How hormones affect your health

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Tired? Sad? Your hormones could be to blame.
How hormones affect your health
 
They're the chemical messengers that travel, via our blood, to every organ and tissue in our body. But what happens when there is too little or too much of a particular hormone in your body and how can you fix it?

Oestrogen

What it does: Oestrogen is the main female hormone. It's secreted by the ovaries and is responsible for reproduction, menstruation and menopause.

Why an imbalance occurs: Cases of excess oestrogen are rare but can occur due to use of oral contraceptives or post-menopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Low oestrogen is a more common imbalance and can occur with poor diet, excessive exercise, and diseases and disorders of the pituitary gland (the gland that controls the release of oestrogen in the ovaries).

Signs it's out of balance: External signs of an imbalance include, acne, skin lesions, thinning skin and hair loss. Excess levels can also mean constipation, moodiness, depression, and chronic musculoskeletal aches while low levels of oestrogen can lead to osteoporosis.

What you can do: Taking nutritional supplements like magnesium and vitamin B complex can help lower oestrogen levels as can the application of a natural progesterone cream. Low levels of oestrogen is most commonly corrected with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) but lifestyle changes such as an improved diet and increased exercise can also help.

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