Are you finding yourself constantly in a battle with nagging symptoms that just don’t seem to let up? We know that this can be incredibly exasperating and energy draining. But what many people don't know is that annoying daily symptoms could be from imbalanced hormones.

Hormones, which are these tiny yet powerful messengers in your body, can create quite the commotion when they're thrown off balance, affecting your day-to-day life much more than you might initially think. From your mood swings to your energy levels, these hormones, if not in proper balance, can drastically alter your quality of life.

But instead of covering up your symptoms with over the counter or prescription medications every time they appear, our Functional Medicine approach to addressing symptoms involves diving deeper to understand the root cause of your discomfort so that you can achieve lasting symptom relief.

What Exactly Are Hormones?

Hormones are chemicals that act like messengers in the body. They are produced in your endocrine glands and travel in the bloodstream to the tissues and organs, delivering messages that tell the organs what to do and when to do it. They are responsible for nearly every process in the body including metabolism, immune function, mood, and behavior.

In short, hormones help different parts of the body communicate to keep everything working together. They play a key role in how our body reacts to food and stress, how we feel, and how our immune system works.

Hormones are made by different glands in the body, which include the pituitary gland, thyroid gland, adrenal glands, ovaries, and testes. Each hormone has a specific task and interacts with certain parts of cells, starting a chain of events within the cell that leads to a response.

For example, insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, helps control blood sugar levels by helping cells take in sugar, where it can be used for energy. On the other hand, cortisol, also known as the "stress hormone," is made by the adrenal glands and helps the body react to stress by increasing sugar in the blood and putting less important functions on hold.

But hormones can also affect the way we behave by acting on the brain. For instance, oxytocin, sometimes called the "love hormone," is made in the brain and sent into the blood by the pituitary gland. It plays a big role in relationships and bonding, maternal behavior, and even trust and empathy.

It's important to keep in mind that the hormone system needs to stay balanced, and any disruption can have a big impact on the body's function and overall health….and lead to those nagging daily symptoms you may be experiencing!

What Happens When Your Hormones Become Imbalanced?

When hormones are balanced, they help the body thrive. However, small problems with hormones can cause annoying and even serious and life-altering symptoms.

When hormones become imbalanced, the body can't function properly, leading to a range of symptoms. Fatigue, for instance, can occur when the thyroid gland isn't producing enough thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism), or too much (hyperthyroidism). Sleep disturbances can be caused by low progesterone in women, or low testosterone in men.

Hormonal imbalances can also cause weight fluctuations. For example, high levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, can lead to weight gain, particularly around the abdomen. Similarly, an underactive thyroid can slow down metabolism, leading to weight gain.

Changes in appetite can also be a sign of a hormonal imbalance. Ghrelin and leptin are two hormones that have a major influence on our hunger cues. Ghrelin stimulates appetite, while leptin decreases it. When these hormones are imbalanced, we may find ourselves constantly hungry, leading to overeating and weight gain.

What can cause hormone imbalances?

Emotional or physical chronic stress (work-related, relationships, underlying infections )
Poor diet, particularly one high in processed foods
Exposure to environmental toxins (found in cosmetics, household cleaners, pesticides on food and in our water sources)
Lack of physical activity
Not getting quality sleep
Certain medications and treatments
Aging
Genetic predispositions

In short, hormones maintain the body's internal balance and when they are off, it can lead to a host of health problems and symptoms. To get to the bottom of these issues, comprehensive functional lab testing is key, along with personalized nutritional support from a team who genuinely cares about your wellness success.

But let’s dive a little deeper into specific hormone imbalances we see often with our clients and are at the root of symptoms.

Imbalanced Adrenal Hormones

Your adrenal hormones, specifically cortisol and adrenaline, are crucial in handling stress. These key players are produced in the adrenal glands, tiny glands perched on top of each kidney, and under normal circumstances, they help keep your body's processes in balance.

But what happens when you're constantly under stress and anxiety? Your cortisol levels can skyrocket. As your body's main stress hormone, cortisol manages stress by releasing glucose into your bloodstream for quick energy while putting nonessential processes on hold, like immune response and digestion. Imagine being chased by a bear - your cortisol would give your body the energy it needs to run or fight. However, in today's world, you're more likely to experience this cortisol response during non-life-threatening situations, like stress at work or being stuck in traffic. If not managed properly, this can lead to chronic stress and other health problems. Cortisol even plays a role in your sleep-wake cycle.

Then there's adrenaline, the hormone that readies your body for a 'fight or flight' response during a stressful event. It boosts your heart rate, blood pressure, and energy supplies, dilates your air passages for increased airflow to your lungs, and sharpens your mental focus.

But in our fast-paced, high-stress society, these hormones often become imbalanced. Chronic stress can mess with how your adrenal glands communicate, leading them to produce too much or too little of these hormones. This imbalance could result in persistent fatigue, unexplained weight gain or loss, mood swings, and even anxiety or depression.

Imbalanced Thyroid Hormones

Thyroid hormones, including T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine), are produced by the thyroid gland and play a critical role in regulating the body's metabolic processes such as heart rate, body temperature, and energy production. However, many women suffer from thyroid imbalances without being aware, largely because traditional medical thyroid tests often overlook the nuances of these imbalances.

In conventional medicine, the primary test for thyroid health is the TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) test. This test, while useful, only provides a snapshot of the thyroid function by measuring the level of TSH in the blood. TSH is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland that tells the thyroid to produce and release T3 and T4 hormones. If TSH levels are abnormal, it indicates that your body is struggling to maintain proper thyroid hormone levels.

However, the TSH test alone doesn't account for the complexities of thyroid hormone production and conversion. For example, most of the thyroid hormone produced by the body is T4, which is an inactive form and must be converted into T3, the active form, to be used by the body's cells. Issues with this conversion process, which can be affected by factors like nutrient deficiencies or high stress levels, can lead to symptoms of thyroid imbalance despite normal TSH levels. This is where standard thyroid tests can fall short.

In contrast, a functional medicine approach to thyroid health looks at the body as a whole system. Instead of just checking TSH levels, additional tests could be conducted to measure levels of free T3, free T4, reverse T3, and thyroid antibodies. This comprehensive testing can provide a more complete picture of thyroid health, potentially revealing imbalances that might go unnoticed in conventional testing.

So, if you're experiencing symptoms such as fatigue, weight changes, hair loss, or mood swings, it might be worth seeking out a functional medicine practitioner who can assess your thyroid health more thoroughly.

Imbalanced Sex Hormones: Understanding the Differences for Men and Women

Sex hormones, which include estrogen in women and testosterone in men, have a crucial role in our bodies' various functions.

Estrogen does more than just regulate a woman's menstrual cycle. It also supports skin health, helping it to stay firm and youthful. It plays a role in maintaining cardiovascular health, reducing the risk of heart disease. Additionally, it helps stabilize mood, reducing the likelihood of mood swings. A lesser-known function of estrogen is its influence on bone density. This is why women after menopause, who have reduced levels of estrogen, are at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis, a condition that weakens bones.

Progesterone is also an important hormone, especially for women's health. It's mainly produced in the ovaries after ovulation each month, but it's also made in smaller amounts by the adrenal glands and during pregnancy by the placenta. Progesterone helps prepare the uterus for pregnancy by thickening the lining to support a fertilized egg, and it helps regulate the menstrual cycle. But progesterone also plays a key role in breast health by balancing estrogen and reducing the risk of conditions like breast cancer. Progesterone affects brain health and mood by reducing anxiety and promoting a sense of well-being. It improves sleep quality by helping you fall asleep faster and sleep more deeply, which is especially important during hormonal changes. Plus, progesterone has anti-inflammatory properties, supports the immune system, helps keep blood sugar levels and bone density stable, and maintains skin health by enhancing elasticity and hydration.

Testosterone, on the other hand, is mostly associated with male sexuality and physical characteristics like muscle strength and body hair. However, it also greatly influences mood, cognitive function, and bone health. In men, when testosterone levels are low, it can lead to mood fluctuations, fatigue, and a decreased sexual drive.

Now, when these hormones become imbalanced, it can lead to a variety of health problems. In women, too much estrogen can cause weight gain, mood swings, and heavy periods. On the flip side, too little estrogen can lead to hot flashes, mood changes, and osteoporosis. In men, high levels of testosterone can lead to aggressive behavior and acne. But when testosterone levels are too low, it can result in fatigue, depression, and sexual dysfunction.

How to Balance Your Hormones Naturally

Avoid Toxins: Minimize exposure to endocrine disruptors found in certain plastics, cleaning products, and cosmetics by using clean, non-toxic brands and eating organic food as often as possible.
Eat Whole Foods: Include a variety of whole and unprocessed foods in your diet such as fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats, which contain essential nutrients for hormone production. Work with a Certified Nutrition Specialist like Rileigh Smith who is part of our team, who can provide tailored dietary advice and lifestyle changes to support your hormone health.
Eliminate Processed Foods: Avoid processed foods that are high in unhealthy fats, sugars, and additives which can disrupt hormone balance. Even “healthy” alternatives may not be as healthy as you may think!
Manage Stress: Incorporate stress management techniques like yoga, meditation, and deep breathing exercises into your daily routine to help regulate stress hormones. Our Functional Health coach, Elizabeth, is amazing at helping clients integrate stress management techniques into their daily lives and establishing healthy mindset around stress.
Regular Exercise: Engage in regular physical activity which can not only help regulate hormones such as insulin and cortisol, but also boost mood-enhancing hormones like endorphins. Choose activities you actually like doing so you’ll be more likely to stick with it. Take up tennis with a friend, get a morning walking buddy, or choose to explore some local hiking spots!
Functional Medicine Lab Testing: Consult with a Functional Medicine practitioner like Mary Regan who can provide comprehensive hormone testing to identify imbalances and root causes of your symptoms. This is KEY to getting to the bottom of your symptoms by understanding what’s truly contributing to them.

Schedule a Consult at our Functional Medicine Clinic in Lancaster Today!

Understanding your hormones is the first step toward better health. If you're struggling with symptoms and suspect a hormone imbalance, it's time to take action. Reach out to our Functional Medicine Practitioner and Nutritionist in Lancaster PA today! Remember, you don't have to live with these symptoms - you can regain control of your health!

Book a call with us today to take the first step towards understanding and balancing your hormones!