You might have heard about the importance of maintaining balance in your life. In reality, each one of us is continuously striving to harmonise different aspects of our lives and struggling to hit that sweet spot where we're able to do what we HAVE to do as well as what we FANCY doing.
Similarly, our bodies also seek to function in accordance with a fine-tuned balance which, if disrupted, can have some enduring consequences for our health.
Hormones are among one of these bodily functions that have a relatively tricky balance to maintain. A small tip in this critical balance can imply that one has to deal with some serious health concerns.
But what brings about hormonal imbalance? To help you answer this vital question, we have put together some major causes that are believed to contribute to hormonal imbalance.
A number of medical conditions that affect the endocrine glands are considered responsible for bringing about a hormonal imbalance. Some of these illnesses include type 1 and 2 diabetes, hypoglycemia, hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, Cushing's syndrome and some cancers such as prostate cancer.
Additionally, certain medications also affect the balance of hormones in our bodies, such as those administered during Hormone Replacement Therapies (HRT) and for birth control.
Our diet and lifestyle can have a profound impact on our health, including our hormones. Stress, poor diet, lack of exercise, excessive caffeine intake, testosterone boosters, lack of proper sleep as well as a number of other unhealthy diet and lifestyle choices can lead to hormone imbalance.
Take a closer look at what you eat and do in a day and you must be able to point out some of the causes that may be disrupting this crucial balance in your body.
We all experience certain changes in our bodies and health as we age. This natural progression of life can also cause hormone imbalance as we go through different phases of life and our body chemistry alters considerably.
For instance, it is common for women to experience changes in hormones as they go through puberty, pregnancy or menopause. Men may also experience hormone imbalance during puberty or as they age.
Our gut and the microbiome living within contribute immensely to our health. They not only help in digestion, absorb nutrients from the digested food, and release mood-regulating hormones but also help control estrogen levels by ensuring that the estrogen once deactivated does not re-enter our system.
However, all of this is jeopardised once these healthy gut bacteria are taken over by the bad guys (unhealthy bacteria) and disrupt normal functioning of the gut, leading to hormone imbalance in the bloodstream.
We are exposed to a lot of environmental toxins, aka endocrine disruptors, in our daily life. These disruptors can mess with our body's endocrine system and affect many vital functions of our bodies.
The dilemma is that these toxins are found in the everyday products we use such as plastic containers, food cans, detergents, household chemicals, and cosmetics as well as the pesticides sprayed on agricultural produce, farm raised meat and poultry fed with antibiotics as well as GMO foods and roundup that is wreaking havoc on our body's natural mechanisms, including hormones.
Hormones are vital to ensure our health and wellbeing. However, in order for them to keep us mentally and physically fit, they must be present in an optimum balance in our bodies. The factors outlined above are some of the major causes of hormone imbalance which is why you must be mindful of them and consult your physician if you suspect anything.
Do you suffer from hormone imbalance? What do you think is the most prevalent cause of hormone imbalance? Please share your views in the comments section below and let us know.
Comments will be approved before showing up.
