Did you know that almost half of women experience hormone imbalance symptoms?
Even if you have the symptoms, it’s hard to know why you have them. There’s no single thing that causes hormonal problems and it can be hard to identify what triggers yours.
But, knowing the culprits shows you what to focus on – and some of them are very surprising!
From foods that cause hormonal imbalance to household items, check out our list to find out what could be behind your problems.
1) Lavender Oils
Lavender oil is probably one of the most surprising causes of hormonal disorders in women. It’s a natural, therapeutic oil, so you just wouldn’t expect it to be harmful.
Unfortunately, it is. A study by NCBI linked the oil to early breast growth in girls, suggesting hormonal effects. It also discovered it could be disrupting two hormones; estrogen and androgen. These can cause hormonal imbalance in women and men.
Further research carried out by the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences tested lavender and tea tree oil on cancer cells. The results showed that the oils are endocrine disruptors – substances that affect normal hormonal function.
If you think lavender (or tea tree!) oil is the cause of your hormone imbalance, steer clear of it. This doesn’t just mean the oil itself, but everything containing it. From laundry detergent to body lotion, stay away from lavender oil!
2) Marijuana
Marijuana is now legal in 11 states in the USA. It does have a lot of health benefits for some, but it can also mess with hormones.
This is because it contains phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens can mimic natural estrogen, creating imbalances in the body. They’re also found in soy-based products, like tofu.
When you smoke marijuana, these phytoestrogens enter your lungs and are pumped directly into your bloodstream. Not much filtering happens once they’re in, which can lead to higher levels of estrogen very quickly.
For estrogen hormone disorders in female patients, we’d highly recommend backing off of marijuana for a while, unless your doctor doesn’t advise it.
3) Herbicides
You’ve probably heard of the herbicide glyphosate, which has been linked to cancer development. But have you heard of Atrazine?
It’s one of the biggest herbicides used in America, but it can be pretty dangerous. In fact, Europe banned it way back in 2004 for its harmful effects – like disrupting hormones.
Atrazine can artificially boost your estrogen levels, which of course causes a hormone imbalance. It’s so strong that it can even chemically castrate frogs! So, if you live in a country that uses Atrazine, go organic. It’s the best way to stop ingesting this harmful chemical.
4) Sunscreen
On a sunny day, putting on sunscreen is a sensible idea. We’re definitely not denying that! But, when it comes to what causes hormonal imbalance, it could be playing a big part.
This is because a lot of sunscreens contain two things; avobenzone and oxybenzone. Both of these are hormone disruptors. A study on oxybenzone even found that when fish eggs were exposed to it, less hatched.
To keep yourself safe, switch to an organic and natural sunscreen. Check out the ingredients; if any of the words have ‘phen’ or ‘benz’ in them it’s probably a good idea to put them back.
5) Alcohol
If you’ve got a hormone imbalance, stay away from alcohol! Although it might be fun having a couple of glasses of wine at a dinner out, alcohol disrupts the glands that produce hormones.
It can affect insulin production, causing temporary hypoglycemia, and reduce your body’s reaction to insulin. It can also disrupt reproductive hormones and the hormones that help regulate calcium – amongst others!
Steer clear of alcohol on nights out for a more hormonally balanced body.
6) Caffeine
Caffeine can wreak havoc on our hormones. It can even disrupt fertility by increasing the levels of cortisol in your body, which have been linked to suppressing ovulation.
It was also found to affect estrogen levels in women. Strangely, it differed depending on race. A study found that in white women, caffeine lowered estrogen levels, whilst Asian women they actually increased. Either way, any disruption in estrogen should be avoided.
It’s not really a surprise that women who are trying to get pregnant – or already are – are told not to consume caffeine. So, switch your coffee to herbal teas and put down the chocolate. No more caffeine for us!
Foods that Cause Hormonal Imbalance
For the last 3 causes of hormonal imbalance in women, let’s take a look at some of the food culprits:
7) Dairy – All dairy products contain hormones, including estrogen and progesterone. This can increase levels in your body and can be particularly damaging for developing girls.
8) Flax seeds – They may be very healthy, but they contain a huge amount of phytoestrogens.
9) Sugary foods – Foods high in sugar really affect hormones, making the body release too much insulin. Over time, a heavy sugar diet makes the body resistant to insulin.
Stay Hormone Happy
Our bodies are so finely balanced when it comes to hormones. But as you can see, many household foods can cause hormonal imbalance.
To make sure you’re not affected, take a look at the symptoms of hormonal imbalance. If you think your body might be affected, it’s time to take action.
Our team at Revital are experts at dealing with hormone imbalances. Book a free consultation to discuss your problems and we’ll help you fix them.