WHAT ARE HORMONES?

The endocrine glands in the body crank out hormones. The pineal gland, the thymus, the thyroid, the adrenal glands, the pancreas, the testes, and the ovaries are some of the body's main endocrine glands.

These different organs make tiny amounts. It only takes a very small amount to make the body react in big ways. A small amount of too much or too little hormone release can cause big changes all over the body.

WHAT IS A HORMONAL IMBALANCE?

When the body has too much or too little of a certain hormone, it's called a hormone imbalance. An obgyn in Lake Success can help you figure out if your hormones are out of whack and just how to fix it. Some changes in hormone levels happen naturally as we age, while other changes happen when our endocrine glands aren't working right.

A chemical imbalance can show up in a lot of different ways. Which hormones or cells aren't working right will determine these. Any of the following signs could be caused by a number of common hormonal problems:

Weight gain
Weight loss
Muscle weakness
Fatigue
Muscle aches, tenderness, or stiffness
Increased or decreased heart rate
Sweating
Increased sensitivity to cold or heat
Frequent urination
Increased thirst
Increased hunger
Decreased sex drive
Depression
Blurred vision
Dry skin
Puffy or rounded face

Having one or more of these signs does not always mean that your hormones are out of balance. Talking to an obgyn in Lake Success can help you figure out what's wrong and how to treat it.

When a girl hits puberty, gets pregnant, breastfeeds, or goes through menopause, her usual hormonal cycle changes naturally. When it comes to women, there are certain signs that point to a hormonal problem. Some of these are acne, hair loss, darkening of the skin, painful periods, headaches, pelvic dryness, hair loss, and more.

CAUSES OF A HORMONAL IMBALANCE

A hormonal disorder can be caused by a lot of different things. It depends on which glands or chemicals in the body are being harmed. Medications, cancer treatments, eating disorders, worry, injury or trauma, hormone therapy, and other things can all throw off your hormones. Hormonal imbalances can also be caused by diabetes, hypothyroidism, Cushing syndrome, Addison's disease, thyroiditis, and other diseases.

In women, hormonal changes may be linked to reproductive hormones, such as those that cause menopause or early menopause, pregnancy, breastfeeding, PCOS, and hormone drugs.

Meet with an obgyn in Lake Success to answer questions and take one or more diagnostic tests. This will help you figure out if you have a lack of hormones. If you have an imbalance of hormones, you may need blood tests, pelvic exams, ultrasounds, and other studies.

Let’s examine how to balance hormones naturally.

1. Swap Carbs for Healthy Fats

A wide range of fat-containing foods that provide short-, medium-, and long-chain fatty acids help keep hormones in balance. To make hormones, your body needs different kinds of fats, like cholesterol and saturated fat.

Not only do these important fats help your body make hormones, but they also lower inflammation, speed up your metabolism, and help you lose weight.

Refined sugars cause inflammation and can throw off the balance of your hormones. Healthy fats, on the other hand, are good for you.

Coconut oil, bananas, grass-fed butter, and wild-caught salmon are my four favorite places to get healthy fats that help reduce inflammation.

There are many ways to use coconut oil. For instance, coconut oil (or cream or milk) naturally kills germs and burns fat.
Avocados are good for your heart because they lower inflammation, control your hunger, and help you get enough fiber and nutrients like potassium every day.
The nutrients in salmon is also very good.

Some of the best places to get omega-3 fatty acids, which are known to reduce swelling and improve brain function. A lot of brain cells' walls are made up of omega-3 fatty acids, which are important for brain cells to talk to each other.Researchers have found that omega-3 fatty acids help stop the loss of neurons in the hippocampus and lower the body's response to inflammation.

What food throws off your hormones? Don't eat too much added sugar, processed carbs, or refined veggie or seed oils.

As a general rule, you should stay away from oils that are high in omega-6 fats, like safflower, sunflower, corn, cottonseed, canola, soybean, and peanut oil. Instead, eat a lot of wild fish, flaxseed, chia seeds, walnuts, and grass-fed meats.

Gamma-linoleic acid (GLA) is an omega-6 fat that you should eat more of. It is possible to take evening primrose oil or borage oil as a supplement, and you can also find it in hemp seeds. Studies have shown that taking GLA supplements can help keep progesterone levels healthy.

2. Address Emotional Imbalances

TCM says that a person's feelings affect their health directly. Taking care of emotional imbalances, outside factors, and lifestyle choices can help avoid health problems that are linked to hormonal imbalances.

TCM practitioners think that fear makes your reproductive systems, kidneys, and adrenal glands sick, which in turn raises your cortisol levels. It can cause major problems like PCOS and not being able to have children.

Being angry, impatient, or unwilling to accept can hurt your liver, which can cause an imbalance of estrogens. Having fear and anxiety can mess up your insulin levels, which can then mess up a number of hormones.

Taking care of any mental imbalances you are having is a big part of naturally balancing your hormones. You can do this by taking time for yourself, lowering your worry, and thinking about yourself.

Meditation or healing prayer, as well as deep breathing routines, spending time outside, and working out every day, can all be very helpful. Acupuncture and massage, which are both part of traditional Chinese medicine, can also help balance hormones, reduce stress, and improve blood flow.

3. Beware of Medications and Birth Control

Are you aware of the bad affects of your medicine? Some can throw off your hormone balance, which can cause tiredness, changes in hunger, trouble sleeping, low libido, sadness, and even depression.

Corticosteroids, stimulants, statins, dopamine agonists, rexinoids, and glucocorticoids are some of the medicines that can throw off your hormone balance. Watch out for the side effects of the medicines you take, talk to your doctor about them, and look into natural options whenever you can.

Another drug that changes hormone levels is birth control. As a type of hormone treatment, "the pill" raises estrogen levels to levels that can lead to a lot of damage.

Studies have shown that taking them may have health risks, especially if you do it for a long time. These risks may include:

Breakthrough bleeding between cycles
Increased risk of uterine bleeding, blood clotting, heart attack and stroke
Migraines
Increased blood pressure
Weight gain
Back pains
Mood changes
Nausea
Benign liver tumors
Breast tenderness

4. Get More Sleep

Your body won't be healthy if you don't get seven to nine hours of sleep every night. One of the worst things you can do to cause a hormone imbalance is to not get enough sleep or mess up your normal circadian rhythm.

In what way? Because your hormones have set times!

In this case, the main "stress hormone," cortisol, is controlled at midnight. This means that people who stay up late never really get a break from their sympathetic flight/fight stress reaction.

High cortisol levels are most often caused by not getting enough sleep, taking drugs for a long time, and being under a lot of stress all the time. "Stress can cause changes in the serum level of many hormones, such as glucocorticoids, catecholamines, growth hormone, and prolactin," said a study in the Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Sleep restores energy, keeps stress hormones in check, and lets the body heal properly. High amounts of cortisol in the morning, a weakened immune system, problems at work, and a greater chance of anxiety, weight gain, and depression are all linked to too much stress and bad sleep.

To get the most out of your hormones, try to go to bed by 10 p.m. and try to keep your sleep-wake routine as regular as possible.

5- Get enough protein

. Proteins give your body amino acids that it can't make on its own, which are needed to make peptide hormones. These hormones are very important for controlling many bodily functions, such as growth, energy use, hunger, worry, and more.

6- Exercise regularly

Getting enough exercise has a big effect on the health of your hormones. It makes hormone receptors more sensitive, which helps nutrients and hormone messages get to the cells.

7- Maintain a moderate weight

. Hormonal issues are directly linked to weight gain. Women who are overweight don't ovulate as often. Eating within your calorie range can help keep your hormones in order.

8- Watch your gut health

Many molecules are made in your gut that can affect the health of your hormones.

9 - Eat healthy fats

Eating a healthy amount of fat can help keep hormones that control hunger, metabolism, and feeling full in balance.

10- Eat plenty of fiber

Fiber is good for gut health because it helps keep hormones like insulin in check.

Lesson Summary

In the human body, hormones are produced by the endocrine glands, including the pineal gland, thymus, thyroid, adrenal glands, pancreas, testes, and ovaries. These tiny chemical messengers have a significant impact on various bodily functions.

When there is an excess or deficiency of certain hormones in the body, it results in a hormonal imbalance. This imbalance can be caused by a variety of factors, such as aging, malfunctioning endocrine glands, medications, diseases like diabetes or hypothyroidism, and reproductive events in women like menopause or pregnancy.

Common signs of hormonal imbalances include weight changes, muscle weakness, fatigue, heart rate fluctuations, sweating, changes in sensitivity to temperature, changes in urination and thirst, changes in hunger, mood swings, depression, and skin, hair, and menstrual issues.

Addressing hormonal imbalances naturally can involve dietary and lifestyle changes, emotional wellbeing, and understanding medication effects:

• **Swap Carbs for Healthy Fats**: Include a variety of fats in your diet like coconut oil, avocados, and wild-caught salmon to support hormone production and reduce inflammation.
• **Address Emotional Imbalances**: Tackling emotional stress through activities like meditation, deep breathing, and acupuncture can help maintain hormonal balance.
• **Beware of Medications and Birth Control**: Some medications, such as corticosteroids or birth control pills, can disrupt hormone levels, leading to various side effects. and take certain supplements that can balance your hormones Naturally
• **Get More Sleep**: Adequate sleep is crucial for hormone regulation and overall health, with 7-9 hours of sleep recommended nightly.
• **Get Enough Protein**: Proteins provide essential amino acids required for peptide hormone production, influencing bodily functions.
• **Exercise Regularly**: Regular physical activity enhances hormone receptor sensitivity, aiding in the delivery of nutrients and hormone signals to cells.
• **Maintain a Moderate Weight**: Weight management is key as hormonal issues are intricately linked with weight fluctuations.
• **Watch Your Gut Health**: Gut health impacts hormone regulation, emphasizing the importance of a healthy digestive system.
• **Eat Healthy Fats**: Healthy fats help maintain hunger, metabolism, and satiety hormones in balance, contributing to overall hormonal health.
• **Eat Plenty of Fiber**: Fiber supports gut health and insulin regulation, vital for hormonal balance.