EDUCATION
This can be a tricky topic of which many people shy away from and conventional medicine practitioners don’t address. It may seem like a rather complicated subject, but addressing hormone imbalances is incredibly important. Hormones are chemical messengers that coordinate a wide range of bodily functions and should not be ignored.
Did you know that your hormones regulate much more than reproduction? They also regulate blood pressure, sleep,growth, metabolism, stress response, injury response, eye health, brain function and even cholesterol conversion.
Hormones and enzymes are two of the most critical needs of the human body. Our bodies age faster when we are devoid of them. This is why it is so important to carefully consider the food we consume. Live, non-GMO, whole foods and grassfed meats are not only rich in nutrients but also give us the enzymes and building blocks for hormone production that we need to keep our bodies running smoothly.
Enzymes are substances produced by a living organism that act as a catalyst to bring about a specific biochemical reaction. Enzymes help the liver to do its job to digest fats properly and create the building blocks from which hormones are made. Hormone imbalances can result from the liver not digesting fats properly due to a lack of enzymes. Of course, there are other reasons for hormone imbalances which we will address shortly, but it is critical that we keep our liver in good shape in order to support our hormones.
In this post we are going to address three main hormones for women: estrogen, progesterone and testosterone (we will leave the thyroid for another day). Balancing hormones is a bit more involved for women than for men, but once you understand how these hormones work together, balancing them can be done fairly simply.
Estrogen & Progesterone
Estrogen and progesterone are steroid hormones which passively enter into the cells, where they bind to and activate receptors. They must be balanced to work together and are responsible for blood clotting and the storage of fats in the body. The ovaries are the most important part of the female reproductive system and secrete these two major hormones. If you remember anything about these two hormones, remember this: estrogen promotes growth and progesterone inhibits growth. This is how they balance each other out.
Estrogens are important in cellular activities such as growth, strength, mental clarity, and temperature. This hormone provides the female characteristics including curves, fat distribution, breasts, cycle, soft skin as well as a high-pitched voice. There are three types of estrogens: Estrone(E1), Estradiol (E2), and Estriol (E3).
More than 50% of the body’s estrogen is in the form of Estrone (E1) which is manufactured and stored as estrone sulphate in the fat cells and ovaries so the body can call on it when needed.
Estrone sulphate is the chemical compound that attracts breast cancer cells when too much is produced.1
Estradiol (E2) converts to two kinds of estrogens –2-hydroxyestrone (a good estrone metabolite that prevents cancer)or 16-alphahydroxyesterone (that feeds cancer cells). All inorganic estrogen compounds manufacture 16-alpha-hydroxyestrone. This is why it is very important to always supplement hormones naturally and avoid use of all synthetic hormones. Natural, organic compounds will metabolize to 2-hydroxyestrone, or good anticancer estrone, unless the liver is toxic or enzyme deficient.
Studies show that when 2-hydroxyestrone increases, the body resists cancer.2
Progesterone is a hormone that is secreted by the corpus luteum, a temporary endocrine gland that the female body produces after ovulation during the second half of the menstrual cycle. Progesterone regulates menstrual cycles, is essential for creating and maintaining pregnancy and balances the effects of estrogen (anti-growth). Interestingly enough, most other hormones are made from it. Progesterone levels start declining in women in their 30s. High progesterone is extremely rare and in most cases women who are on sleep and anxiety medications are low in progesterone. Progesterone is essential in many bodily processes. It stimulates cells to grow toward differentiation, which is an anti-cancer property, and inhibits further estrogen-stimulated cell growth. It encourages cells to die when they should and stimulates bone building which protects against osteoporosis. Progesterone has also proven to be beneficial to those with endometriosis and fibroids.
The last hormone we will discuss is testosterone. Yes! Women need this hormone too. Testosterone contributes to sex drive in women and also helps build bone. It can support mood, motivation,drive, libido, energy, and muscle mass.
Signs of imbalance
Sometimes it can be a bit tricky to figure out which hormones you may be deficient in, however it is a safe bet that as a woman ages, progesterone tends to be lower than needed. Hormone testing is recommended to get a true reading on where supplementation is needed and can be done via saliva test as the most accurate way to determine the available hormones in your body. A DUTCH test (via urine testing) can be utilized to detect phase 1 and 2 estrogen metabolites to make sure estrogen is converting appropriately.
Too much estrogen can lead to weight gain, fibroids, cysts, irregular bleeding, and cancer. Too little estrogen leads to hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, poor concentration, smaller breasts, wrinkles,and dull hair and nails. Low progesterone typically leads to higher estrogen levels. Other symptoms of low progesterone include abnormal uterine bleeding, irregular or missed periods, PMS, amenorrhea, infertility, dysmenorrhea,spotting and abdominal pain during pregnancy and frequent miscarriages.
Other reasons for hormone imbalances
Toxins in our environment can be detrimental to our hormones. Many chemicals can block hormones or mimic their actions and interfere with their function. Xenoestrogens (or chemicals that mimic estrogen activity in the body) are one of the main contributors to hormone imbalances and lead to an over-estrogenated environment with constant exposure. Xenoestrogens can be found in laundry detergent and dryer sheets. Other examples of hormone disruptors include BPA (from plastics), dioxins, phthalates, lead, fire retardants, pesticides, herbicides, personal care products, and even makeup. Reducing the chemicals and toxins you come in contact with can go a long way towards correcting hormone imbalances.
Lifestyle choices can also have an impact on hormones. Emotional, mental, and physical turmoil are frequently the root of hormone issues. Depression, worry, fear, obsessiveness, overworking and conflict tax the adrenal glands, producing cortisol which can lead to imbalance. Lack of exercise, alcohol, smoking, and birth control pills will also impact hormones along with a poor diet full of sugar and lacking proper nutrients. Supplementing your hormones without addressing these problems may resolve things temporarily, but the issues will return.
The Good News
Natural hormone replacement therapy can correct these imbalances safely and effectively. These are hormones that have a molecular structure that are identical to those hormones made by your body. Hormones do complex and specific jobs for the body by fitting into the part of your cells (called receptors), similar to how a key fits into a lock. Once the hormone is in the receptor, it gives the cell instructions. If the molecular structure is different, even by one atom, the instructions given to the cell are different which is why hormones that are not natural are harmful to our bodies. Unfortunately, drug companies create synthetic hormones with different molecular structures to be patented for profit. Natural substances cannot be patented and therefore tend to be less expensive. For more information on why synthetic hormones should be avoided, have a look at the government-sponsored study called the Women’s Health Initiative3 which was released and showed that conventional HRT can significantly increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and breast cancer.
Natural hormones can be made from soybeans and wild yams, and it makes no difference which they are made from as long as they are made correctly. There is a substance called diosgenin that is extracted and then modified in a lab to create the natural hormones. In other words, your body cannot create these hormones from the plant itself. It cannot be stressed enough to only use enough hormones to create a balance (this is why testing hormone levels is recommended).
Delivery methods of natural hormones include capsule, sublingual, and creams. Supplemental hormones delivered through the skin or sublingual enter the bloodstream and are a far more bioavailable and efficiently delivered to tissue. In pill form, 95% of progesterone will be converted to inactive by-products in the gastrointestinal tract so a higher dose is required. Progesterone slows your heart rate,so is best to use at night with only small amounts in the morning. It is also recommended to rotate the areas in which you apply so as to not saturate any one area.
The Benefits of Hormone Balancing
Proper hormone balancing can lead to increased longevity and a much more fulfilling and happy life! Conventional medicine would have you believe that suffering through hormone changes and their well-known side effects is normal, but that’s not the case! With proper hormone balancing you can avoid many of the unwanted side effects of aging. Keeping hormones in balance can lead to bone density improvement and may even help with cartilage renewal.
Proper hormone balance can also lead to improved sleep, weight loss, increased energy, reduction in PMS and menopausal symptoms, and improved mental health. If you are interested in learning more about hormone supporting supplements contact us!
*Nothing stated above is meant to diagnose, treat, or cure any illness or condition. Consult your healthcare practitioner for further information.
1 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2560511/
2 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8943806/
