Progesterone and testosterone are two names that spring to mind immediately when we think of hormones. Yet, there are over 50 different hormones present in our bodies.
Hormones control many of your body’s major processes, so when something goes wrong in this area of your health, you could be in for a rough time.
Fortunately, there are many effective treatments available for managing hormone disorders. You can also make some lifestyle changes to encourage hormone health.
Get started by learning about the best vitamins for hormonal imbalance issues.
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What Are the Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalance?
A hormonal imbalance means your body is producing too little or too much of one or more hormones. Even small inequalities in your hormonal system can cause major health issues and discomfort.
Some signs you may have a hormonal imbalance include:
- Low energy and fatigue
- Irritability or mood swings
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Weight gain
- Brittle hair and dull skin
- Breast tenderness
- Low libido
If you suffer from the above symptoms, you need to do something about your hormone levels quickly.
Doctors often recommend hormone replacement therapy to balance your hormones, but there are less chemically invasive ways to make a difference.
The endocrine glands, which produce hormones, rely on complex interactions between micronutrients to function at their best.
So, it follows that you can help them keep hormone production at an optimum level by giving them what they need. For instance, the thyroid gland relies on iodine and selenium to make thyroid hormones.
If you have low thyroid levels, it makes sense that adding selenium and iodine to your diet can only help alleviate this issue.
A Womens hormone panel is the most accurate way to tell which hormones are responsible for female health issues. Once you know what’s gone awry with your endocrine system, you start eating to make a difference.
Taking Vitamins for Hormonal Imbalance
There are numerous herbs, vitamins, and mineral supplements that you can include in your diet to balance hormones. These are the most important hormone-balancing vitamins:
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a hormonal precursor. The human body uses it to create calcitriol, which is a potent hormone responsible for signaling thousands of different genes in the body.
This includes those that affect endocrine function. Research shows that low vitamin D levels can lead to low estrogen levels. Boosting your vitamin D levels helps your endocrine system rebalance your estrogen levels.
You can buy vitamin supplements containing vitamin D, but the easiest way to boost your levels of this important vitamin is by getting out into the sunlight and letting your skin do the rest.
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 plays a role in producing several mood-altering hormones. The most important ones are serotonin, dopamine, and melatonin. You can increase your vitamin B6 intake by eating more chickpeas, bananas, and salmon.
A vitamin B6 deficiency is often a sign of a corresponding shortage of estrogen and progesterone. A vitamin B6 supplement can help alleviate symptoms of PMS caused by hormonal imbalances.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is necessary for methylation. This is a process that occurs in the liver to break down cellular waste and excess hormones.
Without enough B12, your liver can’t perform this process adequately, which can lead to homocysteine building up in the blood. In turn, this causes estrogen imbalances, along with the corresponding mood swings and fatigue.
Most animal products, such as meat, milk, and cheese, have high levels of vitamin B12.
Vitamin B3
Vitamin B3 aids in the production of stress and sex hormones. It also plays a cleansing role in the liver. You need at least 16 to 18 mg of vitamin B3 daily to maintain balanced hormone levels.
You can improve your vitamin B3 levels by eating more meat, brown rice, nuts, and seeds.
Vitamin E
This powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent also plays a role in regulating estrogen levels. Munching on almonds, spinach, and sunflower seeds can help boost your vitamin E levels and rectify an estrogen imbalance.
Vitamin E can combat both emotional effects or hormonal imbalances like mood swings and stress, and it’s also a good defense against hot flashes.
The Best Hormonal Balance Supplements
Apart from vitamins, there are a host of other nutritional supplements that can encourage balanced hormones in the human body. These include:
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids play a huge role in your general health. They keep inflammation under control, support brain function, and balance insulin levels.
They also play a critical role in hormone production. You can get your daily dose of omega-3 fatty acids by eating walnuts, chia seeds, and fatty fish like salmon.
Magnesium
Magnesium plays a role in over 300 bodily biochemical reactions, including hormone regulation and synthesis. It can help alleviate PMS symptoms, promote restful sleep, and support thyroid function.
The trouble with magnesium is that the body ‘dumps’ magnesium during times of stress, so make sure you include plenty of magnesium-rich foods in your diet whenever you’re going through a stressful phase.
Magnesium-rich foods include leafy green vegetables, dark chocolate, almonds, cashews, peanuts, and avocados.
Zinc
Zinc is an adaptogen that helps rebalance cortisol, estrogen, and progesterone levels. It’s also a good tonic against inflammation and thus provides support for healthy hormone production.
Meat, shellfish, legumes, chickpeas, pumpkin seeds, and sesame seeds all contain high levels of zinc.
Embrace Simpler Solutions
Using vitamins for hormonal imbalance is only one of the many natural remedies that have become popular lately. People are weary of chemical solutions for naturally occurring conditions.
In many cases, nature has a way to even things out again and help you improve your health.
Would you like to find out more? Browse our blog for more information about an array of interesting health-related topics.
