6 Signs Your Hormones Could Be Out of Whack

Would you have any idea how to tell if your hormone levels are out of whack? For most women, there are often signs but it’s not always easy to know that they could be linked to your hormones.

Your hormones will fluctuate throughout the month however if levels of certain hormones such as estrogen, progesterone or testosterone go higher or lower than they should, it can have major effects on your wellbeing. Other hormones such as cortisol and DHEA also have a big impact on how you feel.

Hormone tests are the only way to know for sure but these telltale signs could suggest that something isn’t quite right with your hormone health.

You’re Super Tired A Lot Of The Time

Most of us feel tired sometimes but it’s usually just a bit of a blip that you can get past by catching up on sleep and making sure your lifestyle is healthy. If your fatigue is related to your hormones though, it’s likely that you’ll still feel tired - no matter how much you manage to sleep.

Here are a few signs to watch for:

• You’re getting a good night's sleep and eating healthy but you’re still feeling exhausted most or all of the time

• You alternate between extreme fatigue and periods of feeling wired. This could indicate that your stress hormone, cortisol, could be out of whack.

• If you find yourself feeling tired, moody and weak your thyroid could be the culprit for fatigue.

You’re Really Struggling With Anxiety

Excessive stress and anxiety aren’t always strictly a mental health problem. Chronic stress can raise cortisol levels at inappropriate times and this can potentially send the adrenal glands into overdrive. The end result? Anxiety, fatigue and even depression.

Estrogen is another hormone that can trigger feelings of anxiety when levels are less than optimal. Low levels of estrogen may also contribute to anxiety.

Thyroid hormones can also contribute to anxiety, especially if your body isn’t producing enough of them.

You Have PMS

Tend to get PMS symptoms that are off the scale during your menstrual cycle? This can be anything from bloating to major irritability but if it’s on the extreme side, it could be a sign that your estrogen levels aren’t balanced during this phase of your cycle.

More specifically, it’s probably an indication that you’ve got high estrogen levels between ovulation and menstruation. This can be balanced out and leafy greens can be your best friend here. They contain indole-3 carbinol, which can act as a hormone balancer to regulate estrogen levels. Here are a few more ways to help flush out excess estrogen to help minimize your PMS symptoms.

You Can’t Seem To Lose Weight

Finding it a big struggle to lose weight or noticing that you keep gaining weight? Stress can encourage your body to produce more cortisol, which is a big factor in storing fat (especially for storing belly fat).

If you just can’t seem to catch a break when it comes to your weight, even when you’re exercising and eating healthy, it could be a sign that your cortisol levels need to be brought back into balance. Stress management can be a key part of doing this and lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise can also help a lot.

You’ve Noticed Changes To Your Skin And Hair

Does your skin seem to be getting drier lately? Or maybe you’ve noticed that your hair is getting thinner or falling out more? Nutrition and stress can play a part in this but if they’re not the obvious culprits, it may be time to look more closely at your hormone health.