This might be a weird question: what comes to your mind when you think about hormonal imbalance? Do you usually think about female sex hormones or menstrual cycle? If you answered yes, you are not alone, most women do.

What Are Hormones?

The truth is hormones are much more than our sex hormones. They control every single function in our bodies. They are signals that trigger chemical reactions in different situations according to our needs. So there are hormones that help us feel good, stay motivated, sleep well, maintain our energy levels, digest our food, burn fat and much more.

Thyroid Hormonal Imbalance

A very common form of hormonal imbalance in women is thyroid hormone imbalances particularly hypothyroidism. Whether you have been diagnosed  with hypothyroidism or have a sluggish thyroid function, you can have problems losing weight.

Unfortunately many women over forty have thyroid hypofunction on some level whether it’s known or unknown to them. Sometimes even with apparently normal lab test results, a condition called subclinical hypothyroidism. This is usually dismissed by your doctor although you might be struggling with many physical symptoms and struggling to manage your everyday life.

How Thyroid Hormones Affect Your Body?

The thyroid hormones have receptors on every cell of our body and affect the function of almost every organ, so an imbalance whether clinical or subclinical should not be taken lightly and is much more complex than you think.

The truth is that if you have thyroid issues and you want to really fix the problem, you need to work on balancing almost all systems of your body, especially the digestive system where most chronic ailments start. There are so many details and inter-relationships between the thyroid, the gut, the adrenal glands and the ovaries that are beyond our discussion here. But all you need to know is that the thyroid is not just a single small organ that can be fixed on its own away from all the other organs and systems in the body.

The Missing Link Between Thyroid Hormonal Imbalance and Other System Imbalances

It’s very common to see digestive problems, female hormonal imbalances such as heavy or painful periods or fibroids, as well as depression, low energy and stubborn weight in women who have thyroid hormone issues, although many will see them as separate problems and will not be able to make the connection.

But the bright side of the story is that because all these pieces are linked together, most of the time fixing one piece of the puzzle takes care of so many  other pieces. That’s why many of the clients who follow my holistic hormonal balance program, will not only lose weight, but will also notice so many other improvements in all areas of their health. Weight is just one piece of the puzzle and not the whole story!

If you are already feeling confused by all this information, I won’t blame you. As much as they are interesting, hormones are very complex and finely regulated. They reflect the magnificence of our bodies that we are discovering more about every day and are probably just scratching the surface.

How to Suspect Thyroid Hypofunction or Hypothyroidism?

In case you are wondering about the signs and symptoms that can point to a thyroid hypofunction or hypothyroidism, check out the following list:

• Cold intolerance (sensitivity to cold)
• Constipation
• Depression or mood swings
• Dry itchy skin
• Dry brittle nails
• Dry eyes
• Fatigue and sluggishness
• High Cholesterol
• Hoarseness of voice or fullness in the throat
• Muscle cramps and joint aches
• Menstrual irregularities
• Sleepiness
• Thinning or shedding of hair
• Tingling or numbness in hands and feet
• Weight gain

Catching these and dealing with the possible root causes early on can save you so much trouble and serious complications in the future.

You also want to check with your family doctor for a full thyroid function panel and ultrasound.

Back To You

If you are already feeling confused by all this information, I won’t blame you. As much as they are interesting, hormones are very complex and finely regulated. They reflect the magnificence of our bodies that we are discovering more about every day and are probably just scratching the surface. The thyroid is a very important player when it comes to our metabolism and our whole body health. And thyroid hypofunction can be one of the underlying causes for difficult weight loss or stubborn weight.

We are currently offering tele-health coaching via Zoom. So if you need help with your health and nutrition, sign up for a 15 Min Discovery Call where we discuss your current goals and concerns and how we can help you.