{"id":21767,"date":"2023-10-20T18:07:17","date_gmt":"2023-10-20T16:07:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/?p=21767"},"modified":"2023-10-20T01:17:08","modified_gmt":"2023-10-19T23:17:08","slug":"gut-health-and-hormones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/gut-health-and-hormones\/","title":{"rendered":"How Your Gut Health Affects Your Hormones"},"content":{"rendered":"

You are what they eat \u2013\u00a0or so they say. It\u2019s obvious when something you eat doesn\u2019t agree with your stomach, but how does the food you take in affect the rest of your body?<\/span><\/p>\n

Gut and hormone health have been two of the hottest topics in health and wellness, but you might not realize how closely related they are. The food you eat impacts your hormonal health, and vice versa. <\/span>Your gut health and hormones are closely linked<\/b>, it\u2019s time to find out how, as well as how to keep them both in balance.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Magnificent Microbiome<\/b><\/h2>\n

You\u2019re not alone. No really. Besides your DNA, bones, and blood, you are also host to trillions of microorganisms like fungi, bacteria, parasites, and viruses. While these can wreak havoc on your health when they\u2019re out of balance, in general, they are necessary for a healthy human body.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Most of these microbes reside in the small and large intestines, making up the <\/span>gut microbiome<\/span><\/a>. Your microbiome is influenced by medications, genetics, the environment, and naturally \u2013 the food you eat. Every person\u2019s microbiome is unique to them and helps to support everyday functions like immunity, mental health, and hormone regulation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hormones \u2013 Your Body\u2019s Mail System<\/b><\/h2>\n

Just as important as gut health is your hormones. Hormones are the messengers of your <\/span>endocrine system<\/span><\/a> and are responsible for telling your body what to do and when.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

They move through your blood to get to organs and tissues throughout the body and are essential for regulating sexual function and reproductive health, cognition and energy levels, metabolism, body temperature, and much more.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hormones are secreted by glands throughout the body. When in balance, they help to maintain regular function and harmony in the body. When out of balance, however, it can lead to all sorts of disorders and illnesses. What\u2019s something that can throw off hormonal regulation? You guessed it \u2013\u00a0gut health!<\/span><\/p>\n

Sex Differences in the Microbiome<\/b><\/h2>\n

We\u2019ve established that everyone\u2019s microbiomes are unique. New research suggests that some of these variations are due to differences in sex hormones. A <\/span>study by The University of Chicago<\/span><\/a> found that non-obese diabetic male mice had higher levels of a variety of bacteria in their microbiome than the females.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other research suggests that sex hormones impact the diversity of an individual\u2019s microbiome. Progesterone is a hormone that plays a key role in female reproduction and may also promote the growth of <\/span>Bacteroides species and Prevotella intermedius<\/span><\/i> bacteria.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Although there have been limited human studies, some have shown that changes in oestrogen may impact the composition of the gut microbiome. Some of these have been done on pregnant females where researchers found a significant difference, especially in the third trimester when oestrogens are at their highest. Other research that supports these sex differences was done on post-menopausal females whose microbiomes were more similar to a male\u2019s than a premenopausal female’s.<\/span><\/p>\n

These findings help us understand how sex hormones can impact the microbiome, but how does the microbiome impact hormones?<\/span><\/p>\n

How the Gut Influences Hormones<\/b><\/h2>\n

\u0392-glucuronidase<\/span><\/i><\/a> is a type of enzyme that helps to break down carbohydrates in the body. The gut microbiome helps to produce it. This enzyme has also been shown to help increase the amount of oestrogen in the body which is essential for regulating menstruation, bone strength, pregnancy, and other essential functions. More research that supports the impact of gut health on oestrogen levels found that taking antibiotics can lead to a decline in levels of the hormone.<\/span><\/p>\n

You\u2019ve probably heard of the gut-brain connection, or axis. This refers to the connection between the microbiome and your central nervous system (CNS), but it also impacts hormones. Although scientists aren\u2019t exactly sure of how it works, they know that the CNS and the endocrine system are directly linked. This means that whatever is happening in your gut can also impact your hormones.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Gut and Reproductive Health Disorders<\/b><\/h2>\n

With the gut and your hormones being so closely linked it makes sense that an imbalance in the gut can contribute to certain reproductive health issues. One of these potential issues is ovarian cancer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ovarian cancer is impacted by the environment, genetics, and lifestyle factors, but researchers have also found a direct link between oestrogen levels and this type of cancer. You\u2019ve seen the influence of the microbiome on oestrogen levels so you can connect the dots and see how an imbalance in this hormone may increase someone\u2019s risk of developing ovarian cancer.<\/span><\/p>\n

The gut may also impact other reproductive health disorders like <\/span>Poly-Cystic Ovarian Syndrome<\/span><\/a> (PCOS) and <\/span>postmenopausal osteoporosis<\/span><\/a>. This has been supported by <\/span>studies<\/span><\/a> showing that people with PCOS have significantly lower diversity in their gut microbiome than those that don\u2019t have it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Balancing Your Gut and Hormones<\/b><\/h2>\n

If you want to feel your best and help prevent future reproductive health disorders, you can start by taking care of your gut. While the health of your microbiome and hormones are impacted by the environment and genetics, there are lifestyle changes you can make to help support them:<\/span><\/p>\n