The biggest mistake I see women make is trying to ‘hack’ their hormones without supporting the basics that their body really needs. Many are looking for quick fixes and jumping into supplements recommended by social media influencers, detoxes, restrictive diets and hormone-balancing teas. They’re trying hard but still struggling with fatigue, bloating, PMS, acne, weight gain, poor sleep, hot flushes and irregular cycles.
Here are some of the common mistakes and why they’re not working:
* Buying multiple supplements recommended online and by social media trends and expecting a quick fix. This doesn’t always work because hormones are complex and it’s very individual, one person may have excess oestrogen whilst another may have excess androgens. There may be liver or gut detoxification insufficency due to genetics for example with one person, but another persons problem could be stress, poor sleep or insulin resistance which all have significant influence over hormonal balance. Supplements need to be targeted specifically to your needs, they can support hormones but they can’t compensate for stress, poor sleep or burnout.
* Under-eating and over-exercising. Women tend to naturally gain weight when hormones go out of balance, especially around menopause because when the ovaries stop producing oestrogen the body can make it from fat cells through a process called aromatisation. Reducing calories, skipping meals, excessive cardio and fear of carbohydrates can all increase stress hormones, contributing to cortisol spikes, ovulation and thyroid disruption and progesterone production. This all makes the body feel like it’s under threat and therefore it doesn’t feel it’s safe to prioritise hormone production.
* Ignoring the fact that they are stressed. Menopause is a good example of this, many women at this age are at the peak of their careers, have teenage children, are running the house and are starting to feel the pressure, yet continue to push through and carry on. Depending on your constitution, this will eventually show up with digestive issue, sleep problems, hormonal imabalance, blood sugar disregulation, increased blood pressure or various other health issues. How you treat your body in the years leading up to menopause can determine how impactfull the tranisition will be on your health and wellbeing.
* Thinking hormones work independently. Hormones don’t work in isolation, they are interconnected with the whole body, some examples of this are: gut and liver health affect oestrogen metabolism, insulin levels impact testosterone, stress can impact progesterone, sleep affects appetite and blood glucose levels and blood glucose levels affect sleep, and this in turn all affects hormones.
* Neglecting gut health. Gut health is strongly connected to hormone balance because after liver metabolism and release in the bile, the gut is responsible for their effective clearance. Constipation, bloating, microbiome balance, inflammation and optimising digestion for proper breakdown and absorption of nutrients are all key to supporting hormone balance.
* Expecting instant results. Hormones are constantly changing and take time to rebalance, cycles need time to regulate and menopause is a life transition (not a disease). Diet, lifestyle, supplements and herbal intervention when needed can all help make the road less bumpy, it’s not always about removing all the symptoms, but making the transitional journey more smooth with less bumps along the way. Hormone health is not about perfection, restriction or a cupboard full of expensive supplements from social media trends. It’s about making your body feel safe, nourished and supported in the right way so it can function properly again.
If you’d like help with hormone balance, or any health condition, I offer a free 15 minute call where we can discuss your concerns and how I can help. Feel free to reach out to me here.
