There are many vitamins, nutrients and natural active ingredients which studies have shown can have an impactful effect on hormonal balance in the body.
The human body is home to many different hormones which are vital to a whole range of functions – from growth, to mood, to metabolism, to much more. If your body is producing too much or too little of a hormone it can have serious effects on your health.
So, we’ve taken a look at some of the most common issues we hear about from our customers, and how supplements may be able to help you manage these.
How Do Hormones Effect Mood?
Hormonal imbalance is commonly known to effect mood – but did you know that certain vitamins, minerals and supplements have been shown to directly effect your mood too?
Folate, the natural form of Vitamin B9, has direct mood elevating properties and is connected with the bodies natural production of the feel good hormone, serotonin. Some scientific studies into this essential nutrient have found evidence that depressive patients often also have deficiencies in B12 and folic acid and supplementing these vital micronutrients could be a supportive treatment for depression[i].
Ashwagandha has the unique ability to encourage hormonal health at a cellular level, aiding your resilience to stress[ii]. Studies indicate that Ashwagandha has a strong anti-stress effect due to it’s ability to reduce cortisol levels[iii]. Cortisol is the primary stress hormone and when your levels are too high it can lead to issues such as depression, trouble sleeping and memory impairment among others.
Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that your body needs but can’t produce[iv]. It supports a whole range of essential functions within the human body, but did you know it has also been shown to have an effect on mood?[v] It’s even been suggested that B12 deficiency could be linked to depression.[vi]
The Thyroid’s Effect On Metabolism
Everyone’s heard of the thyroid – but what does it actually do? The thyroid gland is a small gland in your neck; its main job is to produce hormones that help regulate the body’s metabolism. This means the thyroid controls how your body uses the energy from the food you consume.
Zinc is best known for supporting a healthy immune system, but that’s not the only thing this trace element is needed for – it’s also essential for thyroid hormone production.
Selenium is also vital for thyroid hormone production and it helps protect the thyroid from damage caused by oxidative stress. It’s been found that a selenium deficiency can lead to thyroid dysfunction[vii].
If you’re looking to improve your hormone balance, head to The Nourished Lab where you can create your very own Nourished stacks, selecting the ingredients suited to your needs.
[i] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15671130/
[ii] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3252722/
[iii] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3573577/
[iv] https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1559827612450688
[v] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4772032/
[vi] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15671130/
[vii] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19594417/
