12 Weird but Effective Tips on How to Balance Hormones

Did you know that a hormone imbalance can lead to all kinds of problematic symptoms?

Hormones are chemical messengers in our bodies that play a large role in regulating our major biological symptoms.

Most people think that only women can experience hormone imbalances, but differences in hormone levels can affect anyone regardless of gender.

In fact, hormone imbalances can be responsible for fatigue, mood swings, depression and anxiety, and all kinds of digestive issues!

It is possible to balance hormones naturally, particularly if you are experiencing any of these negative symptoms.

In this post, we’ll discuss how to balance hormones effectively. Read on for insight!

1. Work on Your Sleep

When we sleep, our bodies take those vital hours to heal and repair. They also use the time we spend in dreamland to produce essential hormones, such as our growth hormones.

High quality, consistent sleep can also regulate the production of cortisol, our “stress” hormone. Inconsistent sleep can actually prevent us from a healthy processing of this hormone, leading to a debilitating hormone imbalance.

Aim for high-quality, regular sleep, as often as you can. Most adults require at least seven or eight hours of such sleep a night in order to stay on top of hormone imbalances.

If you struggle to get this kind of sleep, consider visiting a sleep doctor or sleep disorder specialist.

2. Try Apple Cider Vinegar

A lot of hormone imbalances occur in our gut, which actually requires a microbiome of bacteria to thrive. Unfortunately, it’s easier to experience a hormone imbalance in our digestive system than most people realize.

This is particularly the case for individuals who process stress or anxiety in their stomach. Hormone imbalances can also result from allergies, inflammatory foods, and processed ingredients.

Individuals with certain food intolerances–such as celiac disease or lactose intolerance–are particularly prone to digestive hormone and enzyme imbalances.

Apple cider vinegar may just be the secret to setting your stomach up for success, however. This amazing liquid has a host of health benefits, including the capacity to promote liver health and to metabolize fat easily.

Some people like to sip on an apple cider vinegar tonic. Others will drink it straight, mixed with some water to cut the bitter taste. This is not as nasty is it sounds–apple cider vinegar does have an apple cider taste!

Add organic, raw apple cider vinegar to your cupboards to promote hormone balance.

3. Keep Your Liver Happy

Your liver is the detoxification central of your body. It is not just designed to help your body process alcohol, contrary to popular belief.

What’s more, your liver is actually the queen of hormone and enzyme production. Its health is vital to your capacity to produce and regulate the hormones you need to function well on a daily basis.

There are some things you can do today to ensure your liver is happy and healthy. One of these does involve limiting alcohol intake. You can still have it; just make sure that you aren’t overdoing it.

There are a host of natural supplements that can promote liver health, such as Vitamins C and E, zinc, and B-vitamins. Herbs like dandelion root and milk thistle have also been known to promote liver function.

Green tea, coffee, and leafy vegetables are also likely to aid in liver health.

4. Sip Lemon and Ginger Tea

Ginger and lemon are both known for their abilities to revitalize and “wake up” our digestive system–and definitely in a good way. Steep lemon juice, honey, and ginger for a refreshing digestive tonic.

Ginger, in particular, can reduce nausea and counteract symptoms of inflammation, especially related to the digestive system. If you constantly experience constipation or stomach upset as a result of food allergies, ginger can be helpful.

Drinking lemon and ginger tea can also promote a healthy microbiome in your stomach, reducing your risk of digestive hormone imbalance.

5. Try Meditation and/or Yoga

Stress is often the culprit behind hormone imbalances. This is particularly the case for individuals who don’t get enough sleep or time to effectively process the stress hormone, cortisol.

People who lead busy lives and navigate stressful jobs are even more prone to experiencing hormone imbalances.

Build a habit for managing stress. Meditation can be wildly helpful in this regard. Even a basic, brief daily practice can reduce blood pressure, quiet the mind, and elevate mood.

Learn more about starting your own meditation practice here.

Yoga or tai chi can also aid in stress management, particularly for those who are more physically inclined.

6. Limit Processed Foods and Carbs

Refined foods, particularly carbohydrates and sugars, can mess with our hormones in a profound way–and not a good way, either. In general, the more processed foods your diet contains, the greater your risk is of sustaining a hormone imbalance.

Limiting these foods can promote healthy hormone production and reduce your risk of diabetes, weight gain and obesity, and dangerous heart conditions.

Opt for foods that contain whole grains rather than processed carbohydrates, and limit your intake of refined sugars. Get comfortable reading labels so you can learn to avoid these ingredients, especially high fructose corn syrup.

7. Get Enough Protein

Protein is vital when it comes to our body’s ability to digest foods and regulate prominent systems. Insufficient protein can easily lead to hormone imbalances, especially if you follow a plant-based diet or are naturally anaemic.

Make sure you are getting enough protein at every meal to ensure your body has the amino acids it needs to regulate appetite and promote muscle mass formation.

Aim to ingest 20-30 grams of protein per meal in order to maximize what this nutrient has to offer and keep hormones in check.

8. Amp up the Probiotics

Much of this post focuses on digestion, and for good reason. Many hormone imbalances actually begin in the gut.

Even if you don’t have a hormone imbalance at the moment, reduce your risk of one by regularly consuming probiotics. Probiotics are live microorganisms that can cultivate the right kind of gut flora in your stomach.

Probiotics can be consumed in supplemental form. But they also occur naturally in some food substances, such as Korean kimchi, kombucha, and yogurts with live cultures.

If you are interested in taking probiotic enzymes to supplement your diet, we recommend talking to a physician to get a recommendation for your digestive needs.

9. Visit an Allergist

Allergies of all kinds can cause inflammation in the body, which can, in turn, generate hormone imbalances. This is particularly the case for food allergies or sensitivities.

To see where you are at on the allergy scale, visit an allergist. If you are fairly confident that your sensitivity is food-related, consider visiting a digestive allergist.

Allergists can also give you an appropriate recommendation for navigating intolerances, including prescriptions, suggestions for supplements, and more.

If you don’t want to visit an allergist, consider reducing the number of inflammatory foods that you ingest. This may mean simply cultivating an awareness of what foods feel good and what don’t (such as dairy or gluten, common culprits).

10. Exercise Daily

Exercise is important for so many reasons. When it comes to hormones, exercise can actually reduce insulin levels and promote the production of muscle-building hormones.

Insulin is vital to our body’s ability to take up sugars and amino acids from our bloodstream. Too much of it, however, can lead to compromising conditions, such as cancer and diabetes.

Overproduction of insulin can also cause inflammation in the body, which often results in hormone imbalances.

Aim to exercise for at least twenty minutes every day to keep hormones in check.

11. Visit a Naturopath

Naturopaths excel at helping their clients find natural remedies for all kinds of medical conditions, including hormone imbalances. Naturopaths may often recommend noninvasive treatment or alternative healing modalities for certain symptoms.

Visiting a naturopath for a specific hormone imbalance can give you further insight into your body’s hormonal tendencies. It can also give you more information about supplements, diet recommendations, and natural treatments that can promote hormone health.

12. Try Hormone Pellets

It is possible to turn to hormone therapy for more profound cases of hormone imbalance.

Many women who are experiencing menopause, for example, may rely on hormone therapy to help balance severe dips and surges in the body’s production of estrogen.

Hormone pellets are tiny cylinders packed with estrogen or testosterone. These are implanted under the skin via a simple and painless procedure.

We recommend consulting a physician before going this route to ensure it’s right for you!

How to Balance Hormones

Hormones are more important to our daily health than most people realize. They can regulate appetite, mood, digestion, and so much more. Even the tiniest imbalance can elevate our risk of contracting serious medical conditions and keep us from operating at our best.

When it comes to how to balance hormones naturally, start with your gut. Try out probiotics or sip on a daily shot of apple cider vinegar. Avoid eating processed carbs and sugars and make sure you’re getting enough protein.

In addition to these dietary changes, make sure you exercise daily and get high-quality sleep. You may wish to visit an allergist or naturopath for further suggestions.

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