Hormonal imbalance

HORMONAL IMBALANCE

Symptoms of hormonal imbalance may occur in women from 20 – 40 years of age, and the symptoms tend to increase as the women age. In the last thread we have seen how the 6 hormones play a vital role in every womens health.

Types of hormonal imbalance can be due to high levels of Estrogen, low levels of Estrogen, high levels of Progesterone, low levels of Progesterone, high levels of Androgens or low levels of Androgens, high levels of insulin etc.

Many women experience the symptoms of hormonal imbalance during their premenstrual cycle, Often these symptoms become evident in late twenties and throughout their forties. The general signs and symptoms of hormonal imbalance are basal body temperature, excessive hair growth, dizziness, allergies, changes in mensuration, acne, oily skin, irritation, anxiety, headaches, weight gain, water retention, premenstrual syndrome, fatigue, endometriosis, thinning or loss of hair, low sex drive, osteoporosis, urinary tract infections, uterine fibroids, wrinkly skin, mood swings, cramps, memory loss, high blood pressure, irregular periods, night sweats, vaginal dryness, dry skin, low self esteem, infertility, thyroid dysfunction, low blood sugar etc.

The symptoms can be one, two or in some cases combination of more than two. The best person to be approached when one realizes the symptoms, is an obstetrician or a gynecologist. Depending on the individual’s overall health, the physician decides the treatment option, i.e medication or the lifestyle changes.

Life style changes combined with nutritious diet is necessary for maintaining hormonal imbalance in the body.

Diet should contain high protein and less carbohydrate during hormonal imbalance.Maintain adequate supply of calcium, iron and magnesium.Eliminate all refined food, processed food, junk food, white bread and sweets and artificial sweeteners, coffee, spicy foods, aerated drinks etc. Omega 3 and Omega 6 essential fatty acid rich foods like pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds, fish, are good for maintaining hormonal imbalance. Animal fats are known to interfere with the normal functioning of the hormones, better reduce red meats and dairy products, instead go for fresh fruits and raw vegetables. Have 5 – 6 small meals in a day, never full stomach. Reduce the intake of salt in the food ( salt is the worst enemy ). The diet must include organic fruits and vegetables, grains, brown rice, lentils, cabbage, broccoli, sprouts, green tea, soyabeans, cereals, nuts and other natural foods.

Drink about 2 liters of water daily to prevent the dryness of the skin. Regular exercises, walking, jogging, swimming are highly recommended. Destress with the help of yoga, meditation, breathing exercises, keep oneself engaged with some hobbies, interaction with the people, reading books, listen to the music and sound sleep are beneficial.

Treating Hormonal Imbalance Effectively At Home

 

For women a lifestyle that is healthy and a nutritious diet are vital for a hormonal balance. For women who have hormonal imbalances it is necessary that they adjust their diets and follow some basic home remedies.

The first remedy includes reducing the meat consumption in their diets. There are certain chemicals that can be found in any animal fat which can lead to a hormonal imbalance in women’s bodies. Hence women should lower their consumption of various meat products and even dairy products. Overconsumption of these animal fats can lead to the prostrate getting affected and also leads to an increase in the person’s risk of getting cancer which is directly related to a hormonal imbalance. It is preferable to switch to soy products as they are known to contain certain phytoestrogens which are helpful in balancing one’s hormonal levels.

Those persons who consume organic vegetables, fruits and whole grain breads have a chance of reducing any hormonal imbalances that might occur. Organic foods are great as home remedies as they do not contain any kind of pesticides or even herbicides which can ultimately lead to a hormonal imbalance in a lot of people. There are certain foods that are high in omega 3 fatty acids and omega 6 fatty acids. These also help in balancing one’s hormonal levels.

These fatty acids can be found in food products like salmon, mackerel and sardines among others.They are also found in sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and flax seeds. Chasteberry has also been found by scientists to be beneficial in curing conditions of hormonal imbalances. Consumption of this also helps women suffering from premenstrual syndrome, infertility, menopause related problems, acne etc. Some women even consume this to help them to increase their milk supply while nursing. Omega 6 essential fatty acids can be found in poultry, nuts and eggs.

These food items should be made part of one’s daily diet and consumed regularly. A lifestyle change is also vital for women suffering from this condition. Some simple lifestyle changes include one reducing the stress in their lives. Some simple stress reduction techniques involve doing yoga, meditation as methods to achieve a better overall state of health. These women should also get some form of regular exercise be it swimming, jogging, using the tread mill etc. Exercise can help one stay fit and healthy and maintain a positive outlook about them thereby reducing any stress. Try joining an exercise group or club in one’s neighborhood. Diet is also extremely essential along with exercise.

Hormonal Imbalance In Women

A woman’s body begins to undergo several changes, right from the time she reaches puberty and some of these bodily changes continue even after she reaches menopause. Apart from physical changes, there are several hormonal changes too, that a woman goes through every month. With all such physical and hormonal changes, it is quite possible for a woman to suffer from hormonal imbalances too. Hormonal imbalances in women, as well as certain disorders generally associated with them, are a very common problem, in today’s world. Unfortunately, not a lot of women realize that they are suffering from hormonal imbalances. In fact, even though this is a very common problem, there are several young women who do not even know what a hormonal imbalance in women is.

What is hormonal imbalance in women?

All humans possess hormones, which play a vital part in the regulation of the major body functions. Hence, it is only natural that the slightest disturbance or disparity in the levels of hormones can affect many bodily functions in a significant way. Since the hormones control several aspects of a woman’s body, most of the health problems that women face, are directly or indirectly connected to hormonal imbalances. Therefore, it is very important for women to be aware of the exact causes of hormonal imbalance in women and then take the necessary measure to safeguard themselves and their bodies. However, several young and middle aged women all across the globe lead very hectic lifestyles, in an attempt to manage their careers, family, homes, and social activities successfully. Due to this, not a lot of women have the time or the inclination to take care of themselves and their bodies. This is probably why it is very common to see hormonal imbalance in women after marriage.

Causes of hormonal imbalance in women

All hormones present within the female body are important in their own way, but two of the most important hormones include estrogen and progesterone. Most cases of hormonal imbalances in women generally occur when the levels of these two hormones deviate from their normal range. It is more common for the levels of the estrogen hormone to rise, leading to a condition known as “estrogen dominance”. This phenomenon is very common in young teenage girls, who are prone to hormonal imbalances. The most common causes of hormonal imbalances in women are:

• Over nutrition
• Leading an erratic lifestyle
• Malnutrition
• Excessive stress and tension
• The presence of phytoestrogens in food
• The use of birth control pills and other contraceptives
• Ovarian failure
• Thyroid problems

The most common cause of hormonal imbalance in older women is the early onset of menopause. This occurs when women begin to face hormonal imbalance problems, when they are in their mid 30s and 40s. Most health experts also state that hormonal imbalance in women and pregnancy, are closely related, as the levels of hormones in women tend to rise and fluctuate with each trimester.

Hormonal imbalance in women symptoms

There are several signs and symptoms through which a woman can know that she may be suffering from a hormonal imbalance. Some of the most common symptoms of hormonal imbalances are:

• An irregular menstrual cycle
• Atherosclerosis
• Bloating or water retention
• Diminished sex drive
• Endometriosis
• Fatigue
• Fibrocystic breasts
• Mood swings and irritability
• Night sweats
• Ovarian cysts or Poly-Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
• PMS
• Rapid weight gain or obesity
• Severe migraine headaches
• Uterine fibroids
• Vaginal dryness

In some cases, hormonal imbalance in women can cause acne problems too, but this problem is a lot more common in younger women, than it is in older women.