Hormone Balance Supplements

What Are Hormone Balance Supplements?

Supplements for hormone balance can be natural or synthetic substances that are formulated to regulate various hormone levels in the user’s body. They come in a variety of forms such as capsules, powdered drink mixes, gummy candies, and even pre-made drinks.

Many times, people use these kinds of supplements to resolve some sort of issue like hot flashes, mood swings, or simply to help increase estrogen production. In any case, hormone balancing supplements are meant to strike a better hormonal balance for the user and benefit some aspect of their health. 

Synthetic hormonal supplements may carry greater risks and cause some of their own side effects while natural hormone supplements usually contain herbs, minerals, vitamins, amino acids, and other natural substances to curb hormonal imbalance symptoms with limited risk of side effects.*

Signs You Might Need Hormone Balance Support

Hormone imbalance can manifest itself in many ways. For the most part though, women entering menopause or perimenopause should consider taking these kinds of supplements because this is the most common time in a woman’s adult life that they would need hormone support. Other signs that you may need one of the best female hormone balance supplements include:

• Low Energy - Estrogen plays a role in energy expenditure so if you have been feeling tired or fatigued lately, hormone imbalance could be the culprit.*
• Mood Swings & Anxiety - Low estrogen levels can also manifest themselves with erratic mood swings or heightened feelings of anxiety.*
• Weight Gain - Estrogen also helps with white adipose tissue distribution so not having enough may cause weight gain.*
• Irregular Period - An irregular period could be a sign of hormonal imbalance for a woman.*
• Poor Sleep Quality - Many women experiencing hormonal changes report trouble sleeping from hot flashes, night sweats, urinary changes, stress, and more.*

How Do Hormone Balance Supplements Work?

In general, hormonal imbalance pills work by supplying your body with the nutrients it needs to produce its own natural estrogen or to increase or regulate levels of other important hormones.*

They may also affect hormone receptors which can also influence the negative/positive effects of certain hormones. Here are three key ways that hormone imbalance pills work:

1. Supporting Hormone Production - Of course, the main purpose of a hormone supplement is to help boost estrogen production.
2. Detoxifying Excess Hormones - Hormone supplements may also help the body manage the effects of heightened hormone production.
3. Reducing Inflammation - It’s important to note that many times, hormone supplements also have peripheral functions like providing antioxidant support for the organs.*

Benefits of Hormone Balance Supplements

You may be wondering by now what the best hormonal balance pills can actually do. Let’s take a look at some of the most important benefits of these products:

• Mental Health - A good hormonal balance supplement will help improve mental clarity and balance your mood.
• Better Sleep Quality - These supplements may also contain minerals that are essential for good sleep quality and may quell symptoms that are keeping you up at night.
• Menopause Relief - Reputable hormone imbalance supplements will also reduce the frequency and severity of menopause and PMS symptoms like hot flashes, low energy, and urinary issues.*
• Improved Fertility - Of course, increasing estrogen levels will enhance the fertility of the user.*
• Healthier Skin and Hair - Studies have found that estrogen may inhibit skin-aging to a moderate degree. So the best hormonal balance pills will also promote healthy skin and hair.*

Key Vitamins and Minerals for Hormonal Health

Hormone imbalance pills come with any variety of contents. For the most part though, you will see nutrients like:

• Magnesium - Magnesium is a mineral that is key to stress reduction, sleep cycle regulation, and hormone balance.
• Vitamin D3 - Not only does vitamin D3 support healthy estrogen levels, it may also increase progesterone levels.
• B Vitamins - Vitamins B6 and B12 have also been found to enhance energy levels and stabilize mood for both men and women.*
• Zinc - According to a Pubmed study, zinc is an important mineral for women because it has a favorable effect on the thyroid’s hormone-producing abilities.*
• Selenium - Selenium is another type of mineral commonly found in the best supplements for hormone balance because it also has a beneficial effect on thyroid function.*

Herbal Supplements for Hormone Balance

Aside from estrogen-specific supplements, a number of herbs may also be beneficial for optimal hormone levels. Here are just a few:

• Ashwagandha - Ashwagandha is an ayurvedic herb that is known for reducing stress and cortisol levels.
• Chasteberry - The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health has stated that, “Preliminary studies suggest that chasteberry might be helpful for symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and for breast pain related to the menstrual cycle.”
• Black Cohosh - Black cohosh is well-known for its ability to reduce the severity of menopause symptoms like hot flashes.
• Maca Root - Maca has a unique ability to mimic the effects of sexual hormones like estrogen.
• Rhodiola Rosea - Rhodiola rosea is a flowering plant that has been linked with improved stress response.*

How to Choose the Right Hormone Balance Supplement

When shopping for hormone imbalance supplements, it’s important to check the ingredients. Make sure they contain some of the ingredients listed above. For safety, you will also want to make sure that the product has been 3rd party tested and that it has GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices), USDA or other safety-related certifications.

You will also want to know what you need before you start shopping. This way, you will find a product that aligns with your specific health needs and goals. Finally, customer reviews are typically very helpful in providing insight as to how a supplement may work.

Hormone Balance Supplements vs. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

Hormone replacement therapy is another option for gaining optimal hormone balance. But is it really worth it? Let’s discuss the pros and cons.

HRT Pros & Cons

Hormone Balance Supplement Pros & Cons

Combining Supplements with a Healthy Lifestyle

It’s important to remember that hormone balance vitamins work best when you pair them with a healthy lifestyle. So if you are taking these supplements, remember to maintain a healthy diet that contains foods like flax seeds, avocados, dark chocolate and fatty fish.

You should also have a regimen of exercise in place if you are taking one of these supplements. Some studies have found that increasing your heart rate may boost estrogen levels for women.*

It’s also important to reduce your exposure to toxins like pesticides, parabens, phthalates, and fire retardants as they can have a negative impact on estrogen production.*

Are Hormone Balance Supplements Safe?

Hormone balancing supplements for women are generally safe but some users may be allergic to common ingredients. For instance black cohosh may cause some women rash, dizziness, or gastrointestinal issues. 

While these side effects are rare and typically don’t last long, you should still discuss possible ingredients to avoid with  your healthcare practitioner before buying a supplement.