The key glands that drive the endocrine system<\/a> are the pituitary gland, the thyroid gland, the parathyroid glands, the pancreas, and the gonads.<\/p>\n Hormones are essential because they tell your organs what to do and when to do it.\u00a0 If you have too much or too little of a hormone circulating throughout your body, you\u2019ll experience symptoms that can easily escalate into disease. And since the endocrine system is composed of interconnected feedback loops, an imbalance in one hormone often cascades into other imbalances, throwing the entire system out of whack.<\/p>\n Imagine, for example, that your home thermostat stopped working. Instead of sending a message to turn the heat off when the temperature reaches a predetermined threshold, the silent thermostat will sit idly by as the heating unit continues to crank more and more hot air into your home. Not too long after, you\u2019d be sweating uncomfortably, and your energy bill would go through the roof. All because a simple message wasn\u2019t received and acted upon.<\/p>\n Because hormones are so intertwined with your bodily processes, they can affect metabolism and appetite, heart rate, sleep cycles, reproductive cycles and sexual function, general growth and development, mood and stress levels, and body temperature. In other words, they play an important part in just about everything your body does. To maintain your health, you want to keep your hormones at their optimal levels.<\/p>\n There are a number of reasons why hormones become imbalanced. Sex hormones can roller coaster during big life changes, such as puberty<\/a>, menstruation<\/a>, menopause<\/a>, andropause<\/a> (also known as \u201cmale menopause,\u201d which may not be as impactful as the female version, but still can affect men\u2019s health, vitality, and mood), and pregnancy<\/a>. Other hormonal imbalances can be chronic and long-standing.<\/p>\n These may be caused by external factors such as stress or hormone medications. They can also be caused by medical conditions that impact or involve the organs of the endocrine system<\/a>.<\/p>\n How do you know if you\u2019re experiencing a hormonal imbalance? Unfortunately, many hormonal imbalances have similar symptoms, which can make them difficult to distinguish from one another. Collaborating with your healthcare professional can help you figure out what\u2019s going on, and develop an effective management plan.<\/p>\n Some of the most common symptoms<\/a> of hormonal imbalances can include the following:<\/p>\n If you suspect that you have a hormonal imbalance, it may be time to set up an appointment with your healthcare provider to determine the next steps.<\/p>\n Whether you\u2019ve already been diagnosed with a hormonal imbalance or just want to adopt a lifestyle that reduces your risk of developing one, below are some tips and habits that can help.<\/p>\n Being physically active can help keep your hormone levels stable. It may also help boost levels of hormones which retain muscles and that often decline with age. Some of these include testosterone, IGF-1, DHEA, and growth hormone. Regular exercise also keeps insulin levels<\/a> down, while improving insulin sensitivity<\/a>. Exercising shouldn\u2019t be a chore, so find some ways to move that you really enjoy. This might be a mix of a few things, like hiking, jogging, walking the dog, strength training, doing yoga, dancing, or playing frisbee.<\/p>\n Eating too much or too little can lead to hormonal imbalances that encourage unwanted weight gain. Stay ahead of this by practicing lifestyle habits that promote a healthy weight. Overeating<\/a> has been shown to increase insulin levels and reduce insulin sensitivity, especially in people who are already overweight or obese. You might think that undereating would be an effective weight loss strategy, but it can backfire: severe caloric restriction has been shown to increase cortisol<\/a> levels, which can promote weight gain while overtaxing the immune system.<\/p>\n When out of balance, other hormones<\/a> that can influence weight gain include thyroid hormone, leptin, ghrelin (the \u201chunger hormone\u201d), estrogen, and testosterone. If you find yourself frequently obsessing over food, or fear that you aren\u2019t really in control of your food choices, you may be struggling with food addiction. Our friends at <\/span>Bright Line Eating have a proven program that may help \u2013 find out more here<\/a>.<\/p>\n We\u2019re all used to having screens in our faces much of the time, whether it\u2019s for work or scrolling social media. But research shows<\/a> that screens, and especially the blue light they emit, can disrupt your endocrine function, keep your brain awake when it\u2019s time for bed, and even change your sleep patterns. Try turning off your screens at least two hours before bedtime, or use blue-light blocking<\/a> glasses.<\/p>\n Researchers think blue light at bedtime is a problem because that light can fool your body into thinking it\u2019s in a different time zone; it\u2019s like you have a constant bad case of jet lag. Scientists studying yeast cells and mice have found their systems operate based on multiple circadian clocks<\/a>, and surmise that humans also run on particular cycles. For example, the liver<\/a> is active at night, while the salivary glands<\/a> in our mouths turn in when the daylight fades.<\/p>\n Sunlight exposure triggers<\/a> the release of serotonin, a hormone that boosts mood and enables calm focus. Having low levels of serotonin is associated with a higher risk of depression and seasonal affective disorder. Furthermore, vitamin D is created by your body in response to sunlight exposure. Vitamin D isn\u2019t actually a vitamin, however; it\u2019s a prohormone<\/a> or substance that your body converts to a hormone. Vitamin D helps regulate other hormones, including adrenaline, noradrenaline, and dopamine production. It also helps prevent your serotonin levels from becoming depleted. Find out more about vitamin D here<\/a>.<\/p>\n And just as a dark bedroom signals \u201cbedtime\u201d to your body, early morning sunlight tells your daytime cells to \u201crise and shine.\u201d<\/p>\n Chronic stress leads to persistently elevated levels of cortisol<\/a>, also known as the stress hormone. This can set us up for overeating<\/a>, and ultimately, unintended weight gain. We think we stress-eat just as an emotional response, but cortisol actually pulls some levers that truly increase our hunger drive. Cortisol ramps up motivation in general, and our motivation to find and consume food in particular.<\/p>\n Unmanaged stress can also temporarily raise adrenaline levels, which increases your blood pressure, heart rate, and anxiety. The key here is to find ways you can proactively bring down chronic stress levels. Massage therapy, for example, has been found to not only lower cortisol levels but raise levels<\/a> of good hormones like serotonin and dopamine. Even if getting a massage isn\u2019t possible, you can reduce stress and balance hormones in DIY fashion through mindful breathing, slow movement like yoga or tai chi, and meditation.<\/p>\n Every night, we get a chance to refuel our tanks through sleep. Not only is sleep good for restoring physical energy, but it also can restore hormonal balance. Not getting enough sleep can impair your ability to keep your appetite hormones in balance, raising blood pressure, and increasing the likelihood of overeating. In fact, the hormonal imbalances triggered by lack of sleep raise your risk<\/a> for obesity, type 2 diabetes, depression, anxiety, and heart disease.<\/p>\n It works in the other direction as well: certain hormonal imbalances can worsen your sleep<\/a>. Estrogen allows your body to use serotonin to calm down, progesterone helps calm your mind and helps you fall asleep faster, insulin keeps your blood sugar under control, and melatonin and cortisol work together to regulate your wake and sleep pattern. Of course, for many people getting enough sleep is easier said than done! For our article on the top diet and lifestyle choices that can help you get deep and nourishing sleep, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, many of the foods we eat and consumer products we use on a daily basis include ingredients that contain toxic chemicals called endocrine disruptors<\/a>. These can increase or decrease the production of certain hormones, imitate or convert some hormones into others, inhibit signaling and production, compete with nutrients, and even tell cells to die prematurely. By cleaning up the products you choose to use and the foods you eat, you can reduce your exposure to endocrine disruptors. A few ways to do this include reducing consumption of animal products, choosing BPA-free canned goods, buying organic produce and filtered water<\/a>, choosing phthalate-free cosmetics, and avoiding coated non-stick pans (more on healthy cookware here<\/a>).<\/p>\n In addition to maintaining lifestyle habits that minimize stress and promote optimal health, eating a nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory diet<\/a> can be critically important to achieving and maintaining a healthy hormonal balance. This also includes knowing what foods and drinks may be triggering imbalances in your body.<\/p>\n These recipes contain plenty of plant-based protein and fiber, which are important for hormonal health. But they take it a step further by offering an array of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients to help balance hormones even more. What\u2019s great is that each recipe can easily be made ahead of time so that you have hormone-balancing foods available to you all week long!<\/p>\n Not only is this salad extremely simple to make and bursting with flavor, but it also features ingredients that can contribute to hormone health \u2014 quinoa and edamame. Quinoa<\/a> is packed with fiber, which has been shown to help manage blood sugar and prevent excess estrogen in the body. Edamame contains<\/a> phytonutrients called isoflavones, which have been shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer and breast cancer recurrence. Both quinoa and edamame are packed with plant-based protein.<\/p>\n This could be the ultimate hormone-balancing hummus. Peas are a great source of protein. And tahini is packed with lignans<\/a>, which are antioxidant-rich plant compounds that behave as a phytoestrogen and can increase or decrease the effects of estrogen in our body based on our very own particular needs. Both peas and tahini are rich in vitamins and minerals, like B vitamins, vitamin E, and zinc, all of which have been shown to help balance hormones.<\/p>\n Hormone-balancing crackers with only two ingredients? Yep! Both flax meal and sesame seeds are packed with lignans. Flax is also packed with the fiber you need for regularity, which helps excrete excess estrogen. Finally, flax seeds are also a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are healthy fats that are building blocks for hormones.<\/p>\n Hormones are deeply integrated into your physiology and play an important role in almost every aspect of your health. And there\u2019s an optimal balance for each person, at each stage of life. And while many people struggle with hormonal imbalances at one point or another, the good news is that you can make a huge positive impact with your diet and lifestyle choices. And the same habits that are good for your hormonal balance are also good for your mood, life expectancy, vitality, and waistline. Talk about a twofer!<\/p>\n Feature image: iStock.com\/yacobchuk<\/i><\/p>\n Hormonal imbalances are common throughout various stages of life. They can cause a huge range of conditions, including type 2 diabetes, hypothyroidism, obesity, fatigue, and even cancer. While some of the causes of hormonal imbalance are beyond your control, there is a growing body of evidence that your diet and lifestyle choices can make a huge difference.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":22994,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,2639,2640],"tags":[2122,2503,2338,185,2554,2566],"class_list":["post-22988","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-blog","category-health","category-lifestyle","tag-diets","tag-fitness","tag-hormones","tag-plant-based-diet","tag-self-care","tag-weight-management","wpautop"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow Do Hormones Become Imbalanced?<\/h2>\n
Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalances<\/h2>\n
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7 Lifestyle Tips to Balance Hormones Naturally<\/h2>\n
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1. Exercise regularly<\/h3>\n
2. Maintain a healthy weight<\/h3>\n
3. Stop using electronics close to bedtime<\/h3>\n
4. Get sunlight first thing in the morning<\/h3>\n
5. Bring down chronic stress<\/h3>\n
6. Get enough sleep<\/h3>\n
7. Ditch toxic chemicals<\/h3>\n
How to Balance Your Hormones with Food<\/h2>\n
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Avoid These…<\/h3>\n
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Eat and Drink More of These…<\/h3>\n
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Recipes to Help Balance Hormones<\/h2>\n
1.\u00a0Asian Quinoa Salad<\/a><\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\n2. Green Pea Hummus<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"green](\"https:\/\/cdn.foodrevolution.org\/cdn-cgi\/image\/quality=75,format=auto\/foodrevolution.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/green-pea-hummus-5.jpg\")
<\/p>\n3. 2-Ingredient Flax Crackers<\/a><\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nKeep Hormones in Balance With a Healthy Lifestyle<\/i><\/h2>\n
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