Why Do I Have Hormonal Imbalance?

Women have to deal with many stressors all their life. On top of all the pressures and stressors of everyday life, they also have to face the physical and mental effects of hormonal imbalance in their 20s and 30s. These imbalances mainly depend on the levels of two hormones - estrogen and progesterone.

According to Statistics, 80% of women have to deal with hormonal imbalances during periods. The worst part is that most live with these imbalances without even realising it until the symptoms worsen. Now, one question might be popping into your mind - Why do I have hormonal imbalances during periods? Well, hormonal imbalances occur when there is too much or too little of a hormone in the blood.

When a woman’s body is preparing for menstruation, oestrogen levels decrease, and progesterone levels increase, resulting in a hormonal imbalance. While hormonal imbalance might be common in menstruating women, it still should not be left unmanaged. The hormonal imbalance can not only disrupt your menstrual cycle but also negatively impact your overall health.

The impact of hormonal imbalances reaches beyond the physical realm, extending to mental and emotional aspects as well. Fluctuating hormone levels can influence neurotransmitters in the brain, leading to mood swings, irritability, and even depression for some women. This is particularly evident in the days leading up to menstruation, often referred to as the premenstrual phase. The drop in estrogen and progesterone during this time can disrupt the normal functioning of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood. As a result, many women experience heightened emotional sensitivity, anxiety, and feelings of sadness during this phase.

Therefore, women must take measures to balance their hormones before they take a toll on their physical or mental health. Scroll down to learn how to calm your monthly hormonal roller coaster ride!

Signs of Hormonal Imbalance

Before discussing the tips and tricks to manage hormonal imbalance, it is important to know about the signs of hormonal imbalance. As mentioned above, many women are dealing with hormonal imbalance without even being aware of it.

To check if you have a hormonal imbalance, here are a few signs you must look out for:

• Irregular Menstrual Cycles
• Infertility
• Hot flashes and night sweats
• Persistent weight gain
• Hair loss
• Acne
• Facial Hair
• Pelvic pain
• Fatigue
• Cold hands and feet
• Heavy Menstrual Flow
• Breast Discharge

How to Balance Your Hormones During Periods Naturally?

While there are many medical treatments for hormonal imbalances, the best approach is to balance them naturally with just a few simple lifestyle changes. If you suspect you have an imbalance in your hormones, here are a few things you can do to balance them naturally:

Eat a Whole-Food Diet

To balance your hormones naturally, you must eat a whole-food diet that includes fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, whole grains, nuts, and dairy products. By doing so, you will be able to reduce your menstrual pain and regulate hormones significantly. A systematic review in 2019 found that menstruating women who consumed fruits, vegetables, meats, nuts, cereals, and dairy products reported less menstrual pain.

Also, the intake of a whole-food diet will help you alleviate many other PMS symptoms. According to a study, 100 nurses suffering from PMS reported a significant decrease in PMS symptoms when they replaced four servings of refined grains in their daily diets with whole grains.

Cut Back on Sugar

While eating a bowl full of ice cream during your periods might sound comforting, it is one of the worst things you can do to your body. High consumption of sugar, caffeine and some other food items can trigger hormonal imbalances. Therefore, to balance your hormones naturally, you must reduce sugar consumption.

A systematic review in 2019 found that skipping meals, high sugar consumption, and weight loss diets have a significant role in causing more menstrual pain. Keeping your blood sugar levels steady throughout the day is the key to balancing hormones. For that, you will have to eat regular and balanced meals as well as cut back on sugar.

Reduce Stress

Stress is inevitable in women’s life. However, many women are unfamiliar with the fact that chronic stress can result in hormonal imbalances and painful periods. Dealing with menstrual pain, mood swings, and other PMS symptoms adds more stress to a woman’s life. Therefore, if you want to balance your hormones naturally, you must try to eliminate stress, as it is often the root cause behind hormonal imbalances during periods. 

A prolonged period of stress can increase a woman’s cortisol and adrenaline levels, resulting in a hormonal imbalance. Now, you must be wondering how to naturally eliminate stress in your life. It might not be realistic to eliminate all sources of stress, but you can do a lot to take control of your life, such as:

• Get 8 hours of sleep every night
• Participate in stress-busting activities
• Go for a daily walk or spend time outdoors
• Spend time with your loved ones

Drink Herbal Teas

Nature has a solution for every problem woman faces, including hormonal imbalance during periods. Even if medical science has progressed a lot, still the importance of herbal medicine cannot be denied. In recent times, herbal teas have become immensely popular among women for all the right reasons. Not only do they help them calm their period cramps, but they also resolve their period and fertility-related problems.

The benefits of herbal teas do not end here. There are a few types of herbal teas that can help balance your hormones and resolve your period regularities, such as:

Ashwagandha Tea

Ashwagandha is an immensely popular herbal medicine because of the tons of benefits that it provides. It acts as a natural adaptogen and helps your body cope with stress better. The lower the stress levels, the lower the chances of hormonal imbalances.

According to a study, 60 adults who took ashwagandha extract twice a day for 8 weeks resulted in less stress, better sleep, and lower blood cortisol levels than others. Also, another study observed similar results. However, for ashwagandha to work properly, you must use premium-quality ashwagandha extract.

If you are unable to find it online, check Mother Cuppa Tea - a reliable brand of 100% natural and organic tea blends. Our energise tea blend is formulated using premium quality ashwagandha, beetroot, and schizandra extract to help women balance their hormones and boost energy levels during periods.

Cinnamon Tea

Another great herbal tea for balancing hormones is cinnamon tea. It works wonderfully in reducing your increased blood sugar and insulin levels which is a root cause for triggering hormonal imbalance during periods. According to a clinical trial, the consistent use of cinnamon for forty days lowered the blood sugar levels in diabetic patients. Also, it is quite effective for losing weight and regulating the period.

If you are looking for a natural cinnamon tea blend, try Mother’s Cuppa Tea’s Relax Tea Blend. It has 17% cinnamon and many other effective ingredients, such as Quinoa, Oats, and Lavender, to reduce stress, and promote better sleep, resulting in balanced hormones.