4 Best Hormone Balance Supplements (Complete Review)

Hormones are incredibly important substances that transmit messages to various parts of your body.

They support virtually every bodily process – from digestion to muscle function – and help control your emotions and mental processes.

In this article, we’ll be looking at hormones, what they do, how to notice an imbalance and recommending some of the Best Hormone Balance Supplements to keep your body in check.

Your body produces hormones in various glands throughout the body (such as the pituitary, thyroid and pineal glands) known as endocrine glands. These hormones then travel throughout your body, acting as chemical messengers to trigger or regulate biological processes, from creating stress responses to facilitating physical development.

However, many factors can cause hormonal imbalances linked to serious health issues, so you should take measures to keep your hormones – and health – in check. While injuries and illnesses or natural processes like menopause can cause hormonal imbalances, you should stop and think about whether you need supplements that promote hormone balance before you rush down to your local drugstore.

What Are Hormones?

Produced in your endocrine glands, hormones are your body’s chemical messengers and travel around your bloodstream, telling your organs, muscles and skin what to do and when. For example, estrogen– the primary female sex hormone – is vital for physical development during childhood but decreases dramatically during menopause, so the best female hormone balance supplements are often targeted at older women.

Scientists have identified over 50 hormones in the human body which control all kinds of different bodily processes, including:

Furthermore, hormones are extremely powerful, and even a small change in your hormone levels can cause significant changes to your body. For example, cortisol – also known as the stress hormone – is produced by your adrenal glands, and even a tiny amount can send your heart racing in the so-called ‘fight or flight response’.

Best Hormone Balance Supplements

Hormonal issues can affect people, so if you have symptoms of a hormonal imbalance or aren’t feeling yourself, you could benefit from taking vitamins for hormonal imbalance. Whether you’re suffering from fatigue, mood swings or reproductive issues (i.e. PMS or erectile dysfunction), you don’t have to accept these issues as a fact of life.

Best hormone balance supplements can be made from natural herbs and spices or chemical extracts, and while each one has different benefits, there’s sure to be at least one product that can help your specific imbalance in our picks for the best hormone balance supplements:

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Hormonal Imbalance Symptoms

Under normal circumstances, your body will produce all the hormones it needs to maintain internal balance (homeostasis), and there’s no need to take drugs or vitamins for hormonal imbalance. However, even a small difference in your hormone levels can have serious effects, so it’s important to recognize the symptoms of hormonal imbalances and address them quickly.

Because your hormones play an integral role in so many biological processes, hormonal imbalances can present a wide range of symptoms, but some common signs in men and women are:

• Unexplained or sudden weight loss
• Weight gain
• Increased hunger/thirst
• Fatigue
• Depression
• Anxiety or irritability
• Muscle aches/weakness
• Pain or stiffness in your joints
• Altered heart rate
• Sweating
• Constipation
• Frequent urination
• Decreased sex drive
• Blurred vision
• Thinning hair
• Dry skin

Remember, all these symptoms are nonspecific and could be caused by other conditions or lifestyle factors, so we recommend asking your doctor for advice before searching for the best natural hormone balance supplements.

Key Hormones To Keep In Check

Hormones are central to all kinds of biological processes, and keeping your levels in balance is crucial for your general health, though some hormones are more critical than others. Because there are over 50 hormones in the human body – more than any hormone support supplements could regulate – here are the eight most important hormones to keep in check:

1. Estrogen

Estrogen is a key female sex hormone produced primarily in the ovaries (your adrenal glands and fat cells also produce some), which regulates menstruation, fertility and even blood and bone health.

High estrogen levels are linked to higher risks of breast or uterine cancer and depression, while low levels can cause skin issues and hair loss, so estrogen is a common ingredient in the best female hormone balance supplements.

2. Testosterone

As the main male sex hormone, testosterone is essential for physical development, muscle growth, bone density and sex drive in men, and it is primarily produced in the testes. Low testosterone levels are linked to infertility, weight gain and depression, while high levels can cause acne, hair loss and sleep issues, so the best hormone balance supplements for men all try to regulate this vital hormone.

RELATED: Read our article on the top-rated supplements to increase testosterone to help regulate your T levels.

3. Insulin

Insulin is responsible for converting glucose (sugar) from your diet into energy or storing it in the liver for future use and is produced in the pancreas.

An inability to produce and process insulin is the main cause of diabetes, making this hormone vital for general health and a major priority for supplements that promote hormonal balance.

4. Cortisol

Cortisol, commonly known as the stress hormone, is produced by the adrenal glands in response to stress and can put your body in survival mode to deal with threats. As with stress, too much cortisol can cause anxiety and hypertension, but too little can cause low blood pressure and fatigue, so the best natural hormone balance supplements should address your stress levels.

5. Human Growth Hormone (HGH)

Produced by the pituitary gland, HGH stimulates growth, cell reproduction and cell regeneration, making it essential for your health throughout your life.

While children and adults produce the most Human Growth Hormone, adults require some to maintain healthy tissues, so some hormone support supplements contain HGH and claim to be anti-aging because they boost muscle tone.

6. Serotonin

Serotonin is considered a natural mood stabilizer and supports healthy neurological function, digestion and sleep, so the best supplements for hormone balance should help regulate your serotonin levels.

Low serotonin levels are linked to depression, weight gain, migraines and insomnia, so it’s vital to maintain healthy serotonin levels.

7. Adrenaline

Adrenaline is often associated with dangerous situations and the ‘fight or flight’ response, but your adrenal glands can secrete it in response to everyday stress, causing elevated levels. High adrenaline levels can cause high blood pressure, heart palpitations, and anxiety, so you should try to regulate your adrenaline (and stress) levels with mental exercises and vitamins for hormonal imbalance.

8. Thyroid Hormones

Your thyroid (a small, butterfly-shaped gland in front of your neck) secretes various hormones that manage your metabolism, temperature, mood, brain function and more. Any imbalance in these hormones can cause serious health issues and lead to autoimmune disorders like Hashimoto’s disease, so the best supplements for hormone balance should help regulate thyroid hormones.

Adding Hormone Balancing Supplements To Your Routine

If you’re not sleeping well, suffer from mood swings or have noticed some other hormonal imbalance symptoms, there’s a good chance your hormones are out of tune. However, your hormonal system (also known as the endocrine system) is incredibly complex and sensitive, so you should proceed with caution when correcting any perceived imbalance.

First of all, you should try to determine which hormone(s) you have a surplus or deficit of, so you can find supplements effective at raising or lowering the hormones you need, rather than messing with hormones unrelated to your symptoms.

For example, some of the most common hormone imbalances affect the production of the two main sex hormones – estrogen and testosterone – so many supplements are divided by sex. The best female hormone balance supplements are drastically different from those aimed at males.

Ideally, you should seek professional medical advice to accurately diagnose your hormonal imbalance and find the best supplements for your specific health needs.

Unfortunately, hormone tests can be invasive, time-consuming and expensive, so we believe that the best hormone support supplements for the average person target the hormones most commonly affected by imbalances – insulin, estrogen and testosterone

How Long Does It Take To Balance Hormones?

Normally, your body should produce enough hormones to keep you healthy, but many things can affect your hormone production, and it takes more than a few pills to restore balance. While there’s no single cause of hormone imbalances, and they can often fluctuate or affect each other, some key factors to look out for include:

• Reliance on stimulants or depressants like caffeine and alcohol
• Unhealthy diets high in processed foods
• Too little or too much exercise
• Being overweight or obese
• Chronic stress
• Poor sleep

Subsequently, the best way to keep your hormones in balance in the long term is to take a holistic approach and minimize all the lifestyle factors causing hormonal imbalances. Before you go searching for the best natural hormone balance supplements, we recommend trying these natural techniques to balance your hormones:

Eat Plenty of Protein

Protein is great for dieting – as it keeps you feeling full for longer and provides the amino acids your body needs to produce hormones, so try to include 20-30g of protein in each meal.

Exercise Regularly

Regular exercise is incredibly beneficial for overall health and can increase hormone receptor sensitivity, enhancing their benefits and making it incredibly effective when combined with vitamins for hormonal imbalance.

Maintain a Healthy Weight

Weight gain is directly associated with hormonal imbalances, and excess body fat increases your risk of insulin resistance, diabetes and hypogonadism, so it’s important to maintain a healthy weight if you want to avoid hormonal imbalances.

Take Care of Your Gut

Your gut contains trillions of bacteria that help digest food and regulate hormones, so you should try to support a healthy gut biome with a diet rich in fiber and probiotics, which can act as supplements that promote hormone balance.

RELATED: Read our guide on probiotic supplements to help boost your gut health.

Eat less Sugar

Fructose is a simple sugar present in many foods and drinks, notably as High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS), and studies show that it promotes insulin resistance, so you should try to cut sugar from your diet, especially refined sugar.

Try to Lower your Stress

Chronic stress levels elevate your cortisol levels and lead to health conditions like hypertension and obesity, so stress management techniques like meditation or yoga can be as important as hormone support supplements.

Eat Healthy Fats

Getting plenty of healthy fats in your diet can help reduce insulin resistance and appetite, making it easier to lose weight and eat healthily. Furthermore, omega-3s (a type of healthy fat) have many health benefits, so you should consider adding them to your diet.

RELATED: Read our blog about fish oil and bodybuilding to learn more about how Omega-3s be a great addition to your exercise routine.

Sleep well

Consistently getting enough rest is key for your health, as sleep deprivation is linked to imbalances in multiple hormones, including cortisol, insulin and HGH.

Eat Plenty of Fiber

A healthy diet is every bit as important supplements that promote hormone balance, so you should try to eat a diet high in soluble fiber foods, like whole grains, fruit and vegetables.

Unfortunately, even if you follow all of these tips to the letter, you may not be able to restore hormonal balance through lifestyle changes and supplements alone. Depending on the cause of your hormonal imbalance, you may need to seek professional medical treatment to address the underlying cause, so there is no simple answer to how long it takes to balance hormones.

How To Take Hormone Balance Supplements

Learning that your hormones are out of balance can be worrying, especially if you’re concerned about long-term health issues like diabetes, but you can regain your equilibrium with a little help. One simple way to bring them back under control is with supplements, but even with the best hormone balance supplements, there are certain tips you should consider to make the most of them.

The active ingredients in these supplements vary greatly depending on the manufacturer and the hormone they are meant to regulate, as do the recommended instructions. As such, there aren’t many hard and fast rules on taking hormone balance supplements, but here are a few tips that should help you get the most out of  your chosen supplements that promote hormone balance:

How Much Should You Take?

Because there are no clear Recommended Daily Allowances (RDAs) for many of the active ingredients used in hormone balance supplements, you should always take the recommended dosage. When addressing a hormonal imbalance, the last thing you need is to overcorrect and get a different type of imbalance, so make sure not to overdo it.

How Long Should You Take Them?

Because any number of lifestyle factors could cause hormonal imbalances, we believe the best way to keep them at normal levels is through clean living, so it can take weeks before the root cause of your imbalance is cured. Even the best supplements for hormone balance can take a while to give noticeable results, so you should keep a consistent dose until your hormonal imbalance is resolved.

Can They Interact With My Other Meds?

Many herbal supplements (such as hormone supplements) can cause adverse reactions to conventional medicine, so you should always ask your doctor before starting a (potentially harmful) new supplement regime. For example, even something as common as cranberry can exacerbate the effects of blood-thinning drugs, potentially causing bruising and excess bleeding.

Conclusion

Hormones are such an integral part of our health that we often forget about them and wonder why we suffer from fatigue or headaches all the time. Fortunately, there are many ways to address hormonal imbalances, from simple lifestyle changes to hormone support supplements, though you should always be wary of products that claim to have simple solutions to such a complicated problem.

As with any dietary supplement, you should ask your doctor if supplements that promote hormone balance are right for you, as these products may worsen your specific hormonal imbalance. Furthermore, you should take extra care with hormone supplements if you are pregnant, nursing or undergoing medical treatment.