on stress and nutrition as well.
Balancing your hormones doesn’t have to be expensive! You just need patience and persistence.
