Global Courant
A hormonal imbalance can have serious consequences for the human body, potentially causing illness or other ailments. Therefore, it is important to maintain stable levels, eat some foods and perform a range of activities. Below are 7 natural ways to treat it.
There are key moments in life, such as puberty, when hormones change more than others. Likewise, some medications, as well as taking steroids and stress, can lead to changes in hormone levels.
Natural ways to combat hormonal imbalance: exercise
Both a healthy diet and daily physical activity contribute to better health and therefore better hormonal balance. In addition, they also enable better blood flow to the muscles thanks to the increased sensitivity of the hormone receptors.
In this sense, physical activity also lowers insulin levels and increases sensitivity to this hormone. This chemical causes cells to absorb sugar to use it for energy. Studies have shown that regular exercise leads to better resistance to it.
Natural ways to combat hormonal imbalance: Reduce caffeine and stress
Both caffeine and stress are two factors that can significantly contribute to hormonal imbalance. Caffeine changes the way the brain produces hormones, while it can increase sleep cycles and stress hormones.
Cortisol, also known as the stress hormone, is produced whenever the body is exposed to a stressful situation. Therefore, chronic stress keeps cortisol levels high and increases appetite and intake of sugary and high-fat foods, which can lead to obesity.
Natural ways to combat hormonal imbalance: Consume protein
Consuming proteins is essential for balancing the body’s hormones, as this type of food produces peptide hormones.
This type of hormones contains endocrine glands that are made from amino acids. It is recommended to consume between 20 and 30 grams of protein daily.
Natural ways to combat hormonal imbalance: Consume protein
Peptide hormones contribute to various physiological processes such as growth, metabolism, stress and appetite, among other things. Likewise, this food group stimulates the production of hormones that help the human body feel full without having to eat anything else.
Natural ways to combat hormonal imbalance: Control sleeping hours
Sleep plays a fundamental role in maintaining hormonal balance. The lack of serotonin is not only related to mood and sexual desire, but is also important for the quality of sleep and its effects on the human body.
Poor sleep is related to an imbalance of various hormones such as insulin, cortisol, leptin and ghrelin. Several studies have shown that people with less sleep significantly reduce their insulin sensitivity and also increase levels of ghrelin, the hormone that regulates appetite and nutritional homeostasis.
Natural ways to combat hormonal imbalance: Maintain a stable weight
Weight gain can be directly related to hormonal imbalance due to insulin complications. In general, people with obesity also have a strong resistance to these types of hormones, while weight loss is associated with better resistance and a lower risk of diseases such as diabetes and heart problems.
Natural ways to combat hormonal imbalance: Consume natural fats
Like protein, consuming healthy fats also goes a long way in reducing insulin resistance and regulating appetite. Likewise, those containing omega-3 and omega-6 help increase insulin sensitivity by reducing inflammation and pro-inflammatory markers.
Natural ways to combat hormonal imbalance: natural fats
Foods highest in omega-6 include vegetable oils such as sunflower, corn, soy and margarines, as well as legumes, seeds and nuts. The foods with the highest Omega-3 content include fish such as tuna, sardines and salmon, chia and pumpkin seeds, nuts, eggs, coconut and olive oil.
Natural ways to combat hormonal imbalance: Reduce sugar consumption
Although excessive sugar consumption can lead to obesity, diabetes and other types of diseases, it can also lead to hormonal imbalances. Fructose intake may be related to changes in the gut microbiome and a lack of production of the satiety hormone.
