What Supplements Help Hormone Imbalance?
7th Jan 2024
Supplements to Correct Hormonal Imbalance
Looking to help balance your hormones, such as increase your sex hormones, reproductive hormones, estradiol and overall, improve your autoimmune system? Are you going through menopause or have menopausal-like symptoms? Or are you someone who is looking for supplements that won’t affect moderate post-SSRI sexual dysfunction and PCOS?
This article goes over hormones and the scientific research behind supplements that may help correct hormonal imbalances, touching on topics such as:
- What are Hormones?
- Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalances
- Vitamins and Minerals to Balance Hormones
- Supplements to Balance Hormones
- Xandro Lab Supplements to Help Correct Hormonal Imbalance
Hormones are chemical messengers in our bodies that help our cells communicate and trigger various actions. They’re needed in most systems in our bodies, including the endocrine system, which regulates growth, reproduction, metabolism, temperature and mood.
Having a hormonal imbalance can have serious effects on your body, as your hormones and endocrine system keep the body in a balanced state of homeostasis, where our bodies maintain stability while adjusting to changes to survive.
Changes to our hormones can cause conditions like oxidative stress, infertility and endocrine disorders like thyroid disease. Women go through hormonal changes throughout stages in their life, mainly through puberty, pregnancy and menopause, while men, while still going through changes, like during puberty, experience these at a less noticeable rate.
Some symptoms include
- PMS
- Irregular menstrual cycles
- Hot flashes and vaginal dryness
- Infertility
- Urinary tract infections
- Weight gain or loss
- Altered sex drive
- Skin conditions (allergies, severe dryness, or oiliness)
- Fatigue
- Water retention
- Facial hair growth
- Sleep issues
- Reliance on caffeine, sugar, or carbohydrate to get through the day
- Poor memory or concentration
- Mood problems (irritability, depression, or anxiety)
- Appetite changes
- Enlarged or tender breasts
- Aches and pains
Make sure to speak with your doctor and get a blood test to check for any deficiencies. If you’re experiencing noticeable changes in your body, you may be deficient in these vitamins:
Vitamin D
Vitamin D plays an important role in controlling the production and use of estrogen — making it one of the best vitamins to balance female hormones — and progesterone, while also helping regulate insulin and blood sugar levels.
It’s known for its ability to help manage thyroid diseases, making it a key player in hormonal balance, particularly for women. Maintaining adequate levels of vitamin D is essential, as low levels have also been linked with the development of conditions like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).
B vitamins
Vitamin B12 is essential for boosting energy, improving brain function and influencing the thyroid gland.
B6 contributes to the well-being of the nervous and immune systems and it may alleviate PMS symptoms such as mood swings, also playing a role in melatonin formation.
Vitamin B5 is involved in the production of certain steroid hormones, while B2 helps regulate thyroid hormones.
Vitamin B9, on the other hand, is known for its ability to increase progesterone levels in individuals who menstruate, helping in the normalisation of irregular periods and promoting monthly ovulation.
Iodine
Iodine is essential for the creation of thyroid hormones, which play a crucial role in regulating body processes like metabolism, heart rate and body temperature.
Zinc
A shortage of zinc can disrupt growth and reproduction, and contribute to the onset of certain endocrine diseases. It’s also crucial for producing thyroid hormones and plays a role in their distribution throughout the body, even though the exact nature of their connection is not fully understood.
Zinc is also involved in insulin regulation and supplementing with zinc may be beneficial for individuals looking to enhance blood sugar control.
DHEA
While further research is required, DHEA, a steroid hormone that can be converted into both testosterone and estrogen. It is known for its ability to lower cortisol levels and there is potential for its use in addressing hormone imbalances during menopause and other conditions, such as improving lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega 3s may help improve cell function and impact hormone production, while also help improve insulin resistance and lipid profiles in those with PCOS.
Nigella Seeds
Also known as fennel flower, black seed or black cumin seed, these seeds are rich in antioxidants and contain thymoquinone, a plant compound with medicinal properties. Researchers are currently studying their potential protective and therapeutic effects for individuals with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a condition characterised by abnormal hormone levels among other symptoms in people of reproductive age.
Early animal studies suggest that these seeds may play a role in regulating insulin, testosterone, luteinising hormone and thyroid levels, while also having estrogen-like effects in the body. Some studies are even exploring the possibility of using nigella seed extracts as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy during menopause, showing their potential as one of the best supplements for balancing female hormones.
Black Cohosh Root
Black cohosh is a herbal supplement commonly taken to address women's health issues, including menstrual irregularities, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and menopause symptoms like hot flashes. The potential benefits may be linked to the content of triterpene glycosides, although the exact quantity in market-available supplements is uncertain. Black cohosh is also believed to act as a phytoestrogen, mimicking estrogen's effects when consumed in larger amounts.
It's important to note that more human studies are needed to fully understand its effects, so individuals considering black cohosh should consult with a doctor beforehand due to reports of severe side effects.
Chasteberry
Chasteberries, though requiring more human studies for conclusive evidence, are believed to be beneficial due to their diterpenoid compounds. These compounds may contribute to lowering prolactin levels in the blood, potentially helping in the management of PMS.
Chasteberries are also thought to offer relief from menopausal symptoms and address concerns related to infertility and PCOS. They may also help increase progesterone levels and reduce the secretion of prolactin.
Marjoram
Marjoram, commonly used in traditional medicine, is rich in compounds such as flavonoids and phenolic acids, known for their medicinal properties. Studies suggest that marjoram may offer benefits to humans by helping to reduce stress and potentially assisting individuals with PCOS.
There is also evidence indicating its potential to lower fasting insulin hormone levels. While more research is needed to fully understand its effects, marjoram holds promise as a natural remedy with potential health benefits.
Licorice Root
Licorice root shows promise in addressing hormone imbalances and alleviating the symptoms of menopause. It is regarded by some researchers as a Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator ( SERM), a category of hormone therapy. It’s often used topically in creams to mitigate symptoms of menopause, specifically in reducing vaginal pH.
POM-Q10
Pomegranate supplements have been traditionally used in Persian medicine to relieve menopausal symptoms.
A 4-week study found that treatment with these supplements significantly reduced various menopausal symptoms, even for those who stopped taking menopausal medicine during the trial. This includes improvements in sweating, hot flashes, insomnia and other symptoms like nervousness, melancholia, vertigo, fatigue, headaches, formication, sexual complaints and urinary tract infections. The research also suggests that pomegranate supplements may enhance the vasomotor, psychological, physical and sexual aspects of menopause-related quality of life.
Xandro Lab's POM-Q10 combines pomegranate fruit extract, amla fruit extract and CoQ10. Find out more about it here.
Magnesium Glycinate
Magnesium plays a crucial role in the production and release of thyroid hormones, and as we age, our magnesium levels tend to decrease, leading to disruptions in thyroid hormone utilisation.
For individuals with PCOS, low blood magnesium levels have been associated with insulin resistance and increased testosterone. During stressful times, taking magnesium is recommended, as stress has been linked to decreased magnesium levels, creating a potentially harmful cycle.
Magnesium glycinate is a recommended form of magnesium to take as it’s one of the most bioavailable and doesn’t have laxative effects like other forms. Try out Xandro Lab’s Magnesium Glycinate today!
Ashwagandha
Certain herbs can impact hormone levels in the body and one notable example is Ashwagandha, an adaptogen known to aid in stress, sleep and anxiety by moderating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This axis produces various hormones, including cortisol, which responds to stress and plays a role in disorders like Addison’s disease when imbalanced.
Ashwagandha may also affect other hormones, like altering insulin levels, sex hormones and reproductive hormones, with one study showing 600mg of ashwagandha extract daily may improve thyroid-stimulating levels.
A study in overweight men found that ashwagandha extract supplementation led to an increase in DHEA and testosterone, meaning it’s one of the supplements to balance hormones and lose weight.
Ashwagandha has also shown the ability to reduce morning cortisol levels and stress responses. It may be one of the supplements to balance hormones perimenopause-wise as it may help balance hormones, as seen in increased estradiol levels and a decrease in menopausal symptoms in one study.
Make sure to try out Xandro Lab’s Shoden® Ashwagandha, a clinically proven and patented form of this herb. However, before incorporating herbal remedies for hormone balance, it's essential to consult with a doctor to ensure safety and suitability for individual health.
End Note
If you find yourself asking, ‘How can I naturally fix my hormone imbalance?’ other than talking with your doctor to see if any of the supplements above are right for you, you can also drink green tea for potential insulin balance, get enough sleep and avoid endocrine disruptors like tobacco smoke, herbicides, pesticides, plastics, flame retardants and fragrances in lotions and cleaning supplies.
Our hormone levels are always changing and they fluctuate for numerous reasons. Long-term hormonal imbalances, however, may affect your health, so make sure you talk with your medical professional to determine your next steps.
Remember, no single supplement can fix all your health concerns on its own.
Learn more about your body and which compounds, vitamins and nutrients can help you in various areas.