Normal and balanced hormone levels promote good physical and mental well-being in women. But research suggests that most women suffer from hormone imbalance at some point in their lives and are rarely aware of it. It is very important to understand how this imbalance occurs and what can be done about it.

How hormonal changes occur

For a woman, the production of estrogen and progesterone begins with her menstrual cycle. This is what makes a woman reproductive by nature. As the menstrual cycle progresses, natural hormonal imbalances tend to arise, even before the onset of menopause.

Such an imbalance is caused following a condition known as pre-menopause, which occurs when a woman is in her mid-thirties. The symptoms could begin and last for a period of 10-15 years before the actual menopause begins.

Women also undergo peri-menopause or the menopausal transition. During this time, a woman\’s body makes a natural shift from the regular cycle of ovulation and menstruation toward menopause or permanent infertility.

Signs of hormonal changes

The first signs of hormonal changes during pre-menopause and peri-menopause are irregular and/or heavy periods. Coupled with this are other symptoms like depression, mood swings, insomnia, hot flashes and weight gain. Other symptoms such as migraine headaches, dry skin, sore and lumpy breasts, and low libido can also occur.

Extreme hormonal imbalance and related symptoms

Extreme hormonal imbalance happens when there is a drastic change in the estrogen- progesterone balance. Usually it is the estrogenic level that tends to exceed, leading to a condition known as ‘Estrogen Dominance’. The condition can also arise when women have undergone hormone replacement therapy or take birth control pills. Sometimes low estrogenic levels can lead to little or no progesterone, which can be another cause of estrogenic dominance.

The symptoms of extreme hormonal imbalance are very serious. The body shows visible symptoms which are similar to the ones occurring during the pre-menopause and peri-menopause stages in a woman’s life. Medical attention is necessary as such an imbalance can result in impaired thyroid functioning, heavy and/or irregular periods, uterine fibroid tumors, polycystic ovaries, fibrocystic breasts etc.

Ways of restoring hormonal balance

With the help of exercise, the right and adequate nutritional support, herbs, and natural hormone replacements, women can pass the pre-menopausal stage successfully. Consumption of the following foods is the most natural way of rectifying hormonal imbalances:

– Cold water fish ( salmon, herring, haddock, cod)
– Tofu, soya milk
– Organic free-range chicken
– Fresh vegetables like broccoli, spinach
– Natural sources of essential fatty acids (Omega 3 and Omega 6) like flaxseed oil and olive oil.
– Fruits like grapefruit, berries, kiwi etc
– Nuts and seeds like almond, hazelnuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds

Some foods to be avoided include starchy vegetables like potatoes and saturated fats like cheese, fat on meat and hydrogenated vegetable oils.

In addition to this, acupuncture, massage therapy and reflexology have been seen to have positive effects on female hormones. Timely addressing of the issue and a healthy lifestyle go a long way in promoting balanced hormone levels.

Author Bio: Teisha Mahabir specializes in writing articles about health, diet, longevity and health specialists like Brenda Rusnak. Brenda Rusnak is a health care specialist who writes about healthy-aging and prevention. For more information about healthy-aging and Brenda Rusnak, check her out at brendarusnak.com.

Category: Womens Interest
Keywords: understanding,hormone,balance,women,imbalance