Hormones act as the body’s natural messengers to initiate responses from various tissues and organs. They are the key compounds in coordinating and managing our body’s daily functions and in helping regulate humans’ homeostatic environment. For both men and women, hormones are responsible for managing everyday processes such as reproductive cycles and sexual function, as well as general growth and development. Mood and stress levels, metabolism, and even body temperature can be controlled by hormones.
Importance Of Balancing Women's Hormones
During the menstrual cycle, women may experience imbalances in estrogen and progesterone levels. This can be the result of various external and internal factors all of which can inhibit the endocrine glands in their ovaries from functioning properly. Endocrine glands are a specialized group of cells that control different organs, and are integral in coordinating females’ responses to menstruation.
Whether it be during the menstruation, the follicular phase, ovulation, or the luteal phase, females experience rapidly changing levels of hormones within their bloodstream. It is this shifting and dynamic process that can sometimes lead to an imbalance in those constituent hormones that control a variety of physical and mental reactions.
What Are Hormones?
The hormones that all females have working within their bodies are estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, cortisone, thyroid hormones (both thyroxine and triiodothyronine), DHEA, melatonin and vitamin D. The exact levels of these hormones within each female body varies from individual to individual, yet every single female has their own unique hormone balance point in which represents a healthy equilibrium. It is this balance point that represents the optimal physiological and psychological state in which humans operate healthily and efficiently.
How Hormones Become Imbalanced?
Despite hormones being the internal messengers of your body’s endocrine system, they themselves can be affected by other bodily processes and other external stimuli. For example, a poor diet and lack of sleep will significantly affect the production of testosterone in males, whilst progesterone levels can be affected by the amount of exercise that females are participating in.
A decrease in estrogen levels during a women’s monthly cycle can trigger swings in mood and eating habits; it has been shown that a decrease in estrogen causes an increase in leptin production. Leptin is a hormone which inhibits hunger. As a result, some females may reach for comfort foods that are high in fats, calories, sugar, and salt in order to feel better.
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) has been linked to these fluctuations in hormone levels in women, and can result in numerous physical and emotional changes within females. Those undergoing menstruation will not only experience the aforementioned food cravings linked with falling estrogen levels, but also fatigue, joint pain, and depression. This is why it is critical that these natural fluctuations within female hormonal production be assisted and supported with natural aids.
Alongside cyclic changes in hormones, PMS can be caused by fluctuations in serotonin, and neurotransmitter that is thought to play an integral role in moods. Insufficient levels of serotonin may lead to PMS and again contribute to hormonal imbalance. Resultantly, it is important to maintain an exercise schedule to boost oxytocin and serotonin levels naturally, in conjunction with a balanced diet.
Symptoms Of Imbalanced Hormones In Women
The symptoms of hormone imbalance within women are complex and wide-ranging, and this homeostatic instability can have severe knock-on effects on the whole body.
Decreased levels of estrogen in the body have been suggested to increase the likelihood of “brain fog”. Females who are in perimenopause and after menopause have stated that they have reduced memory capacity whilst also finding it increasingly hard to maintain concentration. For the majority of females, the arduous task of managing this fatigued and obstructed mental state while simultaneously working can be too much to handle. The chasteberry (vitex agnus-castus) within our Female Balance Hormone Health capsules can potentially negate this draining cognitive impairment by supporting estrogen production.
What’s more, cells inside the gastrointestinal tract have both receptors for estrogen and progesterone. As already mentioned, it is these two hormones that are most susceptible to change during the menstrual cycle. The sporadic fluctuation in these hormones can lead to a variety of adverse effects on the digestive system; females often experience abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhoea, vomiting, and nausea before or during their periods. This gastrointestinal stress and malfunctioning can often be the direct result of hormone imbalance during the luteal phase of a female’s cycle.
A lack of thyroid hormones can cause fatigue and general tiredness to affect some during their cycle, impacting their energy levels and all round concentration. This condition is indefinable via a simple blood test where the deficiency in the thyroid hormones will be duly detected. This condition could be exacerbated further by an unhealthy routine, so you should always avoid alcohol and caffeine during later hours. What’s more, if you are experiencing sustained tiredness and fatigue, then establishing a regular evening routine to counteract the effects of thyroid hormone deficiency during the menstrual cycle could prove extremely beneficial. We would suggest that you stay away from your phone and laptop an hour before going to sleep, and to take some of our relaxing Unwind Oil 30 minutes before dozing off. This will help clear that brain fog and allow you to drift off to that happy place unhindered by the excessive stimuli of modern life.
Why It Is Important To Fix Hormone Imbalance
Whilst we believe that our Female Balance supplement can assist females in addressing the irritating and uncomfortable symptoms of hormone imbalance, we also advise that this course of action be paired with healthy lifestyle changes too.
Puresport are the most ardent advocates for better education on female health and well-being. As a company want to better understand our female colleagues in every aspect of their lives so we can support and champion their work.
Our new Female Balance Hormone Health product contains eight amazing natural ingredients that seek to support females during these periods of discomfort, fatigue, and inflammation. We wholly believe that this will help females throughout their cycles and promote a healthy approach to dealing with these natural processes.