Your gut and your hormones are in constant communication with one another. In fact, there is a continual interplay between the two.
But if that ongoing conversation breaks down, undesirable consequences can ripple through the entire endocrine system.
Most people don’t realize that bloating, weight gain, and thyroid issues can actually stem from gut problems. Or conversely, that digestive issues can be caused by hormone imbalances.
This gut-hormone relationship is bidirectional and powerful.
Your Gut’s Role in Hormone Metabolism
Your digestive system does more than just process food. It also plays a crucial role in hormone regulation. The Estrobolome Your gut contains a specialized collection of bacteria called the estrobolome that regulate estrogen metabolism.
Specifically, these bacteria produce an enzyme called beta-glucuronidase, which determines how much estrogen gets reabsorbed into the body versus how much is eliminated.
When the gut microbiome is healthy, estrogen is properly metabolized and eliminated.But when this balance is disrupted, estrogen can be reabsorbed into the body when it shouldn’t be, leading to estrogen dominance.
Thyroid Hormone Conversion
About 20% of the body’s conversion of T4 (an inactive version of thyroid hormone) to T3 (an active version of thyroid hormone) happens in your gut. Poor gut health can impair this conversion, leaving you with symptoms of hypothyroidism, even when the thyroid gland is functioning optimally.
Additionally, gut inflammation can trigger thyroid-related autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
Cortisol and the Gut-Brain Axis
Your gut produces neurotransmitters that communicate with the brain through the vagus nerve. When gut health is compromised, this communication system malfunctions, often leading to increased cortisol production.
Chronic gut inflammation can also elevate cortisol, creating a stress response that impacts every other hormone system.
How Hormones Affect Your Gut
The relationship described above goes both ways. In other words, your hormones can significantly impact your digestive system the same way your digestive system impacts your hormones.
Estrogen and Progesterone
These hormones impact gut motility, the gut barrier, and microbiome composition.
This is why many women notice changes in their digestion during perimenopause and menopause.
Low estrogen can lead to:
- Slower gut motility and constipation
- Increased intestinal permeability (i.e. leaky gut)
- Shifts in beneficial bacteria
Thyroid Hormones
Hypothyroidism often causes constipation because low thyroid hormone slows intestinal motility. Some people’s primary hypothyroid symptoms are actually digestive in nature, rather than being the more classic fatigue or weight gain.
Cortisol
Chronic stress and elevated cortisol can damage the lining of the gut, alter the microbiome, and trigger conditions like IBS. Many people with chronic stress will develop digestive issues that won’t resolve until dysregulated cortisol production is addressed.
Signs Your Gut Is Affecting Your Hormones (or Vice Versa)
Certain patterns can suggest issues in the gut-hormone connection described above:
- Symptoms of hormone imbalance that don’t respond to hormone therapy alone
- Digestive issues that get worse as hormone levels fluctuate
- Thyroid symptoms that persist even when lab values are optimal
- Anxiety and other mood issues that coincide with digestive problems
Healing the Gut-Hormone Connection
A multi-pronged attack is often helpful when working toward a harmonious relationship between your gut and your hormones.
Support Your Microbiome
Nurture beneficial gut bacteria by:
- Eating probiotic-rich foods (like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi)
- Eating prebiotic fiber (like onions, garlic, asparagus, and bananas)
- Taking quality probiotic supplements if needed
- Avoiding antibiotics unless truly necessary
Reduce Inflammation
Lower gut inflammation by:
- Identifying and addressing food sensitivities
- Eating anti-inflammatory foods (like fatty fish, colorful vegetables, and berries)
- Limiting processed foods, sugar, and alcohol
- Managing stress effectively
Support Estrogen Metabolism
Help your body to eliminate excess estrogen by:
- Eating cruciferous vegetables (like broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts)
- Ensuring adequate fiber intake (25-35 grams daily)
- Considering supplements like DIM and calcium-d-glucarate
- Supporting liver detoxification
Optimize Digestive Function
Improve your overall gut health by:
- Eating slowly and chewing thoroughly
- Staying well-hydrated
- Managing meal timing and portion sizes
- Considering digestive enzymes if needed
Address Underlying Issues
If appropriate, work to identify and treat:
- SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth)
- Candida overgrowth
- Parasites
- Leaky gut syndrome
- Food sensitivities
When Gut Health and Hormone Therapy Support Each Other
For people on hormone replacement therapy, gut health can sometimes make or break treatment success. Poor gut health can:
- Interfere with hormone absorption
- Alter how hormones are metabolized
- Reduce treatment effectiveness
This is why some people don’t respond well to hormone therapy until gut issues are addressed. Also, optimizing gut health can sometimes allow hormone therapy to work more effectively at lower doses.
The Integrated Approach
The gut-hormone connection means that optimal health requires addressing both systems together.
If you’ve been treating your hormones without also considering your gut health—or if you’ve been treating digestive issues without addressing hormone imbalances—you may be missing a crucial piece of the puzzle.
The most effective approach integrates:
- Comprehensive hormone testing and optimization
- Gut health assessment and support
- Nutrition strategies that support both systems
- Healthy lifestyle choices
- Stress management
- Regular monitoring and adjustment
Your Gut Knows
That uncomfortable bloating, unpredictable digestion, or stubborn symptoms of hormone imbalance might be your body trying to tell you something.
By understanding the gut-hormone connection, it may be possible to resolve health issues that have otherwise been difficult to address.
Are you ready to be proactive about your gut and hormone health? Renew Youth takes a comprehensive approach to hormone optimization. Call us at (800) 859-7511 or use our easy contact form to schedule your complimentary 30-minute consultation.