Specifically, Women’s Health: 25 Hormone Imbalance Symptoms and Signs (onhealth.com) can contribute to acne, gynecological issues, breast and reproductive cancers.
The hormones inside of you exist in perfect levels that help you function optimally. When an imbalance happens, it can be harmful to your mental, emotional, and physical health.
The imbalance of testosterone, if improperly treated, can lead to prostate issues in men.
When obesity enters the equation, hormone imbalance is a huge risk. Excess fat tissues means your body is at risk for producing estrogen at increased rates. In this situation, androgen, which is the male reproductive hormone, can be converted into estrogen as well. In men, excess estrogen can lead to a slew of health problems such as larger breasts, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, and loss of muscle mass.
If your reproductive hormones are not balanced, there are certain symptoms that are likely to be evident. It’s important that if you live with a high risk factor for cancer that you pay attention to your body. You should always observe the changes in your body and if anything seems off, notify your doctor right away. The common symptoms of hormonal imbalances are:
Unexplained fatigue
Night sweats
Low libido
Infertility
Irregular menstruation
Excess body hair in women
Changes in breasts for both men and women
Estrogen that is converted from your fat stores can be fairly aggressive. Increased estrogen hooks onto the membranes of healthy cells and cause havoc inside. They increase sodium levels in your body while reducing potassium, oxygen, and voltage levels. When this happens, your DNA mutates, genetic changes occur, and cancer starts to spread. The other factors that may affect estrogen imbalance are stress, poor diet, and environmental toxins.
It is important to ensure that your body has a balanced set of all hormones for health and longevity. When it comes to hormones, any excess or deficiency is harmful. If any of the symptoms of hormone imbalance shows, it is best to consult with your doctor to catch the diseases early.
Visit “A Better Cancer Detox” for More Information on Hormone Imbalance
How to Detox for Balanced Hormones | Signature Wellness Charlotte, NC
Could you have a potential hormonal imbalance in your body?
If you have been experiencing a range of strange symptoms and been unable to find the cause of just what on earth could be wrong with you, then you might very well be suffering from a hormone imbalance – there can be many different causes that make this happen in the first place, but the treatment generally involves having your hormone levels tested – and then going on hormone treatments that work to correct these imbalances in the body. Could a hormone imbalance be to blame for your strange symptoms? If you’ve been suffering from symptoms like night sweats, acne, irritability, and weight gain, then it could very well be the case. Here are 24 symptoms of a hormone imbalance in men and women that you should watch out for.
Hormone Dependent Cancers
We can all think of someone in our life who has been impacted by cancer.
Maybe you have been wondering how or why this happened. Are our genetics to blame,
or is it something else? Only 20% of our health outcomes are due to genetics. 20%!
That means we have much more control over our health than we ever imagined.
Let’s start with the term “hormone dependent” or “hormone sensitive”. A hormone dependent cancer is a type of cancer that relies on a hormone to grow and survive. Most often we think of breast cancer that requires estrogen, specifically estradiol (E2), or prostate cancer that requires androgens, specifically testosterone, to grow. 70% of breast cancer cases are hormone-dependent, or estrogen receptor positive. That means only 30% of the most common type of cancer in women is genetic in nature. So, what contributes to this excess hormone production and what can we do about it? Great question.
Here is a list of our top tips to help with balancing hormones:
Maintain a diverse gut microbiome! A variety of foods rich in color (and phytonutrients) play a significant role in hormone detoxification pathways. An important marker of health called beta-glucuronidase can cause the recycling of toxic estrogens from our gut. Higher levels of beta-glucuronidase tend to be seen in those with hormone dependent cancers.
Consume adequate amounts of complete protein sources. Our bodies require essential amino acids (the building blocks of protein) for a multitude of reasons. As it pertains to hormone health, adequate protein intake is important for both phases of detoxification in the body. Complete protein sources are also rich in B Vitamins which act as cofactors in the detoxification process.
How to Use Maca for Hormone Balance: A Complete Guide for Beginners (livewellzone.com)
Maca balances hormones by supporting the hypothalamus and pituitary glands. Because these two glands influence the hormones that are produced by other glands (such as the ovaries and adrenals), maca is able to have a wide range of positive effects on the overall state of our hormones.
Selenium. The highest concentration of selenium in our bodies is found in the thyroid gland, which needs the nutrient for optimal function. Patients who have an over-active thyroid should have their selenium levels tested, as too much selenium can have adverse effects and too little could weaken your immune system.
Maintain optimal Vitamin D levels (an optimal range is between 60-80 ng/dL). Vitamin D inhibits the growth of malignant cells, decreases levels of inflammatory mediators in the body, and reduces the excess production of hormones. We recommend a Vitamin D3/K2 supplement to help maintain adequate levels, especially in the winter months.
Aim for three servings of cruciferous rich vegetables every day (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, & Brussel sprouts). The cruciferous vegetables are rich in sulfur which helps rid excess hormones from the body.
Keep alcohol to a minimum. Alcohol can slow liver detoxification pathways and further increase hormone levels in the body.
Stay hydrated! Aim for at least 64 ounces of water every day.
Make sure you are moving your bowels every day! This is so important for ridding the body of excess hormones! Wondering what your stools should look like? Check out the Bristol Stool Chart. We recommend your stool look like a Type 4.
Try to choose natural cleaning, skincare and hair care products to decrease exposures to harmful toxins, xenoestrogens, and plastics that can increase hormone dominance. We recommend checking out the Think Dirty app to help you decipher which products to use!
Keep your blood sugars balanced by consuming carbohydrates, fat, and protein at each meal!
Your Health Matters
1. Something Different
When many people go to the doctor and get diagnosed with a new health problem they didn’t know about before, they can often report that they knew something was somehow “wrong” before they went to the doctor – that is usually what made them make the doctor’s appointment in the first place. You should always trust your gut feeling, and if your body is telling you that something isn’t right, then we’d recommend that you listen
to your body and make that appointment you’ve been thinking about.
Especially in the case of a hormonal imbalance, you might notice that the first sign of something being wrong with your health on a deeper level is just the gut feeling that something is wrong, to begin with – and we’ll very likely say that you are right when it comes to your own health. A hormonal imbalance is easy to look for, but only if you know when to look. 24 Hormone Imbalance Symptoms in Men and Women (very healthy.life)
2. HORMONE IMBALANCE AND CANCER
The fluctuation and balance of hormones can be influenced by a number of factors.
There could be a natural change in hormone production due to monthly cycles or life changes such as age or pregnancy. A hormone imbalance may be caused by a health condition or medication. For instance, the National Cancer Institute explains that testosterone can be produced from cholesterol, and testosterone can drive prostate cancer in men.
According to the American Cancer Society, estrogen is known to drive endometrial cancer, some kinds of breast cancer and a number of other gynecologic cancers. Excess estrogen may result from drugs you were prescribed (or even drugs your mother was prescribed while she was pregnant with you) but more likely, your own body produces it. A granulosa cell tumor of the ovary can produce estrogen, for example. The Hormone Health Network has a helpful infographic that shows what cancers have a connection to your hormones.
Obesity is a major risk factor for many cancers, and excess fat tissue can create estrogen and even convert androgen into estrogen. The cumulative impact of estrogen over the lifespan is a risk factor for these cancers, so starting menstruation at an earlier age is one of the risk factors for these cancers. On the other hand, during pregnancy, a woman’s estrogen levels are lower, so pregnancies have a bit of a protective effect against estrogen-driven cancers. Birth control pills and intrauterine devices are often protective against hormone-driven cancers, as well.
3. Hormones have a lot of power.
They are the tiny chemicals that tell your body – right down to the cells – what to do.
They determine everything from how big you will grow, to how you process food,
to how your immune system works.
Hormones can affect your weight, your body temperature and even your mood.
They can also have an impact on your cancer risk, says Therese Bevers, M.D., medical director of MD Anderson’s Cancer Prevention Center.
“When people hear the word hormone, they think of estrogen and progesterone, and their effects on female cancers,” Bevers says. “But there are several other hormones that have an impact on your risk of cancer throughout the body.”
4. Making the connection between hormones and cancer
What’s the link between hormones and cancer risk? It has a lot to do with cells multiplying.
And the more your cells divide and multiply, the more chance there is for something to go wrong and for cancer to develop.
There are several things that can affect your hormones, including medications, chronic inflammation and medical conditions like obesity. For other factors, like toxins and diet, the link to cancer risk is less clear.
5. Birth control pills
Birth control pills control fertility with doses of the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone. They may lower the risk for ovarian and endometrial cancers.
But they increase the risk for breast and cervical cancer slightly.
“The only population that should be concerned about taking the pill is women who are at a very high risk of cancer, such as those with a BRCA mutation,” Bevers says.
“They should talk to their doctor about the risks and benefits of the pill.”
Following the general guidelines for a healthy lifestyle goes a long way in regulating hormones and reducing cancer risk. Maintaining a healthy body weight, eating a healthy diet and staying active help keep hormone levels in check.
6. Hormone replacement therapy
For women past reproductive age, replacing declining hormones can alleviate some of the unpleasant symptoms of menopause. But hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can raise a woman’s risk for breast cancer and possibly ovarian cancer.
There are safer ways to reduce the symptoms and maintain your health.
Talk to your doctor about non-hormonal alternatives for treating menopause symptoms. Those alternatives should be your first choice, she says.
7. Diet
Soy foods get a bad rap. But there’s not enough data to suggest that the plant estrogens in soy foods, like tofu and miso, increase the risk for breast or other cancers.
In fact, soy may have a protective effect.
“Soy is a plant estrogen. We really don’t know the benefits and harms as they relate to cancer risk,”Bevers says. She points out that women who have diets high in soy, like in Eastern cultures, don’t have a higher risk of breast cancer.
And soy products are a good source of plant protein.
Plant proteins make a healthy substitute for animal proteins.
“What I typically tell my patients is that a couple of servings of soy a day is okay,”
says Bevers.
8. Endocrine disruptors
Bisphenol-A, or BPA, is a common chemical used in many plastic products and some aluminum cans that mimics estrogen. It sits on a list of chemicals known as endocrine disruptors, due to their effects on hormones.
But more research is needed to determine the risks.
“I don’t tell anyone to limit anything in regard to endocrine disruptors,” Bevers says.
“We need more data, in my opinion.”
If you have concerns, try using one of the many alternatives to the plastic products with BPA.
“For people who do have a concern, glass containers make an easy substitute for plastic,” Bevers says.
9. Chronic inflammation and obesity
Inflammation and obesity go hand-in-hand, and they both have an impact on hormones and cancer risk. Carrying too much body fat causes inflammation. Inflammation increases the amount of both insulin and estrogen in the body, which triggers cell division.
10. Excess fat itself also produces estrogen.
“Over time, the stress that obesity puts on the body by triggering inflammation and increasing hormone levels poses a significant cancer risk,” Bevers says.
Following the general guidelines for a healthy lifestyle goes a long way in regulating hormones and reducing cancer risk. Maintaining a healthy body weight, eating a
healthy diet and staying active help keep hormone levels in check.
Beneficial Herbs for Balancing Hormones
Iodine Deficiency, Breast Health, and Hormone Balance (drkarafitzgerald.com)
Hormones are not just about sex and reproduction. Your glands produce these
chemicals to regulate several body processes, including heart rate, sleep cycle,
growth and development, body temperature, appetite, metabolism and stress level.
The balance of hormones your body produces changes at certain stages of life.
A hormone imbalance can also be caused by external factors like certain medications
or prolonged periods of excessive stress. Some diseases also affect hormone balance.
During pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause you are likely to experience a hormonal imbalance. Eating disorders will also disrupt your normal hormone balance, and injury or trauma might trigger an imbalance or change in your endocrine functioning.
Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalance
Since there are approximately 50 different hormones regulating various systems throughout your body, the effects of an imbalance might be seen in several different ways. Here are some common symptoms of a hormonal imbalance:
• changes in sleep patterns
• unexplained weight gain or loss
• skin rashes
• depression or anxiety
• excessive sweating
• bloating
• thinning hair
• increased thirst
• blurred vision
• breast tenderness
• changes in heart rate or blood pressure
Deciding if you are suffering from a hormone imbalance can be tricky since your doctor does not have a single test to make the determination. The best way to confirm it is to keep a record of your symptoms and notice if they correspond with any causes, you might also be experiencing.
Herbs for Balancing Hormones
The most common cause for hormonal imbalance in most women is menopause or perimenopause. Your hormone balance may begin to fluctuate naturally as early as age
30 and can continue changing into your late 60s or later. These changes are natural,
but the resulting symptoms can be rather uncomfortable.
A natural approach to reducing symptoms of hormonal imbalance or hot flashes would include these herbs and other natural substances:
• Black Cohosh – a healing herb introduced to the Europeans by Native Americans
• Dong Quai – used in Chinese Medicine to treat fatigue and menopausal symptoms
• Red Clover – a natural source of bioidentical estrogen
• Ashwagandha – a powerful herb well-known in Ayurvedic healing
• GLA from borage seed oil – a fatty acid with anti-inflammatory properties
• ALA from flaxseed oil – the best source of this omega-3 fatty acid
• EPA and DHA from fish oil – two omega-3 fatty acids essential for balancing hormones
Using black cohosh for hot flashes is an ancient remedy. In Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda and other Eastern practices, ashwagandha for hot flashes is common, as is dong quai for hormones. Red clover for hormones is another natural treatment that Eastern women have enjoyed for decades.
Treating Hot Flashes Naturally
Dr. Valerie Nelson combines the ancient healing herbs for hot flashes with the highest concentration of omega-3 fatty acids in supplements designed specially to help rebalance your hormones. Try the supplements that Dr. Valerie’s clients swear by for reducing hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause and hormonal imbalance.
To read more about the products mentioned in this article, click here:
Woman’s Hormonal Balance
Healing Omegas
Ashwagandha
Selenium Benefits For Hormones and Thyroid Health – Dr. Jolene Brighten (drbrighten.com)
Learn About Hormones That Cause Cancers in Women (hormonesbalance.com)
hormonal imbalance and breast cancer – Search (bing.com)
Is cancer a Hormonal Imbalance – Search (bing.com)
does cancer cause hormonal imbalance – Bing video
Iodine and hormone balance – Bing video