Hormones are chemicals that are released by a cell, gland or organ in our body and they virtually control everything we do. The work that hormones do is very subtle and all of them work together like musical instruments in an orchestra.

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When your hormones are out of balance, you will feel negative effects – emotionally and physically.

What Causes Hormonal Imbalance?

Women are more pre-disposed to hormonal imbalance than men. These are the main causes of hormonal imbalance:

• Menopause
• Diabetes
• Pregnancy
• Birth-control pills
• Medication
• Lack of sleep
• Lack of exercise
• Poor diet.

What Are The Symptoms Of Hormonal Imbalance?

When your hormones are out of whack, you don’t feel good. Watch out for the following symptoms:

• Irregular and heavy menstrual bleeding
• Extreme changes in mood or depression
• Anxiety
• Loss of appetite
• Insomnia
• Inability to focus
• Weight gain
• Reduced sex drive
• Hot flushes and night sweats.

What Happens When These Hormones Are Not Balanced?

Oestrogen

Oestrogen is produced in the ovaries. When you are overweight, fat cells produce hormones that increase oestrogen levels. Oestrogen levels decrease during menopause.


Testosterone

Testosterone is produced in the ovaries. During menopause, testosterone levels will drop. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) increases testosterone levels leading to irregular periods and possible male pattern baldness.

Melatonin

Melatonin is produced by the pineal gland in the brain. Melatonin is responsible for the body’s circadian rhythm, regulating sleep and wakefulness. A decrease in melatonin will affect your sleep and cause depression.

Ghrelin And Leptin

These two hormones control our appetite and hunger. When ghrelin levels are high, they increase our appetite and we feel hungry, easily. Leptin causes the body to be satiated: the feeling of being full and not hungry. Sleeping less than five hours per night will increase ghrelin levels and reduce leptin.

Thyroid

Thyroid regulates the body’s metabolism and controls how fast or slow we burn calories. Hypothyroidism happens when thyroid levels are low. This causes weight gain, fatigue and depression. On the other hand, hyperthyroidism occurs when thyroid levels are high. This causes heart palpitations, sweating, anxiety and, sometimes, diarrhea.

Aldosterone

Aldosterone is produced by the adrenal gland. It regulates the body’s sodium-potassium-water ratio in the kidneys, which affects the blood volume and, ultimately, controls blood pressure.

Cortisol

Cortisol is produced by the adrenal gland. Cortisol is produced when the body is under stress. Chronic stress keeps cortisol levels high. This suppresses our immune system and causes the accumulation of abdominal fats.

Growth Hormone

Growth hormones are produced in the pituitary gland in the brain. The pituitary gland is the master gland, as the growth hormone stimulates other glands to produce their own hormones. Growth hormone secretion decreases with age: this affects the repair, regeneration of cells and, ultimately, the vitality of the body.

As you can see, hormones function and interact with each other to contribute collectively to our health. When one is not functioning optimally, it has an impact on the other parts of the body.

In Part 2, I will cover tips on how to balance your hormones.

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