A woman’s endocrine system is one of the most crucial systems of her overall health. Though not as commonly discussed, this network of glands produces hormones that influence her mood, metabolism, energy levels, and even reproductive health.
As “cortisol face” becomes a trending topic on social media, referring to the facial bloating and puffiness one may experience following a severe state of stress or other medical episode, more awareness has been drawn to the significance of the endocrine system. Taking the necessary steps to support the health of your endocrine system can make a world of difference in how your hormonal functions thrive.
O Positiv Health spoke to reproductive endocrinology and fertility specialist Dr. Shahin Ghadir, a member of our Medical Advisory Board. Continuously voted one of the Top Doctors in the U.S. by Los Angeles Magazine’s national poll and Super Doctors of Southern California, Dr. Ghadir offers insight on how a woman can best support her endocrine system and what warning signs she should look out for.
OP: What are the most common concerns people have about their endocrine systems?
Dr. Ghadir: The endocrine system is one of the most complicated systems of the human body. Many patients are completely clueless about how the endocrine system works, but slight abnormalities of hormone levels can cause major dysfunction in their well-being and bodily function.
OP: What are some endocrine disruptors women should avoid at all costs?
Dr. Ghadir: For every person it’s different. Any endocrine disruptor that’s involved in your daily life, diet or activities should be removed. A once-in-a-while thing is probably okay, but anything that’s continuously part of your life should be removed.
OP: Right, so like a laundry detergent versus a processed food you eat daily?
Dr. Ghadir: Correct. If you use a detergent once a month to clean something, you can probably live with that. But if you’re eating processed food every day, with preservatives that you can’t even pronounce, you’re making a big problem for yourself.
OP: What are some signs that a woman’s endocrine system may not be functioning properly?
Dr. Ghadir: Very obvious signs of endocrine abnormalities for a female are those that affect the menstrual cycle because those are hormones that are very sensitive and are essential for a female’s well-being. The others have to do with rapid changes in weight increasing or decreasing, and energy levels dropping. Differences in skin and hair texture as well can be signs.
OP: Should a woman see an endocrinologist at a certain age or only if these kinds of symptoms present themselves?
Dr. Ghadir: An endocrinologist is a sub-specialist and not someone that normal patients need to see on a regular basis. I think it’s important to have a very smart internal medicine or family practitioner that is aware of these things and if they believe after initial diagnostic testing that maybe some blood tests are off, a referral to an endocrinologist would be intelligent.
OP: What is “cortisol face” and should I be concerned?
Dr. Ghadir: Cortisol is a very powerful hormone. It can cause drastic changes in the sense of how someone feels on a daily basis. In order to get “cortisol face,” which is a very swollen face that is excessively puffy and abnormal, this would involve significant syndromes and medical problems that would involve abnormalities in cortisol levels, not just slight increases because of stress activation. If someone believes they have cortisol face, the first thing to do is refer to their general doctor and see if the diagnostic initial testing is significant or not.
OP: That’s pacifying. Some equate some simple bloating to cortisol face, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.
Dr. Ghadir: Nope, it doesn’t compare. It has nothing to do with just a little bit of bloating that you get eating salty soy sauce at sushi dinner.
OP: Are there specific foods that support the endocrine system?
Dr. Ghadir: I think a very well-balanced diet that involves all the food groups and nutritious foods with no preservatives can absolutely foster a healthy endocrine system.
OP: Any foods to avoid?
Dr. Ghadir: There are so many foods to avoid that I don’t know if there’s specifically one that comes to top of mind. Anything preserved, anything processed I would stay away from. All these things impact the endocrine system in a negative way. I’m always preaching the importance of the Mediterranean diet for a Western lifestyle. That means while living in the USA, all of the constituents that are involved in the Mediterranean diet, including fresh vegetables, meat, chicken, fish, olive oil, avocado, healthy foods that are enriched with their own natural vitamins is what I would do to be balanced hormonally. Also, we can’t forget that BMI and a patient’s weight is also extremely important. When people have excessive amounts of fat on their body, the fat converts to different hormones that throw the body and hormonal system off.
OP: Speaking to body fat, can too much exercise do the endocrine system bad as well?
Dr. Ghadir: Absolutely. Too much of anything for the human body is bad. Understanding the appropriate amounts of everything is best. Exercising too much and reducing body fat to unnatural levels while not replenishing the body with supplements and nutritious foods can actually harm the body.
OP: What do you wish more women knew about their endocrine system?
Dr. Ghadir: What’s extremely important is that women need to understand that the basis which leads to a healthy body and therefore a healthy endocrine system begins with a healthy you. It begins with physically and emotionally being in control of your state which therefore controls different hormones. Whether it’s cortisol from your emotional state or other hormones from biological states, that is key.
Taking Dr. Ghadir’s guidance into account, avoiding daily endocrine disruptors and living a nutritionally balanced life can reward you with healthy, happy hormones. Emphasizing just how pivotal the endocrine system is for a woman’s fundamental well-being, Dr. Ghadir reminds us that making informed choices in our diets and exercise regimes can make all the difference.
About the Doctor
Dr. Ghadir is board-certified in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. He is currently a practicing physician at HRC Fertility in Beverly Hills and is an assistant clinical professor in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and at the Keck School of Medicine at USC.
A native Angeleno, Dr. Ghadir is continuously voted one of the Top Doctors in the U.S. by Los Angeles Magazine’s national poll and Super Doctors of Southern California. He remains one of the most popular, approachable, and well-liked fertility specialists in the country with amazing reviews from both patients and peers.
Dr. Ghadir received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from UCLA, graduating cum laude. He earned his medical degree from the Central University School of Medicine, where he graduated summa cum laude and ranked first in his class. He completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, followed by a three-year fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the combined UCLA and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center program. Dr. Ghadir has served as emeritus board member for Family Equality, formerly known as the American Fertility Association (AFA), as well as the Neuromuscular Disease Foundation (NDF). He has received numerous academic awards and honors over the years, including a Distinguished Teaching Award during his residency and a Community Service Recognition Award in the state of California.
Dr. Ghadir has been featured nationally and internationally in the LA Times, The Today Show, Redbook, People magazine, Marie Claire, Fox News, ABC News, BBC News, Telemundo, Univision, Bravo’s Shahs of Sunset, Late Night Show, and The Doctors. He is also featured on multiple YouTube channels, the website TheBump.com, a multitude of podcasts, along with other social media outlets. He is a proud supporter of the Family Equality Council and has helped hundreds of LGBTQ couples and individuals build their families. He is dedicated to helping our country’s military and arranges special discount programs. Dr. Ghadir founded his own charitable organization named Fertility for All in order to raise awareness and funds to assist individuals and couples in building their families.
As a published author, Dr. Ghadir has contributed to prominent peer-reviewed journals including Fertility and Sterility, The New England Journal of Medicine, as well as clinical journals, such as Sexuality, Reproduction, & Menopause. He is also a contributing author of the infertility section of the new McGraw-Hill reference, CURRENT Diagnosis & Treatment: Obstetrics & Gynecology. He continues to conduct extensive original research on women’s health and reproductive issues such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the treatment of fibroids, fertility preservation, adhesion therapies, and sexual health.
Dr. Ghadir has one of the highest pregnancy rates in the field of infertility. Equally as important, he has an incredible bedside manner and truly puts his heart and soul into every patient’s fertility journey.
A note on sex and gender: Sex and gender exists on spectrums, and this article uses terms like “male” or “female” to refer to sex assigned at birth. Learn more.
