Best Natural Supplement For Hormonal Balance

Hormone imbalances can wreak a lot of havoc, often without you even realizing there’s an issue! We are all so busy and distracted, it’s easy to overlook the warning signs. As the saying goes, “most people have no idea how good their body is designed to feel.”

But first, you may be wondering “what exactly are hormones?” Hormones are chemical messengers (like insulin, cortisol, and estrogen) produced by your endocrine organs (adrenals, thyroid, pituitary, and others). They control and coordinate key processes in your body, maintaining a delicate balance. Too much or too little of any one hormone, and major bodily systems are disrupted!

For example, when the body has too much estrogen and not enough progesterone, we get an imbalance called “estrogen dominance.” Some claim that 50% of women over age 35 have estrogen dominance!

Estrogen dominance is causes by a complex array of factors, including:

• environmental xenoestrogens (compounds used in skin care products, chemical sunscreens, plastics, preservatives, food dyes, weed killers, pesticides, and cleaning products)
• birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
• lack of ovulation during cycle (common in women over age 35)
• digestion issues such as low stomach acid or leaky gut
• chronic stress (which taxes the adrenals and the thyroid)
• poor diet high in inflammatory fats, refined carbs and hormone-laden meats and dairy
• smoking and alcohol use

Estrogen dominance has many devastating effects on women’s health, such as:

• severe PMS symptoms
• heavy, irregular periods or amenorrhea (loss of period)
• uterine fibroids, endometriosis, or fibrocystic breasts
• low sexual desire
• infertility
• constant headaches, fatigue, anxiety, or irritability
• ongoing depression
• acne, hair loss, cold hands and feet
• insulin resistance (which is a risk factor for diabetes)
• weight gain, bloating, inability to lose weight, excess weight in the belly, hips and thighs
• increased risk of breast, uterine, and ovarian cancers

Fortunately, the clinically-dosed ingredients in Vibrance help counteract many the negative effects of hormone imbalance!

For starters, Folate specifically has been shown to improve insulin resistance (inability to metabolize carbs), regulate menstrual cycle, boost progesterone and assist normal ovulation.¹

Chromium is another essential mineral that assists weight loss, insulin sensitivity, and carbohydrate metabolism.^2,3 Essentially, chromium can help you burn carbs properly rather than store them as fat.

Ashwagandha (withania somnifera, Indian ginseng, poison gooseberry, winter cherry)  is an Indian herb that seems to help level out cortisol levels, potentially alleviating chronic stress that aggravates PCOS symptoms.^4,5 Ashwagandha is traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine to increase fetal strength during pregnancy and promote breast milk production at doses of 3-5 grams per day. However, extremely high doses have been shown to induce abortion in animals, so use caution if pregnant. 

This powerful compound Black Pepper Fruit Extract (piperine) counteracts the effects of hormone imbalance from multiple fronts. It helps increase metabolic rate,⁶ block fat cell formation,⁷ and even has anti-depressant effects!⁸

Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) and other essential fatty acids have been shown to menstrual irregularities and excess belly fat, and treat period pain.^9,10 As an added bonus, the essential fatty acid ALA is involved in healthy weight management by reducing hunger and increasing resting metabolic rate.^11,12

L-Glutathione protects against oxidative stress, a key factor in aging. It also helps reduce the appearance of sun spots and wrinkles for a more youthful complexion!¹³

Diindolylmethane (DIM) helps balance estrogen levels¹⁴ and may improve hormone-related acne. It’s particularly helpful for women suffering estrogen dominance, i.e., normal to high estrogen levels and low progesterone.

Indole 3-Carbinol (I3C) also helps counter the negative effects of excess estrogen by partially blocking the estrogen’s action on various cells.¹⁵ I3C also appears to have strong antioxidant, anti-cancer, and anti-tumor properties!^16,17

It’s important to remember that NO supplement can replace the health benefits of a nutritious, anti-inflammatory diet, regular exercise, adequate hydration and sleep, and of course proper stress management. However, Vibrance can definitely give you an extra boost on top of these healthy habits to help you be your most vibrant self!

Sources:

1. Gaskins, Audrey J et al. “The impact of dietary folate intake on reproductive function in premenopausal women: a prospective cohort study.” PloS one vol. 7,9 (2012): e46276. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0046276
2. Jakimiuk, Artur, and Jacek Szamatowicz. “The Role of Inositol Deficiency in the Etiology of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Disorders.” Polish Gynaecology, vol. 85, no. 1, 2014, doi:10.17772/gp/1691.
3. Amooee, Sedigheh et al. “Metformin versus chromium picolinate in clomiphene citrate-resistant patients with PCOs: A double-blind randomized clinical trial.” Iranian journal of reproductive medicine vol. 11,8 (2013): 611-8.
4. Khani, Behnaz et al. “Omega-3 supplementation effects on polycystic ovary syndrome symptoms and metabolic syndrome.” Journal of research in medical sciences : the official journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences vol. 22 64. 30 May. 2017, doi:10.4103/jrms.JRMS_644_16
5. Rocha Filho, Edilberto A et al. “Essential fatty acids for premenstrual syndrome and their effect on prolactin and total cholesterol levels: a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study.” Reproductive health vol. 8 2. 17 Jan. 2011, doi:10.1186/1742-4755-8-2
6. Outlaw, Jordan et al. “Effects of ingestion of a commercially available thermogenic dietary supplement on resting energy expenditure, mood state and cardiovascular measures.” Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition vol. 10,1 25. 30 Apr. 2013, doi:10.1186/1550-2783-10-25
7. Park, Ui-Hyun, et al. “Piperine, a Component of Black Pepper, Inhibits Adipogenesis by Antagonizing PPARγ Activity in 3T3-L1 Cells.” Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, vol. 60, no. 15, June 2012, pp. 3853–3860., doi:10.1021/jf204514a.
8. Li, Song, et al. “Antidepressant-like Effects of Piperine and Its Derivative, Antiepilepsirine.” Journal of Asian Natural Products Research, vol. 9, no. 5, 2007, pp. 421–430., doi:10.1080/10286020500384302.
9. Choudhary, Dnyanraj et al. “Body Weight Management in Adults Under Chronic Stress Through Treatment With Ashwagandha Root Extract: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.” Journal of evidence-based complementary & alternative medicine vol. 22,1 (2017): 96-106. doi:10.1177/2156587216641830
10. Chandrasekhar, K et al. “A prospective, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of ashwagandha root in reducing stress and anxiety in adults.” Indian journal of psychological medicine vol. 34,3 (2012): 255-62. doi:10.4103/0253-7176.106022
11. Namazi, Nazli, et al. “Alpha-Lipoic Acid Supplement in Obesity Treatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials.” Clinical Nutrition, vol. 37, no. 2, 2018, pp. 419–428., doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2017.06.002.
12. Kucukgoncu, S et al. “Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) as a supplementation for weight loss: results from a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.” Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity vol. 18,5 (2017): 594-601. doi:10.1111/obr.12528
13. Weschawalit, Sinee et al. “Glutathione and its antiaging and antimelanogenic effects.” Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology vol. 10 147-153. 27 Apr. 2017, doi:10.2147/CCID.S128339
14. Rajoria, Shilpi et al. “3,3'-diindolylmethane modulates estrogen metabolism in patients with thyroid proliferative disease: a pilot study.” Thyroid : official journal of the American Thyroid Association vol. 21,3 (2011): 299-304. doi:10.1089/thy.2010.0245
15. Yuan F, Chen DZ, Liu K, et al. Anti-estrogenic activities of indole-3-carbinol in cervical cells: implication for prevention of cervical cancer.Anticancer Res . 1999;19:1673-1680.
16. Bradlow HL, Sepkovic DW, Telang NT, et al. Multifunctional aspects of the action of indole-3-carbinol as an antitumor agent. Ann N Y Acad Sci . 1999;889:204-213.
17. Arnao MB, Sanchez-Bravo J, Acosta M. Indole-3-carbinol as a scavenger of free radicals. Biochem Mol Biol Int . 1996;39:1125-1134.