You’re being so hormonal.
It’s a phrase we’ve all heard, either personally, about somebody else, in a movie, or on the news. Women are too emotional to lead. Women are too unpredictable to govern. Women are too–
Hormonal.
The cyclical nature of our hormones has been thrown at us by politicians and partners, bosses and co-workers, writers in Hollywood, and the media at large. We’ve been taught that being hormonal is a bad thing; a weakness.
But what if it isn’t? What if our body’s hormones and their cyclical nature throughout the month and throughout our lives, are actually our greatest superpower? (Spoiler alert—they are.)
In case you missed it, we were lucky enough to share our thoughts on this in The New York Times:
So today, let’s stop the shaming and gaslighting. Yes, you’re being so hormonal. And it’s a very good thing.
Importance of Hormones in Our Bodies
If you don’t exactly remember your last BIO class, let’s do a quick refresher on hormones in the female body and what they do on a functional level.
Estrogen
Estrogen is actually a group of hormones that includes estradiol, estriol, and estrone. These guys are produced in the ovaries and are responsible for developing secondary sex characteristics during puberty (like breasts), and later, for regulating the menstrual cycle. Estrogen levels also impact sex drive, sleep quality, mood, skin, weight, and energy levels.1
Progesterone
Progesterone’s basic job is to prepare the uterus for a potential pregnancy after ovulation by thickening up the endometrial lining. If a woman doesn’t become pregnant, progesterone levels crash and that’s when she’ll get her period. If she does get pregnant, progesterone levels will continue to rise.
On a symptomatic level, too low levels of progesterone can make estrogen levels too high, which can lead to weight gain, decreased sex drive, and more.1
Testosterone
Though typically associated with men, testosterone is also produced in small amounts by the ovaries and adrenal glands in women. It contributes to libido, energy levels, and muscle strength.1
Cortisol
Cortisol is a type of steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands, the little glands on top of the kidneys. Cortisol is also known as the “stress hormone,” because it normally helps regulate the body’s stress response. However, chronic stress can lead to chronically high levels of cortisol, which can lead to weight gain, mood swings, anxiety, and other physical and mental health issues.2
There are tons of other hormones at play in the female body, but these four are the most likely to cause noticeable outward symptoms when they’re out of balance.
Why Being Hormonal is a Good Thing
Each of these hormones may impact us negatively when they’re out of whack, but when they’re in balance, they have tons of benefits.
Estrogen Benefits for Females
- Improves skin elasticity and collagen production3
- Improves cognitive function and memory3
- Alleviates symptoms of anxiety and depression3
- Can help lower bad cholesterol and prevent heart disease3
- Improves bone health3
Benefits of Progesterone
- Regulates menstrual cycle4
- Decreases risk of certain cancers4
- Helps with sleep quality4
- May improve mood swings4
Testosterone Benefits for Females
- Improves bone density and muscle mass5
- May help with cognitive function5
- Improves libido5
- Gives us energy5
- May boost mood5
- May boost mood5
Even Cortisol Has its Place
- Regulates stress response6
- Regulates blood sugar and blood pressure6
- Reduces inflammation6
- Regulates metabolism6
- Boosting the immune system6
Now it’s important to note that when we say these hormones need to be in balance, we don’t necessarily mean everyone needs more of them—which can be a common misconception in this era where Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) prescriptions are common. Some people may have too much estrogen; some too little. Some women may have low progesterone, and some too much. And it’s confusing because many of the symptoms for “too low” or “too high” are the same!
The only way to be sure where your hormone levels are is to get a blood test and speak to your healthcare practitioner.
Why Am I Crying for No Reason?
We want to be sure to cover the age old question, “Why am I crying for no reason?” so everyone can just stop Googling it.
The reason you’re crying, seemingly out of nowhere, can be for tons of perfectly sensible reasons. Perhaps you have some repressed grief that seems to come out of “nowhere” simply because you haven’t let yourself feel it. Perhaps you’re feeling anxious. Perhaps you’re exhausted or burnt out. Perhaps the inescapable weight of being alive in this beautiful and tragic world just bubbled up to the surface for a moment.
Or perhaps your hormones are out of balance.
Hormone Balance Supplements
If your hormones are out of balance – which again, you’d need a blood test to determine which ones are too low or too high—there are some non-prescription options you might look into.
FLO Endocrine Superfood Powder: This powder contains science-backed ingredients like DIM, B vitamins, a blend of red veggies, L-theanine, and more to help detox the liver, improve mood and stress response, and balance out hormone levels.*
FLO Ovarian Support: This supplement includes DIM, Myo-Inositol, and D-Chiro-Inositol to help keep hormones in balance and target symptoms like irregular periods, hormonal weight gain, or unwanted facial hair.*
The nice thing about these non-prescription options is that they don’t just increase a hormone, like taking estrogen or progestin would. These supplements can help balance overall hormone levels– whether they’re too high or too low.
Other things you can do to keep your hormones balanced and happy include regular exercise (not excessive exercise, as this will also throw hormones out of balance); a healthy, nutrient-filled diet; good sleep; lots of love and socialization; and relaxation and mindfulness practices.
