7 Ways to Squash Stress-Induced Hormone Imbalance

I know from my own personal experience, as well as from working with thousands of patients in my functional medicine clinic, that there are natural steps you can take to balance your hormones. This is particularly true when stress is the root cause of the issue. I find boosting my body with supplements such as Estroprotect and Adrenal Support helps me support balanced hormones and be a much better stress manager!

What is Hormone Imbalance?

Our hormones are the chemical messengers that are essential for nearly every bodily function from your metabolism, to your mood, to your sleep cycle. Hormones affect your body temperature and heart rate, your mood, your appetite, your sex drive, growth and development, and more. There are nearly 50 of these chemical messengers produced by your endocrine glands and for optimal health, they should work together in a complex, perfectly balanced routine. Hormone imbalance can mess with your sleep, mood, and libido, and contribute to weight gain, adrenal fatigue, brain fog, and a myriad of chronic illnesses. 

Fight Stress-Induced Hormone Imbalance 7 Ways

I found in my clinic that stress is often the root cause of hormone imbalance. While there is no single way to manage and relieve stress that works for everyone, I’ve seen success with these are tried-and-true methods that have worked for thousands of my patients as well as myself:

1. Eat a Nutrient-Dense Diet

Supporting your body with the right foods is a great way to help reduce the hormonal imbalances caused by stress. Grass-fed meats, wild-caught fish, and organic fruits and vegetables. Learn more about the nutrients you need here.

2. Try Infrared Sauna Therapy

I love spending time in my infrared sauna at home. You may prefer to go to one at a natural spa or another facility. They are located in most towns and cities. Infrared saunas help you relax and detox your body. I recommend using them at least twice per week for stress relief.

3. Exercise

A major benefit of exercise is that it reduces insulin levels and increases insulin sensitivity.¹ It also reduces stress and helps boost levels of muscle-maintaining hormones and growth hormone, which can potentially improve strength and quality of life.^2,3,4 Whether it’s yoga, going for a long walk, or taking out your bicycle, anything you do outdoors has the added benefit of allowing you to engage with nature, which is also stress-relieving.

4. Stop Smoking and Limit Alcohol

Alcohol can impair your body’s hormone system, and smoking cigarettes changes the levels of your steroid hormones.^5,6 It’s best to cut them out completely, with support. Vaping isn’t a good solution. Recent research shows that vaping releases adrenaline, meaning it increases stress in your body.

5. Prioritize Time for Yourself

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by your to-do list? Prioritization is very important now because it’s so easy for your commitments to build up and become a source of constant pressure. I’ve found that choosing carefully what I spend my time on and eliminating unnecessary obligations is the key to a more tranquil life. This enables me to spend time on what makes me happy. Remember, it’s OK to say no!

6. Reduce Screen Time

Staying informed is important however, immersing yourself in bad news can bombard your brain with distressing information unnecessarily. Try to keep your exposure to this negativity to a minimum by disconnecting from all devices and social media on a regular basis. Keeping all screens out of your bedroom each evening is a wonderful place to start. As a bonus, you will be avoiding late-night, blue light exposure which can disrupt your sleep — and as you know, a good night’s sleep is essential for stress-relief!

If you do find you have trouble falling or staying asleep, consider a natural supplement like my Rest and Restore™. It’s the ideal combination of Pharma GABA®, L-Theanine, Magnesium, and Glycine to optimally support relaxation. Not only does it support falling asleep fast, it also encourages deep and restful sleep so that your neurotransmitters, hormones, and your entire body have ample opportunity to replenish and rejuvenate overnight. Reaching those lower levels of sleep is vital to maintaining optimal health and keeping stress at bay.

7. Support Your Body with Supplements

Through years of clinical practice, I’ve also learned that there are critical adaptogens that can help reduce stress. You can learn more about adaptogens in this article. My Adrenal Support supplement includes all the critical adaptogens including Ashwagandha, Eleuthero, Rhodiola Rosea, Ginseng, Maca, along with Vitamin C, L-Tyrosine, and key B vitamins to help your body deal with physical and emotional stressors with greater ease.

As I mentioned, Estroprotect is the supplement I take every day to help support estrogen balance. It’s formulated with powerful natural substances including DIM, green tea extract, trans-resveratrol, calcium-D-glucarate and curcumin phytosome. DIM has been clinically shown to directly support healthy estrogen metabolism.⁷ Green tea extract and trans-resveratrol have been found to potentially change the way your body metabolises estrogen, helping your body manage it healthfully.^8,9 Calcium-D-glucarate likely helps you maintain proper hormone balance by binding to excess estrogen.¹⁰ Curcumin phytosome has been shown to help mitigate high estrogen levels caused by pesticides.¹¹ 

Managing stress is such a key part of improving your health, which is why I recommend you combat it at every turn. Lowering your stress levels will go a long way toward keeping your hormones in balance and help you achieve lifelong, vibrant health.

For more information, check out my interview with Margaret Christensen on the adrenal-thyroid connection and how balancing your sex hormones can impact thyroid health.