Hormone Imbalances- How They Affect Sugar Cravings

More people have hormone imbalances than are diagnosed.   Americans are walking around tired, overweight, fatigued,  depressed, and have infertility, insomnia, low libido, mood swings, irritability, extreme PMS,  skin issues, acne, thinning hair and digestive issues, just to name a few.  Most go untreated for hormone issues, because they think that what they are experiencing is “normal”.  These symptoms may be common, but they are far from normal.  The above are all symptoms of having one or more hormones out of balance.

Hormones, such as thyroid, estrogen, testosterone, adrenals, insulin, pituitary and pancreas are all part of the endocrine system that work together to control the levels of hormones that circulate throughout the body.  If even one is slightly askew, it can cause major health problems.

Synthetic treatments mask the symptoms without solving them, and can make people dependent on prescription drugs, not to mention laying the groundwork for developing other diseases such as depression, osteoporosis, stroke, infertility, and cancer.

There are ways to balance hormones through natural methods, but first it is important to find out exactly what hormone imbalance you have.  The best way to discover this is to see a functional doctor that gives you an overall blood panel and nutrient profile to determine what exactly is going on in your body.   If you need help finding a function practitioner in your area  see the following website:  re-findhealth.com.

The following lists some of the health issues associated with the most common hormonal imbalances:  (Taken from https://draxe.com/10-ways-balance-hormones-naturally/). All claim to have sugar cravings caused by the hormone imbalance...thus causing weight gain and weight loss.

  • Estrogen dominance:  changes in sleep patterns, changes in weight and appetite, higher perceived stress, slowed metabolism
  • Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS):  infertility, weight gain, higher risk for diabetes, acne, abnormal hair growth
  • Low estrogen:  low sex drive, reproductive problems, menstrual irregularity, changes in mood
  • Low testosterone:  erectile dysfunction, muscle loss, weight gain, fatigue, mood-related problems
  • Hyperthyroidism & Grave’s Disease:  anxiety, thinning hair, weight loss, IBS, trouble sleeping, irregular heartbeats
  • Diabetes:  weight gain, nerve damage (neuropathy), higher risk for vision loss, fatigue, trouble breathing, dry mouth, skin problems
  • Adrenal fatigue:  fatigue, muscle aches and pains, anxiety and depression, trouble sleeping, brain fog, reproductive problems

Hormonal imbalances can be caused by a combination of factors such as diet, genetics, stress, toxins, gut health, as well as sleep, and even emotional upheaval.  So, let’s look at what can be done about these imbalances.

Balancing  Hormones Naturally

  • Eat a balanced diet of fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, fish, and some quality meats.  Limit caffeine and alcohol.  Balance Omega 3 and Omega 6 fats.
  • Eliminate toxins
  • Regular exercise – at least 3 days of 30 minute moderate exercise
  • Regulate stress and sleep
  • Consider adding adaptogen herbs to help balance hormones.  Adaptogen herbs, such as ashwagandha, astragulus, maca, Asian ginseng, Dong quai, and rhodiola help balance hormones depending on what is your particular imbalance.