Our moods, appearance, libido, energy levels, and digestion are all influenced by hormones; knowing this we try to do what we can to prevent an imbalance which can involve managing/reducing stress, staying active, getting enough sleep, and following a balanced healthy diet to make sure that we get enough hormone supporting nutrients.
Although a few nutrients appear in studies multiple times when it comes to hormone health it’s hard to pin down exactly which nutrients are best, as John Mitchell, PA-C explains, “Hormones are complicated because there are so many biochemical systems and lifestyle factors that influence their levels, which is why addressing them requires a comprehensive approach.”
According to Bindiya Gandhi, M.D., “Methylated B complex helps replenish the body of essential B vitamins that are important for detoxification as well as during a female’s menstrual cycle,” she explains, “When vitamin B1 and B6 are low, it can cause menstrual cramping.”
Methylated B vitamins are in a form that is more easily absorbed by the body, a B-complex will include the full gamut of B vitamins.
Balancing hormones and fighting off inflammation can be synonymous because inflammation is almost always involved when something in the body has gone wrong or is out of balance. Fats are like the building blocks of many hormones, and omega-3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory superstars when it comes it helping to decrease overall inflammation and pain, especially during menstrual cycles.
There is a strong connection between hormone health and gut health, in fact studies show that estrogen can delay gastric emptying which can lead to constipation. A daily high quality probiotic has been shown to help improve constipation by improving transit time, stool caliber, and consistency.
Understanding the gut-hormone health connection is equally important for both genders, as Vincent Pedre, M.D. explains, “The standard American diet (SAD) leads to obesity through inflammation by affecting your gut flora…and allowing bacterial endotoxin (a bacterial cell wall component and potent activator of the immune system) to leak into your body. The trans-mucosal migration of endotoxin directly leads to lower testosterone levels by affecting its production in the testes.”
“It’s always better to get to the root cause of the specific hormonal imbalance and prevent it—rather than waiting and treating it with prescription medication.” says Gandhi.
It is best to try and keep hormones in the best condition possible, by upping intake of the nutrients methylated B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and probiotics may help to improve the chances of avoiding a hormone imbalance before it even has a chance to start. Prevention is, and will always be, better than a cure.
