Gut Health and Your Hormones
Many studies found that gut health impacts many physiological processes in our bodies, including immunity and mental health. The gut and intestine contain trillions of bacteria, beneficial and harmful, present in a specific balance are called the gut microbiota. If you have diversity in your gut microbiota, you are less prone to many conditions due to having a healthy gut. Additionally, scientists found that gut microbiota influences hormonal regulation and disruption. How could this happen? And what is the connection? The answers to those questions are below.
What is the connection between the gut and the endocrine system?
The gut contains many endocrine cells called enteroendocrine cells (EECs) that secrete gut hormones, including ghrelin and peptide YY affecting appetite. According to this study, gut microbiota modulates the functions of enteroendocrine cells, so gut bacteria have a role in the regulation or disruption of hormones.
Moreover, the gut and brain send signals to each other to regulate the release of those hormones. They are connected through the “Gut-Brain Axis.” The gut-brain axis has three pathways by which the gut and brain affect each other; immunoregulatory, neuroendocrine, and vagus nerve pathways.
What are hormones affected by gut health?
Serotonin hormone
Serotonin is a chemical messenger that helps improve mood, cognition, learning, and memory. Furthermore, the gut microbiome can produce about 95 percent of the body's supply of serotonin. Suppose you have an unhealthy gut microbiome. In that case, your gut will produce less serotonin leading to depression, anxiety, memory issues, and sleep disruption.
Thyroid hormones
The thyroid gland produces thyroid hormones essential to your metabolism, bone growth, protein synthesis, and neural maturation. It needs essential micronutrients to function correctly, including Iodine, iron, copper, selenium, and zinc. According to this study, gut microbiota impacts the availability of these micronutrients. Additionally, they found that people with thyroid dysfunction share alteration of microbiota.
Disruption of thyroid hormones is classified as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Hypothyroidism is a reduction in thyroid hormones levels that causes fatigue, weight gain, and frequent menstrual periods. However, hyperthyroidism increases thyroid hormones production, which causes anxiety, nervousness, weight loss, irregular menstrual periods, and vision problems.
Estrogens
Estrogens have three different types; each has a vital role in men and women. Ovaries and adrenal glands are responsible for making estrogens. Also, the functions of estrogens include cardiovascular, bone, brain, and reproductive health in women. While in men, they help in sperm maturation and libido.
A study published in MATURITAS stated that the gut microbiome is a principal regulator of circulating estrogens. It converts the estrogens into their active forms. Dysbiosis of gut microbiota reduces the circulating estrogen, increasing the prevalence of some conditions, including obesity, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease.
What are the symptoms of an unhealthy gut?
An unhealthy gut often represents the following signs:
Bloating
Diarrhea or constipation
Nutritional deficiencies
Hormonal imbalances
Mood swings or depression
Food sensitivities
Obesity
Leaky gut syndrome
Fatigue
Skin irritation
Weak immune system
How to improve gut health?
Here are some healthy tips for you on how to maintain a healthy gut:
•Eat a high-fiber and whole-grain diet.
•Limit consumption of high-processed foods as they contain high sugar and fat.
•Reduce alcohol consumption.
•Consume foods containing prebiotics and probiotics, including dandelion, greens, garlic, Jerusalem artichoke, onions, leeks, and asparagus.
•Have some fermented foods, such as Kefir, Sauerkraut, Kombucha, and Tempeh.
•Quit smoking.
•Eliminate Dairy and Gluten
Conclusion
Your overall health starts from your gut. The gut microbiota almost influences everything in our bodies. Moreover, keeping a healthy gut will promote the hormonal balance inside your body due to the presence of endocrine cells inside the intestine. Eat nutritious foods and probiotics to foster your gut bacteria and prevent hormonal disruption as well. For more tips on gut health, get your copy of the Leaky Gut Resource Guide.
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