Hormones are responsible for regulating and controlling our normal, everyday bodily functions. When our hormones become imbalanced, we can often experience a number of uncomfortable and unhealthy side effects, such as moodiness, low libido, low energy levels, and more.
In women, hormone imbalances and menopause can lead to problems with sleeping, hot flashes, migraines, incontinence, and other adverse symptoms that contribute to accelerated aging. Thankfully, natural hormone treatments such as bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can alleviate symptoms related to menopause and hormone imbalances, while also enhancing the quality of life and slowing down the aging process.
By living in a culture that often focuses more on symptoms and treatments rather than causes, it’s important to learn more about what causes hormone imbalances so you can start making changes to your life now that will help prevent future hormone imbalances from occurring.
Here are the top 6 causes of hormone imbalances in women.
1. Poor nutrition
Poor nutrition is one of the biggest contributors to hormone imbalance, since poor nutrition can lead to weight gain, which is also associated with hormone imbalance. Foods high in sugar, fat, and man-made, processed ingredients affect the way our bodies produce hormones. However, diets made up of whole foods such as fruits and vegetables can help prevent women from experiencing adverse side effects due to poor nutrition.
2. Stress
Stress will increase cortisol levels in the body, which causes a spike in hormone production meant to counteract the negative effects of cortisol. Chronic and long-term stress will often lead to major problems with hormone imbalances, but can be alleviated naturally through healthy eating, exercise, and good quality sleep.
3. Lack of exercise
Exercise is one of the most natural ways to improve and regulate your overall health, and can battle weight gain, stress, disease, and even hormone imbalances. Exercise several times per week and keep your fitness routine balanced with a mixture of cardio and strength training.
4. Synthetic hormone supplements
Synthetic hormone treatments and medications such as birth control pills and conventional means of hormone replacement therapy can upset the body’s natural hormone functioning, resulting in an imbalance. Women can replace HRT with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) and start using alternative forms of birth control to lower their risk for imbalances and life-threatening diseases such as cancer.
5. Exposure to toxins
Toxins such as food pesticides can chemically alter the hormone levels in our bodies, leading to hormone imbalances and other health problems such as weight gain. Eliminate your exposure to toxins as much as possible by choosing produce, dairy, and meats that are organically grown and processed.
6. Cancer
Cancers that are mostly specific to women such as breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers will thrive on women’s hormones and cause major imbalances, especially as the cancer grows and worsens. Women should undergo regular screenings to detect cancer, and treat hormone imbalances accordingly.
Rock Creek Wellness specializes in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for men and women that can help regulate hormones in a safe and natural manner while also slowing down the aging process. Request a consultation today and get started with BHRT and our other anti-aging treatments.
