Hormones are essential messengers within the endocrine system that carry out every bodily function. They are crucial to processes such as metabolism, reproduction, and mood.
The body tries to maintain adequate levels of hormones, but various factors overproduce or deplete them. A hormone imbalance leads to multiple symptoms and conditions like infertility, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and diabetes.
If you think you have a hormonal imbalance, New England Women's Healthcare provides treatments and lifestyle changes to improve symptoms. Our experienced OB/GYN providers are experts in women's health and offer hormone replacement therapy if lifestyle changes aren't enough.
Hormone imbalances develop for many reasons, from simple lifestyle choices to chronic medical problems. Women experience various hormone fluctuations throughout their lives, especially during childbearing years and when entering menopause.
The symptoms of a hormone imbalance depend on the affected hormones and the severity of the imbalance. Women have various signs and symptoms of hormone imbalances, which include:
Many of these symptoms mimic other problems, so seeking treatment is vital if they bother you. The symptoms often vary from person to person and may range from mild to serious enough to cause issues in daily life.
Lifestyle tips are sometimes enough to balance out hormone levels. We often look at your diet to see how we can tweak it to improve health, weight, and hormone production.
Many foods contribute to balanced hormones, and we suggest adding the following foods to improve hormonal symptoms and regulate hormone production:
High-fiber foods are essential for a healthy gut, which helps with hormone regulation. Fiber also increases insulin sensitivity and releases hormones that help you feel full, which reduces excess weight and related health issues.
Healthy fats in foods like salmon, avocados, and olive oil are essential for hormone regulation. All of these foods contain omega-3 fatty acids, which help with hormone regulation and metabolism.
Eating protein at every meal is an excellent way to balance out hormones. Proteins provide essential amino acids that your body doesn't produce but are necessary for peptide hormone production.
Peptide hormones are essential for various bodily processes, such as stress regulation, reproduction, energy production, and metabolism.
Various fruits and vegetables help you maintain a healthy weight and are critical in hormone regulation. Foods like berries, broccoli, and leafy greens provide antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals essential for hormone production and regulation.
Whole grains can help with hormonal imbalances. Foods like quinoa and brown rice contain phytoestrogens, fiber, and magnesium, which are crucial for a healthy body and hormone regulation.
Seeds and nuts are healthy fats that aid in hormone production and regulation. Flaxseed is especially helpful for women because it contains lignans with estrogen-balancing effects.
Everyone is different regarding foods they should avoid for hormone regulation. An unhealthy diet and excess weight certainly affect hormone production. It's important to avoid certain foods to keep hormone levels in check.
Processed foods, sugary drinks, and high-fat foods can interfere with hormones. To avoid hormonal issues, avoid sweets, chips, and foods that are high in unhealthy fats.
Reading the ingredients on food labels is also important so you know what's going into your body. The general rule is to avoid eating it if you can't pronounce it or don't know what it is. Chemicals in processed foods can wreak havoc on hormone levels and production.
Call your nearest New England Women's Healthcare office to schedule a hormone replacement consultation, or request an appointment here on the website. We're a premier, full-service practice with convenient locations in Woburn, Wilmington, and Wakefield, Massachusetts.
