Feeling off? Low energy<\/a>, mood swings, weight gain, or skin issues\u2014it could be your hormones. Maybe you\u2019re dealing with PMS symptoms, you\u2019ve been diagnosed with a hormonal condition like PCOS<\/a>, or you\u2019re transitioning off birth control and want to heal your body in a natural, sustainable way. Wherever you are in your journey, welcome. You\u2019re in the right place.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s the truth: We\u2019ve been conditioned to believe that mood swings, painful cramps, breakouts, and intense cravings are just part of being a woman. But these symptoms aren\u2019t normal\u2014they\u2019re signals. Subtle (and not-so-subtle) signs that your hormones may be out of balance. The empowering news? You don\u2019t have to live with them. Balanced hormones are your birthright, and with the right tools and a holistic approach, they\u2019re within reach.<\/p>\n Ahead, we\u2019re breaking down what causes hormonal imbalances\u2014and how to start bringing your body back into balance, naturally.<\/p>\n Between puberty and menopause, a woman\u2019s body moves through a continuous rhythm of hormonal shifts. This intricate cycle\u2014the menstrual cycle\u2014is so foundational to our well-being that some experts refer to it as the fifth vital sign<\/a> (right up there with heart rate, temperature, and blood pressure).<\/p>\n A healthy cycle typically spans 25\u201332 days, with menstruation lasting around five. But cycle length can vary based on age, lifestyle, and health. The key isn\u2019t perfection\u2014it\u2019s understanding what\u2019s normal for you. The more you tune into your cycle, the better equipped you are to support it through food, movement, and lifestyle.<\/p>\n Your cycle is more than just your period. It unfolds across four distinct phases: menstrual, follicular, ovulatory, and luteal. Each brings unique hormonal shifts\u2014and opportunities to care for your body accordingly. When you sync your habits (from what you eat to how you move) with each phase, you create space for balance, energy, and ease.<\/p>\n Your period marks the first phase of your cycle. Estrogen and progesterone drop, prompting the uterus to shed its lining. This is a time for rest, renewal, and replenishment. Focus on iron-rich and anti-inflammatory foods<\/a> like grass-fed beef, leafy greens, avocado, ginger, and dark chocolate.<\/p>\n Your brain releases follicle-stimulating hormone<\/a> (FSH), signaling the ovaries to develop follicles\u2014each containing an immature egg. Estrogen begins to rise, and energy often follows suit. Support this phase with fiber- and nutrient-rich foods like legumes, nuts, eggs, fatty fish, and green veggies.<\/p>\n As estrogen peaks, it triggers a surge in luteinizing hormone<\/a> (LH), prompting the ovary to release a mature egg. Ovulation lasts just 24 hours, but its effects can be powerful. You might notice a spike in libido, energy, and cervical mucus.<\/p>\n Foods to focus on during ovulation include asparagus, Brussels sprouts, chard, dandelion greens, cilantro, and spinach. Antioxidant-rich fruits, such as raspberries, strawberries, and coconut help support further detoxification of rising hormones in the liver.<\/p>\n The ruptured follicle becomes the corpus luteum<\/a>, which secretes progesterone to prep the uterus for pregnancy. If fertilization doesn\u2019t occur, hormone levels drop\u2014and menstruation begins again.<\/p>\n This is a phase of inward focus and (sometimes) PMS symptoms. To support hormone metabolism and keep blood sugar steady, prioritize complex carbs, lean protein, and magnesium-rich veggies like squash, cauliflower, and spinach.<\/p>\n Hormonal imbalances can feel confusing\u2014and frustrating. The truth is, your hormones respond to many factors, both internal and external. Understanding what can throw them off is the first step in learning how to bring them back into balance.<\/p>\n This is not an exhaustive list of reasons why a menstrual cycle can be irregular. If you sense your period is irregular (short, long, non-existent, or you spot between cycles, please reach out to your healthcare provider, or <\/em>let\u2019s work together<\/a><\/em><\/strong>!).<\/em><\/p>\n Hormonal imbalances can manifest in a variety of ways\u2014some subtle, some impossible to ignore. These symptoms are your body\u2019s way of signaling that something is off. The good news? Once you recognize the signs, you can start taking steps to restore balance.<\/p>\n Here are some of the most common symptoms of hormonal imbalance:<\/p>\n These symptoms aren\u2019t just \u201cpart of being a woman.\u201d They\u2019re information. And they\u2019re your invitation to get curious, dig deeper, and begin the work of supporting your body.<\/p>\n As you can imagine, this varies. However, research shows that by taking a holistic, well-rounded approach, you can balance your hormones in less than four months<\/a>. In fact, you can significantly reduce the amount of chemicals and pesticides in your body in one week<\/a>. How? By switching to an organic diet<\/a>. And in less than 10 days, you can improve your blood sugar<\/a> by eating less sugar (a main culprit in estrogen dominance). <\/p>\n By incorporating more fermented foods and a potent probiotic, women can more easily detox estrogen\u2014which helps balance hormones\u2014in less than two months. By four months, eating a hormonally-supportive diet<\/a> makes an impact, slowing the aging process and protecting fertility.<\/p>\n Ultimately, consistency and commitment are key. The lifestyle changes to balance your hormones is all-encompassing. Here are the Cliffs Notes: Focus on an anti-inflammatory, nutrient-dense diet, remove endocrine disruptors, incorporate stress relief habits, and take the necessary steps to get your gut health<\/a> on track. Finding a balance with exercise is important, too. If you\u2019re feeling overwhelmed, start small. Begin with daily meditation practice. Next week, take a stab at a 3-day hormone-balancing meal plan<\/a>. One step at a time.<\/p>\n You read that right. Not consuming enough calories (particularly if you are very active) can wreak havoc on your hormones. As women, we need substantial carbs, protein<\/a>, and healthy fats to fuel our busy lifestyles and <\/em>our hormones. For that matter, I don\u2019t recommend going keto<\/a>. Particularly if your menstrual cycle is absent, consider if you\u2019re eating too low-carb. Research shows that maintaining adequate carbs<\/a> in your diet will take some pressure off your adrenal glands, encourage sex hormone production, and promote restoration of your period.<\/p>\n When gut health isn\u2019t optimal, hormones become imbalanced. For example, there is new research<\/a> showing that\u00a0the microbiome plays a significant role in estrogen regulation<\/a>. These studies indicate that poor gut health increases the risk of estrogen-related diseases such as PCOS, endometriosis, and even breast cancer. <\/p>\n Incorporating a variety of fermented foods (sauerkraut, kimchi, tempeh, etc.) as well as taking a probiotic<\/a> can help balance hormones. Furthermore, make sure you\u2019re getting enough fiber. Fiber is essential for good gut health and is associated with improvements in insulin sensitivity and the hormones that control hunger and fullness.<\/p>\n Taking a high-quality vitamin B-complex supplement can help when you\u2019re in the throes of hormonal ups and downs. This is one group of vitamins that you might want to supplement with in addition to eating foods high in these vitamins. Vitamin B-complex is involved in\u00a0both the production of testosterone and the regulation of energy production in the body. There are nine B vitamins<\/a> in total, and certain foods contain specific B vitamins. <\/p>\n For example, wild-caught salmon is an excellent source of many B vitamins. Leafy greens, like spinach, kale, collard greens, and even romaine lettuce contain B9\u2014also known as folate. Other foods with notable amounts of B vitamins are eggs, sunflower seeds, milk, yogurt, and animal protein. Vitamin D is essential, too. In fact, numerous studies<\/a> show its importance for mitigating symptoms of PCOS. <\/p>\n Caveat\u2014make sure it\u2019s movement you enjoy! As you begin to tap into how to balance your hormones, naturally, consider your current exercise routine. Do you need some inspiration<\/a>? Or are you possibly exercising too much? A happy medium is where it\u2019s at. The more you learn about your cycle, the more you\u2019ll switch up your exercise routine to sync with your cycle<\/a>.<\/p>\n No surprise here. Stress<\/a> causes your body to go into fight or flight mode\u2014it\u2019s just the way we\u2019re wired. And when we\u2019re stressed, cortisol rises. In turn, elevated cortisol affects your hormones, including ovulation. Chronic stress can lead to late (or completely stopped) periods. From stress-relieving yoga poses<\/a> to stress-reducing teas<\/a>, there are a variety of ways to bring more om <\/em>into your life. Making time to de-stress does wonders for your mind, body, and hormones. <\/p>\n We love all-things clean beauty. From moisturizers<\/a> to mascaras<\/a>, we\u2019ve tried \u2019em all. When it comes to skincare and makeup products, clean is keen. On a daily basis, we are exposed to so many chemicals, and as women, we are particularly targeted. Chemicals are found in our beauty and personal care products\u2014which we use, every day. In fact, women use an average of\u00a012 personal care products<\/a>, daily, that contain 168 different chemicals.<\/p>\n Although an individual beauty product may have small amounts of harmful chemicals, our overall exposure (and the combination of different chemicals) is what causes problems. More research is showing that the chemicals in these products can affect\u00a0our hormones<\/a>, fertility, and the\u00a0health of our babies<\/a>. Thankfully, clean beauty brands<\/a> are a dime a dozen.<\/p>\n For your body and <\/em>the environment. Studies show<\/a> that plastics contain (and leach) hazardous chemicals, including endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). EDCs disturb the body\u2019s hormone systems and can cause cancer, diabetes, reproductive disorders, and neurological impairments of developing fetuses and children. The report describes a wealth of evidence supporting direct cause-and-effect links between the toxic chemical additives in plastics and specific health impacts to the endocrine system. Swap your plastic Tupperware for glass<\/a>!<\/p>\n Like your skincare, choosing non-toxic cleaning products is essential for a happy home, body, and mind. When it comes time to detox your home<\/a>, take inventory of your cleaning products. Where do they fall in the EWG\u2019s rank<\/a>? In essence, using primarily non-toxic cleaning products can reduce the burden on your liver<\/a>, allowing it to process your hormones more effectively. Supporting the liver is an important step in balancing hormones and improving health. <\/p>\n Speaking of detoxing your home, take your shoes off! Leave them at the door. There are heavy metals and other elements you pick up on your shoes that you do not want in your house.<\/p>\n While eating enough is important, so is the quality of the food you\u2019re consuming. Removing (or limiting) high-sugar, inflammatory foods is very beneficial for balancing hormones. In terms of which foods to ditch, see here<\/a>. In essence, these are foods like high-fructose corn syrup, artificial sugars, industrial seed oils, and soda. The focus here is to \u201ccrowd out\u201d unhealthy foods to make more room on your plate for nutrient-dense, hormone-balancing foods. <\/p>\n And if you\u2019re wondering about coffee, the research is still limited<\/a>. Consuming more than two cups of coffee may impact estrogen levels, but the jury\u2019s still out. When it comes to consuming caffeine, it\u2019s best to drink it on a full stomach (have your breakfast, first!) and be mindful of what you\u2019re putting in your mug. <\/p>\n No matter how nutritious your diet\u2014or how consistent your exercise routine\u2014getting enough restorative sleep is crucial for optimal health. You can\u2019t balance your hormones, naturally, without good sleep! Poor sleep<\/a> is linked to imbalances in many hormones, including insulin and cortisol. For instance, not only does\u00a0sleep deprivation<\/a>\u00a0impair insulin sensitivity, but poor sleep is associated with a 24-hour increase in cortisol levels, which can lead to a decrease in estrogen. To maintain optimal hormonal balance, aim for at least 7 hours of high-quality\u00a0sleep per night<\/a>.<\/p>\n Focus on anti-inflammatory, nutrient-dense foods that support your gut and blood sugar. Think:<\/p>\n While every body is different, many women notice improvements within 1\u20134 months.<\/p>\n Your body is always communicating with you. Common symptoms of hormonal imbalance include:<\/p>\n If you\u2019re noticing persistent symptoms\u2014especially irregular cycles, fatigue, skin issues, or mood changes\u2014it\u2019s worth checking in with your healthcare provider. Functional hormone testing (like DUTCH<\/a> or blood panels) can offer valuable insight and help guide your healing plan.<\/p>\n
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<\/figure>\nThe Fifth Vital Sign<\/h2>\n
The Four Phases of the Menstrual Cycle<\/h2>\n
Menstrual Phase<\/h3>\n
Follicular Phase<\/h3>\n
Ovulation Phase<\/h3>\n
Luteal Phase <\/h3>\n
What causes hormonal imbalance?<\/h2>\n
Some of the most common causes of hormonal imbalance include:<\/h4>\n
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Common Signs Your Hormones May Be Out of Whack<\/h2>\n
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How long does it take to balance hormones?<\/h2>\n
How to Balance Hormones: Natural Tips<\/h2>\n
Eat Enough<\/h3>\n
Support Gut Health<\/h3>\n
Don\u2019t Forget Vitamins B and D<\/h3>\n
Exercise Regularly<\/h3>\n
Incorporate Stress Reduction Techniques<\/h3>\n
Switch to Clean Beauty<\/h3>\n
Ditch the Plastic<\/h3>\n
Choose Non-Toxic Cleaning Products<\/h3>\n
Limit Inflammatory Foods<\/h3>\n
Get Consistent, Quality Sleep<\/h3>\n
FAQs About Hormone Balancing<\/h2>\n
What are the best foods to eat for hormonal balance?<\/h3>\n
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How long does it take to balance hormones?<\/h3>\n
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What are signs my hormones are off?<\/h3>\n
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Should I get tested for a hormone imbalance?<\/h3>\n
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