Wondering if your hormones are imbalanced? Here are some signs of a hormone imbalance, potential causes of hormonal imbalance and 6 natural ways you can balance and support your hormones.

What are some potential signs of a hormonal imbalance?
If you suspect you may have a hormonal imbalance, speak to your GP for more information. You know your body best so if something doesn't feel right, then that's a sign in itself! Here are some potential hormonal imbalance symptoms & signs:

• Weight gain or loss
• Abnormal hair growth or hair loss
• Irregular menstrual cycle
• Mood swings
• Low libido
• Hot flashes or night sweats

What causes a hormonal imbalance?
Your endocrine system is so complex! Mentioned earlier, your hormones all work together so there's no single cause of a hormone imbalance. They fluctuate and affect each other. However, there are some key factors that are known to contribute to a hormone imbalance. They include:

• Chronic stress
• Poor sleep
• Lack of or excess exercise
• Poor diet
• Diabetes
• Menopause
• PCOS
• Eating disorders

How can you naturally balance & support your hormones?

1. Look after your gut health
We mention it over and over again because it's so important. Your gut does more than just digest food. It also helps regulate hormones by balancing insulin resistance and feelings of fullness. Good gut health can positively impact our mood, cognitive function, sleeping patterns and metabolism. Some ways to look after your gut health can include incorporating more fibre into your diet, taking a daily pre-and-probiotic (we love these gummies) and introducing gut friendly powders into your diet. We highly recommend the Supercharged Love Your Gut Powder and Golden Grind Gut Health Blend.

2. Eat more healthy fats & protein
Eating adequate protein is so extremely important, especially to balance your hormones. Protein contains amino acids that are essential & can't be naturally produced in your body. Consuming enough protein ensures your hormones are controlled better when released. This can lead to a healthier appetite and decrease over eating! If you struggle to eat enough protein, or are a vegetarian/vegan, consider adding a protein powder to your diet (like this delish Tropeaka Vanilla Protein) or snacking on these beauty bites that are high in protein and collagen!

3. Regulate your nervous system & stress less
There's no surprises here! Another sign to stress less (we know, it's easier said than done!). Take a few minutes out of your day to meditate or do yoga as a way of regulating your nervous system. You can also get out into nature and soak in the sun, or socialise with your favourite people. By bringing your stress levels down, you bring down your cortisol levels that affect ovulation and your hormones. De-stressing does wonders for your mind, body and hormones.

4. Balance your vitamins & minerals
In a perfect world, we'd get all of our nutrients from food, water & the sun. Hello perfectly healthy bodies and well-balanced hormones! Unfortunately, the reality is that sometimes we need a little extra help. Some vitamins & supplements that may help to keep your overall health and hormone levels in balance include:

• A daily multivitamin
• Omega-3 fatty acids (aka fish oil)
• Vitamin D
• Magnesium
• Vitamin B

5. Use less endocrine disruptors
There are certain chemicals found in everyday products that can impact your hormones - and not in a good way! They're known as 'endocrine disruptors' because they - as the name says - disrupt your endocrine system and hormones, creating potentially significant health risks! The most common endocrine disruptors include BPA found in plastic products & packaging, phthalates that are also found in plastic products & cosmetics, and triclosan that is found in hand soaps, body wash and cosmetics.You can read the full list of 'Dirty Dozen' disruptors here. Some easy ways to limit your exposure can include:

• Swapping plastic containers for glass alternatives
• Choosing not to use a plastic lid for hot drinks (try a reusable cup!)
• Using organic and natural skincare & makeup
• Sticking to natural materials for your clothes & sheets

6. Get consistent, high quality sleep
You can have the healthiest diet, exercise daily and tick all the boxes, but if you don't get enough sleep then all of your hard work was for nothing. Poor sleep is linked to imbalances in many hormones & can increase your cortisol levels that may lead to insulin resistance. It can also decrease your oestrogen and disrupt the release of your growth hormone. For optimal hormone balance, aim for at least 7 hours of quality sleep every night. Try using a Manta Sleep Mask for 100% blackout, essential oils for absolutely blissful sleep or one of our fave products for deep sleep.

What's next?
Shop our full range of organic & natural skincare.

Read more about the link between gut health & your skin.

Find out how syncing your beauty routine to your menstrual cycle can do wonders.