Balancing Hormones Naturally

Most of us do not pay particular attention to our hormones until they become unbalanced and plague us with a wide array of unpleasant symptoms.

Indeed, hormones play a tremendous role in our bodies, and when their levels get disrupted, they can throw all bodily systems out of whack. Luckily, balancing hormones naturally is not only possible, but also relatively easy and virtually free of side effects, unlike some pharmaceutical approaches.

Keep on reading to find out how to balance hormones naturally, starting with a brief overview of hormones before exploring lifestyle changes and supplements to restore and maintain hormonal equilibrium.

Balancing Hormones Naturally

Hormone Basics

Hormones are chemical messengers that are produced in the endocrine glands to fulfill numerous functions in the body. They are involved in all processes occurring within the human body, from development and metabolism to mood and reproduction.

Arguably, the main hormones for women's health are the reproductive hormones: estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. However, there are over 200 other hormones and hormone-like substances, each of which are also key for women's well-being.1

Hormonal Imbalance

Hormonal imbalance is a physiological state when the body makes too much or too little of a given hormone.

Throughout women's lives, hormonal imbalance can occur due to natural causes - such as menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause - or abnormal causes that require treatment, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), uterine fibroids, or endometriosis, among others.

Lifestyle Changes for Balancing Hormone Levels

When seeking solutions for how to balance hormones naturally, taking a closer look at one's lifestyle practices is a great place to start. Implementing wholesome habits does take strong will, but can be effective in regulating hormones and boosting overall health. Consider the following:

Nutritious Diet

The food we eat is important for the proper functioning of the body, including the production of hormones.2 It can also help maintain a normal weight, which is key for stable hormone levels.

Regulating hormones naturally through diet can consist of regular meals made from wholesome sources of lean protein (fish, beans); complex carbohydrates (quinoa, brown rice); and healthy fats (avocado, nuts). Adding phytoestrogenic foods, like soy or oats, can also help fill in the hormonal gap and relieve symptoms of an imbalance.3

Regular Exercise

Besides helping women stay in shape, maintaining good mood, and warding off obesity-related diseases, keeping up with regular physical activity is also a great solution to how to balance hormones naturally, especially cortisol.

Healthy adult women are recommended to get about 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous workouts per week.4 Combining aerobics – like jogging or swimming – with muscle-strengthening exercises – like yoga or weights – can be beneficial for women at all life stages.

Wholesome Habits

Besides nourishing the body with healthy food and exercise, there are a number of wholesome habits women can implement to balance hormones naturally.

Women can start by quitting smoking and drinking excess alcohol, both of which are known to wreak hormonal havoc in the body.5,6 Since disturbed sleep and prolonged stress contribute to hormonal imbalance, sleeping enough and relieving stress through mediation or yoga can help regulate hormones naturally.

Supplements for Balancing Hormone Levels

While lifestyle adjustments provide a great foundation for achieving natural hormone balance, they do not directly address hormonal disarray per se. This can be easily and safely achieved with a variety of supplements, including nutritional, phytoestrogenic, and hormone-regulating supplements.

Nutritional Supplements

Although a well-balanced diet is the best way to obtain all of the nutrients the body needs to produce hormones, certain nutritional deficiencies behind hormonal imbalance may need to be treated with supplements.

Most common deficiencies associated with imbalanced hormones are those involving zinc, calcium, and vitamin D.7,8 Studies have also shown that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids can also help women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and insulin sensitivity regulate hormones naturally.9

Phytoestrogenic Supplements

Taking phytoestrogenic supplements - which contain stronger concentrations of phytoestrogens than food - are another natural way to regulate hormones and relieve unpleasant symptoms.

Some of the best options for phytoestrogenic supplements are those made from black cohosh, red clover, and dong quai. However, while they can naturally balance estrogen and progesterone, they can have the opposite effect when used long-term. As such, they are best when used shot-term.3

Hormone-Regulating Supplements

Hormone-regulating supplements do not supply the body with outside hormones. Instead, they nourish the endocrine glands and help them produce sufficient amounts of their own hormones to alleviate symptoms.

One of the most effective herbal supplements to regulate hormone naturally is Macafem, which contains ample micronutrients and beneficial alkaloids that act directly on the endocrine glands to optimize their function.10 Accordingly, they are safe to use long-term for lasting hormonal equilibrium.

Key Takeaways

Hormonal imbalance can take a toll on women's well-being. While there are numerous hormonal imbalance treatments available, many of them consist of pharmacological options that may have side effects. As such, women are encouraged to opt for balancing hormones naturally. It can consist of making small lifestyle adjustments, including their diets, exercise, and daily habits, as well as taking supplements. Options include nutritional supplements to resolve underlying deficiencies; phytoestrogenic supplements, like red clover, for short-term, hormonal imbalance relief; or hormone-regulating supplements, like Macafem, for long-term hormonal equilibrium. For many, a combination of both approaches is the best path to wellness.

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