Why your hormone health is important
You should pay attention to your hormone health because your health issues are often caused by hormonal imbalance.
For example, triggers like hormonal birth control, stress, and trauma can unbalance your hormones, which then causes symptoms such as:
- Acne on the face, chest, or upper back
- Anxiety
- Darkening of skin (particularly in the neck creases, the groin, and underneath the breasts)
- Heavy or irregular periods (e.g., frequent, missed, or stopped periods)
- Hirsutism (Excessive hair on the face, chin, or other parts of the body)
- Night sweats
- Pain during intercourse
- Skin tags
- Thinning hair or hair loss
- Vaginal atrophy
- Vaginal dryness
- Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
Don't get used to dismissing symptoms related to hormonal imbalance as "typical PMS symptoms" or moodiness.
Alisa Vitti, a hormone health expert and the author of WomanCode, experienced hormonal imbalance for six years until she chanced upon a passage in a medical journal. What she read suggested that she may have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Vitti's gynecologist confirmed her condition, which prompted her to try and heal her symptoms. She began with blood sugar stabilization.
Vitti offers three tips for other women who are also experiencing the same issues and want to improve their hormone health.
Track your cycle
First, understand the phases of your cycle and how they affect your hormones. This will help you figure out what to eat to help boost your energy and mood.
Follicular phase
The follicular phase refers to the week after you're done with your period.
In this phase, estrogen is beginning to rise. Eat more fermented foods to improve gut health and prepare your body for the changes that it will experience.
Ovulatory phase
The ovulatory phase occurs at least two weeks after the follicular phase. This phase is the midpoint of the cycle when the luteinizing hormone results in the release of an egg.
In this phase, it is best to consume raw foods that are rich in glutathione, selenium, and vitamin C. These three nutrients will help your body detoxify the left over estrogen that accumulated during the ovulation phase.
Luteal phase
The 10 to 12 days leading up to the bleeding is the luteal phase, which is also called the PMS phase. In this phase, both estrogen and progesterone should be increasing in your body, thickening the lining of your uterus.
In the luteal phase, it is best to consume slow-burning carbs and root vegetables that will help balance your blood sugar and boost energy levels.
Replenish micronutrients
Taking hormonal birth control often robs your body of key nutrients. If you're on hormonal birth control, take probiotics and omega-3s to address any mood disruption.
Your liver works overtime to process the medication daily. Increase your intake of alpha-lipoic acid, vitamin C, or vitamin E to help the liver process the birth control medication more easily. (Related: Herbal treatments help balance hormone fluctuations and mood swings in women.)
Take your symptoms seriously
Monitor your period and symptoms even if you're not trying to conceive.
Most symptoms shouldn't be taken lightly and if they affect quality of life, there are some things you can do to address them. Keep in mind that symptoms are your body's way of telling you that you need to do something.
Whether you experience very heavy periods or if you're suffering from severe cramps, consult your healthcare provider to help you determine what kind of lifestyle changes you need to make, like diet, exercise, stress management, or supplements, to improve your hormone health.
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