We often hear people say things like "It’s hormonal acne, that's why it won’t go away" or "My period is irregular because of imbalanced hormones hormones", and many other things related to hormones.
But what exactly are hormones? Why does it affect so many parts of our lives?
Hormones are chemicals that are produced by the endocrine system, and then travel through the bloodstream to our bodies’ tissues and organs. Hormones function to control everything in our bodies, from growth, metabolism, and even how our different organ systems work.
There are different kinds of hormones and each has its own functions. All these hormones must be balanced, so as not to mess with how our bodies function. If there is even the slightest disturbance in the hormonal system, it will surely show up in our bodies’ function and health.
Hormone imbalance can be influenced by genetic disorders, age, puberty, lifestyle, drug use, and other things. The above factors affect the body's ability to produce the necessary hormones. Furthermore, signs of hormonal imbalance include excessive pain during menstruation, appearance of hormonal acne, and an irregular menstrual cycle.
Effects of hormonal imbalance
Let's identify some of the things that can occur when we experience a hormonal imbalance...
1. Reproductive & Menstrual System
Yup, you guessed it, hormones also greatly affect your reproductive and menstrual system! If the production of the hormone prolactin is not normal, it will affect the performance of other hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, which function to regulate the menstrual cycle. So don't be surprised if an imbalance can lead to late or missing periods.
2. Metabolism
Hormonal imbalances in the body disturb or slow down your metabolism. Usually disturbances in the body's metabolism are influenced by thyroid hormone levels that are less than optimal. This will make it difficult for the body to convert the food it consumes into energy, so it can lead to accumulation of body fat and weight. This problem can often be found in women who are entering the perimenopause phase, menopause, or are experiencing PCOS.
3. Sleep Quality
Hormonal changes can also affect sleep cycles and quality. In women, menstruation and pregnancy can often make us more prone to sleep disturbances. Lack of rest, of course, will also impact our emotions and concentration. Often when we are sleep deprived, we become more irritable, moody, and absent-minded. Also keep in mind that lack of sleep can have a knock-on effect and disturb the body’s hormonal balance, leading to a viscious cycle.
Read more on the the Ideal Sleeping Position
What to do to keep your hormones balanced?
1. Nutritious Diet
Adopt a nutritious diet and healthy lifestyle. A healthy diet and lifestyle can help improve the hormonal balance in our bodies. Aim to consume at least 20-30 grams of protein in each of your meals, and also avoid excessive sugar and refined carbohydrates. Minimizing the consumption of these foods can optimize hormone function while also preventing you from obesity, diabetes and other diseases.
2. Exercise & Movement
Regular exercise can also affect hormone health. Doing movement and activities such as walking or other physical activities can change hormone levels in the body, while also protecting muscle mass during the aging process.
Please be aware that over-exercising can actually have a bad effect on the body such as fatigue, muscle aches, or back pain.
3. Stress & Mental Health
Stress can cause someone's mental health to deteriorate, and the impact of stress is not confined to your mental health; it can also have an effect on your physical health. Most importantly, stress can impact to your hormones
You have to learn to manage stress well. You can manage stress by practicing meditation and yoga. Maybe you can also take the time to do your hobbies, such as painting, listening to songs, anything that can help you relax and deal with stress.
These are a few things to pay attention to. Remember that hormones play a huge role in our everyday life. So from now on, let's pay more attention to taking care of our body's hormones.
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