Hormone balance is not just about what your body produces, but how well it eliminates what it no longer needs. One of the most overlooked yet essential aspects of hormone optimization is digestive health, more specifically, how often do you poop! If you are dealing with constipation, your ability to detoxify excess hormones is decreased and can disrupt your entire endocrine system.
The body should be looked at as an interconnected system, and while you may think constipation is an inconvenience, it is often a reg flag to a deeper imbalance that could be affecting multiple systems including metabolism and mood.
The Gut-Hormone Connection:
The digestive system is the primary pathway for elimination of waste including hormone metabolites. When you are constipated, toxin’s like hormones (more specifically estrogen) can be reabsorbed into the bloodstream instead of being eliminated. When this occurs, it can cause a hormonal traffic jam. One of the hormones most affected by constipation is estrogen and if it is not able to eliminate it properly it can lead to estrogen dominance, which can lead to a myriad of symptoms including, but not limited to:
- PMS and painful periods
- Weight gain
- Mood swings/ irritability
- Breast tenderness
- Hormonal acne
Even though estrogen is the most impacted, other hormones can become imbalanced like cortisol, thyroid hormones, and testosterone.
Constipation Can Impact Hormones:
- By altering the gut microbiota- it disrupts the diversity and function of the gut microbiota. A healthy gut produces short chain fatty acids that help regulate inflammation, strengthen the gut barrier and signal hormone production. Without proper elimination symptoms can ensue.
- Impairs detoxification- the liver packages hormone metabolites to be eliminated through stool and bile. If the stool is not eliminated hormones can be reabsorbed through the gut lining. This can lead to a decline in liver function and buildup of hormones.
- Vicisous cycle-with chronic constipation comes lower levels of other steroid hormones such as progesterone, cortisol, DHEA, and testosterone. This can also make the constipation worse, leading to a vicious cycle of constipation and hormone imbalance.
- Stress response- Chronic constipation can also trigger stress, causing cortisol levels to rise, which in turn can affect gut motility and hormone regulation. When the brain is out of balance the gut will follow.
How to Improve Hormone Health Through Digestion:
The good news is this can be a simple fix by addressing the root of the constipation. Here are a few tips and trips to get your gut moving.
- Add in fiber rich foods like vegetables, chia seeds, flaxseeds, and legumes
- Stay hydrated: the bowels need water!
- Support your microbiome with fermented foods like sauerkraut and good quality broad spectrum probiotics
- Move your body, regular exercise can help with bowel movements
- Manage stress through mindfulness, deep breathing and self-care
- Test and don’t guess! Run functional labs to identify imbalances in both the gut and hormone health.
Constipation is not just a symptom, but a signal too. It gives valuable information on your body’s internal environment.
At Enovative Wellness Center we take a personalized approach to your hormone health optimization and gut health. If you are struggling with hormone imbalance symptoms or constipation we can help!
Ready to get to the root of your hormone symptoms? Call us today at 602.614.9905 or visit www.EnovativeWellness.com to schedule a comprehensive consultation. Your path to balance starts in the gut.
