These 9 Habits Could Lead To Hormonal Imbalance

Nov 09, 2018

The thyroid might be a tiny gland in the body, but it can have a huge effect on how you feel. It controls a variety of different processes in the body, including your metabolism.

When it isn’t working properly, you might have too many hormones or too little working in your body. This can cause some unpleasant effects like weight fluctuation, skin issues, mood swings, and is possibly even linked to breast cancer.

These are the top nine things that can cause you to have a hormone imbalance.

9. Too much stress

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Stress will affect all of your systems if it is chronic. It can particularly affect the endocrine system when you are constantly stressed out. The thyroid will also cease to function as it should, causing it to produce an excess of hormones. If you already have thyroid issues, you might start to experience more serious symptoms like memory loss or panic attacks. When you do not sleep enough and you are constantly stressed, you are at risk for having hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism.

When you have a hectic lifestyle, you might begin to feel nervous constantly. To help prevent the risks of being too stressed, make sure you exercise and walk enough. It might also be necessary to speak to a therapist or psychologist to help you work through your stressful situations.

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8. Not Consuming Enough Fat

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The body needs healthy fat to work properly. However, many people give up consuming fat because they are on a diet and are worried about the impact fat might have on their health. However, it is important to consume enough healthy fat to ensure that your brain and thyroid are working properly.

Many healthy fats can be found in food like linseed oil, olive oil, eggs, meat, fish, and wheat germ. Keep eating these foods to ensure your thyroid is working properly.

7. Too Much Soy

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Consuming too much soy can have a detrimental effect on your thyroid. They can cause your thyroid to work more slowly. When you eat too much soy or soy-based products, the thyroid does not absorb iodine properly. Iodine is necessary for proper thyroid function.

If you can’t stop eating soy products, make sure you are eating enough food that contains iodine. Eat vegetables, berries, seafood, and a variety of fruit to ensure that you are getting enough iodine. Cranberries, mussels, and squid are particularly great for thyroid function.

6. Too many Cruciferous Vegetables

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A study conducted by the Oregon State University revealed that cruciferous vegetables might have a negative impact on the thyroid. If you have an iodine deficiency, make sure you are not eating too many radishes, turnips, or cabbage.

These vegetables have a lot of glucosinolates which have sulfur and nitrogen. When nitrogen and sulfur get into the body, it causes it to affect the thyroid function.

5. Still Smoking

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If you are still smoking cigarettes, it might have a negative effect on your thyroid. The tobacco causes your thyroid to produce too many hormones.

The toxins in tobacco smoke also last in the body for more than six days. When you smoke, you prevent your thyroid from absorbing iodine properly.

4. Too Much Caffeine

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Everyone loves their first cup of joe in the morning, but if you are consuming a variety of products with caffeine, you can create too much cortisol in the body. Cortisol is known as the stress hormone and it can cause your metabolism to worsen as well as making your thyroid malfunction.

3. High Glycemic Index Foods are a Staple in Your Diet

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The glycemic index ranks carbohydrates based on how they affect the blood sugar. When you eat carbohydrates that are high on the index, your body can break them down too quickly, preventing your thyroid from absorbing enough iodine. The deficiency in this mineral will cause thyroid issues.

2. Butter and Margarine

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Butter and margarine are both high-cholesterol foods that can affect the lipid balance in your body. Though butter contains selenium and vitamin D, you need to watch out for how much you consume. Margarine should be avoided altogether because it is made from trans fats.

1. Too much Alcohol

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Alcohol can prevent your pancreas from secreting enough hormones. This can affect your libido and your menstrual cycle. When you consume too much alcohol, you may experience mood swings, tremors, and other bowel disorders.

Know anyone experiencing symptoms of a malfunctioning thyroid? Send them this article to help them get better. Do you have any Thyroid conditions? How do you deal with it? We want to know - so make sure to drop us a comment. 

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation by your doctor. Your health is important to us!