Women’s hormonal health is influenced by many factors including their genetics, but more significantly, lifestyle and environmental factors – especially in today’s modern world. The women of today face more issues than women in previous generations due to the impact of our busy lifestyle and environmental toxins. These are some of the ways women can sabotage their hormonal health:

Stress - chronic stress leads to increased stress hormones like cortisol. This can affect all the other hormones including sex hormones. For example, there is something known as “Progesterone steal” where, during times of stress, more cortisol is made in favour of progesterone (from the precursor, pregnenolone). The body is trying to survive, do the right thing, by making more cortisol as part of the stress response – in times of stress, periods and fertility are not important – hence, women suffer from the effects of relatively low progesterone, such as fertility issues, PMS and menopausal symptoms like insomnia. Cortisol also affects thyroid hormones and indeed, hypothyroidism and Hashimotos thyroiditis (autoimmune) are becoming increasingly common.

Sleep  - disrupted sleep affects everything! It affects the metabolic hormones, thyroid hormones, neurotransmitters and sex hormones. There is a reason why one third of our lives is meant to be for sleep! A lot happens when we sleep, including hormonal balancing (reducing cortisol), regulation of appetite/hunger hormones, detoxification. In the same way there is a lymphatic system in the body to drain all the toxins, there is a glymphatic system in the brain, that is activated during sleep; if we miss out on sleep, we will not detox properly. No amount of detox diets, protocols and supplements can replace sleep!

Nutrition – diets high in refined carbs and sugar and unhealthy fats, as well as lower consumption of fresh produce like vegetables, fruit and healthy wholegrains can all have a negative impact on hormonal health.

An unbalanced diet can lead to insulin resistance, which is also part of PCOS and weight gain. An increase in inflammatory foods like sugary or fried foods also increases overall inflammation in the body that can affect all the hormone systems, Indeed, inflammation is a key driver in most of the chronic illness we are seeing today. Very low-calorie diets can also adversely affect hormones, especially if coupled with too much exercising; the body can go in survival mode and reduce metabolism and thyroid function.

Alcohol – yes, alcohol! Women are consuming more alcohol than ever- often as a habit, to counteract stress and as part of work social evenings. Although it is said that ten units is the maximum, research shows that even more moderate amounts can be detrimental. There are many adverse effects of alcohol including contributing to liver inflammation, leaky gut, weight issues and of course, the link with cancers, especially breast cancer. As long as there is alcohol in the body, it will use alcohol as fuel and not fat, hence can sabotage any attempts for weight loss.

Exercise – being physically inactive also affects hormonal health through insulin resistance and weight gain. Indeed, studies have shown that regular exercise can improve oestrogen metabolite ratios, helping to improve hormonal balance and reduce the amount of unhealthy metabolites that could potentially lead to cancer.

On the other hand, excessive exercise is also not good- this is commonly seen when women are trying to do the right thing and lose weight – but too much exercise is also too much stress to the body and hence is counterproductive. As with anything, it’s about balance.

Environmental toxins – there are many endocrine disrupting chemicals in common products like cosmetics, skin care, tap water and plastic water bottles. It is important to be aware of what we are consuming and using in day-to-day life. It doesn’t sound like much, but we are exposed to so many chemicals from our environment, that together, they have a synergistic effect and more toxic together. Any steps you can take to reduce environmental exposure would be beneficial – start simple, for example changing over to skin care/cosmetic products that are more natural, organic and also specifically say, “no phthalates, parabens, SLS etc” .

Hormone medications – the pill is a common medication given for contraception, as well as for heavy or painful periods and endometriosis. Although, it can relive symptoms, in the long term, they can worsen the hormonal imbalance. They have also been shown to affect the gut microbiome and contribute to nutritional deficiencies.

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It is important you consult with a qualified medical practitioner before taking any supplements as they can advise what is right for you.