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Check nowBloating is a common complaint from many women. Often PMS or peri-menopause can be at the root of the cause, or more specifically, female hormones! Here our Digestion Advisor Ali explains how fluctuating hormones can impact our digestive system, and how home and herbal remedies could be the answer to your troubles.
Unfortunately weight gain, feeling swollen, bloated and suffering from water retention are common complaints from many women, and hormones often have a part to play.
We have two main female sex hormones, oestrogen and progesterone. Throughout a typical monthly cycle, these hormones fluctuate in specific patterns in order to initiate ovulation and eventually your period. However, out with these functions, these hormones can also have effects elsewhere around the body. Although they are classed as our ‘sex hormones’ actually, they can have a magnitude of effects elsewhere (we have oestrogen receptors all over our body) as well as potentially having effects on other distinct hormones. Our endocrine system is interlinked and changes in one area can easily have a domino effect on other parts.
So why do some women suffer more than others? Conditions such as PMS and menopause are thought to be characterised by hormone imbalances which can give rise to a number of uncomfortable symptoms.
The female sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone are hugely important. These hormones are responsible for kick-starting puberty, and give us a menstrual cycle for the rest of our lives, allowing us to successfully reproduce. However, these hormones are thought to exert effects around the whole body – not only in and around the womb. We know that oestrogen receptors are located all over the body, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Oestrogen is thought to be important for supporting the health of our skin, digestive system, joints and much more. However, this also means if our hormones slip out of balance, we can be left feeling the effects.
Understanding your period and the symptoms of hormone imbalance is really important. If you think that you could be affected, why not click the link to watch our video blog on this topic as our Women’s Health Advisor Emma explains all.
Our sex hormones follow a distinct pattern each month, and at certain times (for example as one hormone drops off and another becomes dominant) it means that symptoms are more likely to crop up.
However, if a hormone imbalance is apparent, symptoms can become really quite troublesome. Symptoms related to bloating can take many different forms and people are often affected differently. Although we don’t understand fully why some women end up feeling so bloated, some theories do exist:
There are simple steps you can take at home in order to help protect against excess bloating thought to be caused by hormones:
However, with modern day stress (which is more psychological than physical) we don’t exert enough energy to use these resources, and instead, we risk storing this energy unnecessarily. Consider managing your stress more effectively and it could help your waistline too!
There are some natural remedies available which can help support female hormones and the associated symptoms of hormone imbalance:
If your symptoms of PMS are severe, home and herbal remedies aren’t working for you, or you aren’t quite sure what the cause of your bloating is, we recommend you go to your doctor for advice. If hormones are the likely cause, they may suggest trying a hormonal contraceptive to help manage this temporarily.
Looking for a solution to to help with symptoms such as menstrual cramps, breast tenderness, bloating, irritability, mood swings?
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Check the health of your digestive system using our simple test.
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