You don’t have to try very hard to come across an influencer on social media who claims her hormones were out of balance – a balance that needs to be restored. Some influencers promise that eating a raw carrot salad will help with excess estrogen; others claim that waiting until after breakfast to drink coffee can solve everything from painful periods to hair loss. It sounds too good to be true, and most of the time it is – often these solutions are not scientifically substantiated.
The role of hormones
“Hormones refer to a category of proteins that send signals throughout the body,” says Marilyn Tanan endocrinologist and professor at Stanford Medicine. More than fifty different hormones have been identified in the human body, largely produced by glands such as the thyroid, pancreas, ovaries, testes, adrenal glands and pituitary gland.
‘Hormones have many functions, such as growth, metabolism, reproduction and mood, but their overarching role is to coordinate metabolism in organ systems,’ explains Anne Cappola. She is a professor of endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. ‘They deliver messages via the bloodstream to various organs and tissues to tell them how they should function. This complex network of glands and organs is known as the endocrine system.’
Disrupted hormone balance
Sometimes changes in your hormone levels lead to physical symptoms. Sex hormones in particular fluctuate as a woman goes through different stages of her life cycle – from puberty to menopause. These hormonal changes can cause symptoms such as mood swings, weight fluctuations, changes in libido and hot flashes.
Endocrine disorders caused by hormone imbalance, such as diabetes, thyroid disorders (hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism), and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), should be diagnosed by a doctor. And: according to Cappola, subtle endocrine abnormalities are not as common as it seems on social media.
Adrenal fatigue
Scroll through TikTok and you’ll hear how acne, fatigue and weight gain are said to be caused by a hormone imbalance. Online this is called ‘adrenal fatigue’, but experts are skeptical about whether this is actually due to a hormonal imbalance. “A lot has to happen for your adrenal glands to malfunction,” says Cappola. ‘You have two adrenal glands. You need less than one to function.”
The same goes for the thyroid: Cappola says you only need about 20 percent of a normal thyroid to function fully. While it’s possible that hormones play a role in these symptoms, they can also be related to sleep, stress, diet, and exercise. According to Cappola, there is not much evidence for the idea that you can rebalance hormones through diet. The great thing about hormones, she says, is that they are there to restore balance. “If something is wrong, they compensate, adapt and regulate,” she explains.
Consider insulin, for example, a hormone released by the pancreas to process sugar so that your body can use it for energy. If there is too much glucose in your bloodstream from what you have eaten, insulin tells your body to store the excess in your liver and save it for later, until glucose levels drop.
When do you go to a doctor?
Do you still suspect that something is wrong? Cappola suggests making a list of the symptoms—without consulting the Internet—and thinking about what else is going on that could be causing them. Above all, don’t make drastic changes without good reason. If in doubt, a visit to the doctor cannot hurt.
Of course, not all the advice circulating on TikTok, like watching your sleep schedule and eating a balanced diet, is bad – but these aren’t magical solutions to hormone problems.
2023-10-03 08:18:53
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