It’s often said that good health starts in the gut, and indeed, this ancient wisdom holds. The gut microbiome, comprising trillions of microbes, plays a pivotal role in overall health. From digestion to immunity, its influence is far-reaching. But did you know that the gut also impacts hormonal balance? Disturbances in gut flora can disrupt estrogen metabolism, leading to menstrual irregularities, fertility issues, and even exacerbating menopausal symptoms.
Gut Health
Even before you think of, smell or taste food, the collection of microbes, such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, and their genes, that naturally live in the body (aka the microbiome); are influencing appetite, food choices, behavior, and metabolism. The opposite is also true, the microbes living in and on us are changed by what we eat, think, drink, and do every day.
It is known through the scientific community that what we eat can change the balance and the activity of microbes in the digestive system. The difference between eating a tub of natural yoghurt or a ham and cheese toasty could be quite dramatic at a microscopic level in the gut. Food, supplements, medications, fiber, pesticides, and even exercise, have the potential to influence the numbers and types of bacteria and the substances they secrete, the genes they activate, and the nutrients they help absorb. (1)
Women’s Hormones
For women, maintaining hormonal harmony is crucial for vitality and well-being. Irregular periods, PMS, period pain and menopause symptoms are often signs of hormonal imbalance. Aside from hormonal fluctuations, there are deeper connections to gut health. Imbalances in gut bacteria can alter gut-brain messaging and trigger inflammation, affecting hormone production and metabolism.
Studies on sex hormones and the gut microbiome have indicated that sex hormones influence the diversity of the gut microbiome. Conversely, the microbiome itself can also alter hormone levels in the body. Specifically, it has been shown that the gut microbiome plays an important role in regulating the level of oestrogens in the body, and gut-brain messaging may also be involved in this connection.
Researchers have found that the gut microbiome and its by-products are involved in PCOS, endometriosis, infertility, ovarian cancer, post-menopausal bone loss and other diseases. What I have observed to be true in the clinic is that when I help my patients to address gut health, more often than not, period and cycle health improves without having to do much else.
Mental Health: The Gut-Brain Axis
The gut-brain axis describes the intimate connection between gut health and mental well-being. Serotonin, often referred as the “happy hormone” is largely produced in the gut. There is growing evidence that gut bacteria and nutrient availability imbalances can impact serotonin levels. We also know that inflammation can aggravate mental health challenges and all these things combined may contribute to anxiety, depression and mood disorders.
Find your Balance
From the top down, digestive function, gut health and the microbiome balance, are essential to nutrient absorption, metabolism, hormone regulation, inflammation and messaging to and from the brain via the gut-brain axis. Mood and mental health, food, metabolism, gut health, and hormone cycles are intricately connected through all these layers of influence.
By nurturing gut health, you lay a strong foundation for overall well-being and true wholistic health. Through dietary adjustments, stress management, probiotics, and plant medicines, you can help restore balance, to hormones, and mental health and empower wellness on all levels.
Incorporating gut-healthy foods like fermented foods, brightly coloured fruits and vegetables and fiber are simple steps to better gut health, hormone health and mood, that you can start making today. If you are experiencing hormonal imbalances, discomfort, PMS, or mental health concerns, reach out for professional help to connect the dots, and create a treatment plan that is targeted to your unique needs.
Gut microbiome/gut health testing and hormone testing is available through the Barefoot Naturopath clinic. Through consultation with the Naturopath, relevant testing can be ordered along with analysis and interpretation of the results and formulation of a targeted personalised treatment plan. We pride ourselves on wholistic, patient-centred care, that empowers you with the knowledge and understanding of what is going on in your body, AND a doable and sustainable strategy to get you back to feeling great again.
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Schematic representation of the role of the gut microbiota in health and disease giving some examples of inputs and outputs. CVD=cardiovascular disease; IPA=indolepropionic acid; LPS=lipopolysaccharide; SCFA=short chain fatty acids; TMAO=trimethylamine N-oxide
References:
1. Role of the gut microbiota in nutrition and health BMJ 2018; 361;k2179
