Not surprisingly, the man who wrote “women age like fine wine” forgot to mention the unpleasant changes many women experience as they age. Whereas we like to believe women enter their more mature years as graceful and radiant creatures, the truth is many women are more likely to be experiencing waves of hot flashes that seem to frequent as quickly as they appear. Although there are many things to appreciate in life as we age—like wisdom and our growing families—mood swings and other biological changes don’t quite make the list. Yet, historically, women are told this is just the way things are, not to mention disregarding any hormonal changes men might have too.
Women experience hormonal shifts as they age, that is a fact.
But do they have to be disruptive? Frustrating? Unpredictable? What about Painful?
Based on what scientists now believe about the gut microbiome, that may not be the case at all.
The Far Reaches of the Endocrine System
Our hormones are regulated by our endocrine system—a series of organs that produce our hormones and manage how they are dispersed into our system. They control many of our growth and development patterns, such as reproduction, sleep, mood, and sexual function. Without our endocrine system, we wouldn’t be able to regulate our metabolism or even know when we are hungry, not to mention keep us warm or manage our blood pressure.
Our endocrine system comprises several glands, including the thyroid gland, pituitary gland, adrenal glands, pancreas, ovaries in females, testicles in males, and several other tissues like our fat tissue. This complex system coordinates a biological symphony of changes within us, with each hormone produced targeting a specific organ or tissue. The thyroid gland is the master conductor of it all, regulating our body temperature and guiding our entire body’s homeostasis.
Until recently, scientists believed this was it. That was, until, studies examining the gut microbiome started to notice several gut microbes seemed to regulate some of those pesky circulating hormone levels…
Estrogen and Gut Health
The gut microbiome interacts with many aspects of human physiology, such as nutrient absorption and immune function. Now scientists have discovered the estrobolome – certain microbial populations that are capable of metabolizing estrogen. These gut microbes produce beta-glucuronidase, an enzyme that can increase levels of free estrogen in circulating blood. When our gut microbiome is healthy and balanced, the estrobolome can regulate the right level of estrogen within the body.
On the contrary, when the gut is out of balance, the production of estrogen flows in either direction, disrupting the normal flow, which can lead to estrogen-related concerns.
Stop Calling Hormonal Mood Swings “Normal”
Let’s face it, when we refer to mood swings as “normal,” we aren’t exactly helping women address and potentially resolve them. So what can we do?
The first step is to analyze your gut microbiome and identify activity patterns that could potentially contribute to disrupting your hormonal balance. If high levels of inflammatory activity are found, your gut microbiome may disrupt the scales of your estrogen production. Understanding your baseline will help you hone in on important changes that will help you regulate your health, including personalized dietary recommendations unique to you.
Don’t let a poor diet ruin your chances of healthy aging, and certainly don’t let outdated scientific data tell you what’s normal. Find out for yourself where you’re at right now and what you can do about it to get your health back on track for the long haul.
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