by Feeling Great | Hormones
Female Hormone Specialist – Understanding your body’s signals
Are Hormones Causing Your Fatigue, Weight Gain, or Mood Swings?
Do you feel like your hormones are out of balance? If so, you’re not alone. Hormones act as chemical messengers, influencing everything from energy levels and mood to digestion, metabolism, and overall well-being. When they become imbalanced, a range of symptoms can arise, impacting your quality of life.
As a Female Hormone Specialist, I help identify and address these imbalances through natural solutions. Functional and naturopathic medicine focus on finding the root cause, using methods like salivary hormone testing to measure the active hormones affecting your body. This allows for precise treatment using herbs, nutrients, and natural hormone therapy.
Mainstream medicine often relies on blood tests, which measure both bound and unbound hormones, sometimes missing key imbalances. If your symptoms aren’t reflected in your test results, you might be told it’s just aging—when in reality, a deeper issue may be at play.
Let’s explore common hormonal imbalances, symptoms, and how to regain balance naturally.
7 Hormone Imbalance and Symptoms
1. Progesterone: The Balancing Hormone
Progesterone helps counteract excess estrogen, which can contribute to growths, cancers, and other health issues. Maintaining the right balance is essential for both men and women.
Symptoms of Low Progesterone:
- Swollen breasts
- Irregular periods
- Weight gain
- Anxiety or depression
- Brain fog
- Low libido
Best Testing Method: Salivary hormone profile (most accurate) or blood test.
2. Oestrogen: The Key to Hormonal Harmony
Both men and women require a balance of three oestrogen forms—Estrone (E1), Estradiol (E2), and Estriol (E3). When this balance is disrupted, it can lead to prostate issues, heart disease, and hormonal cancers.
Symptoms of Low Oestrogen:
- Sleep disturbances
- Memory lapses
- Vaginal dryness
- Depression
Symptoms of Excess Oestrogen:
- Water retention
- Weight gain
- Mood swings
- Heavy or irregular periods
Best Testing Method: Salivary hormone testing or blood tests.
3. Testosterone: Vital for Strength and Vitality
Both men and women need healthy testosterone levels. Low levels are linked to heart disease, low libido, and muscle weakness, while excess levels may cause acne, hair loss, or hormonal imbalances.
Symptoms of Low Testosterone:
- Fatigue
- Brain fog
- Low libido
- Muscle weakness
Symptoms of High Testosterone:
- Acne
- Irritability
- Excess facial hair (women)
Best Testing Method: Salivary hormone testing or blood test with SHBG.
4. Thyroid: The Metabolic Regulator
Thyroid hormones control energy levels and metabolism. Many thyroid issues go undetected in standard blood tests, leading to misdiagnosed fatigue, weight gain, or depression.
Symptoms of Low Thyroid Function:
- Constant fatigue
- Weight gain
- Hair thinning
- Feeling cold
Best Testing Method: Comprehensive blood test, including TSH, fT3, fT4, and thyroid antibodies.
5. Cortisol: The Stress Hormone
Cortisol, produced by the adrenal glands, plays a key role in stress response. If levels are too high or too low, adrenal fatigue can occur, leading to disrupted sleep, weight gain, and anxiety.
Symptoms of High Cortisol:
- Sleep issues
- High blood pressure
- Mood swings
Symptoms of Low Cortisol:
- Chronic fatigue
- Sugar cravings
- Feeling low or unmotivated
Best Testing Method: Salivary adrenal profile to track cortisol and DHEA levels throughout the day.
6. DHEA: The Hormone Precursor
DHEA is crucial for testosterone, oestrogen, and progesterone production. When levels drop, it affects stress adaptation, energy, and immune function.
Symptoms of Low DHEA:
- Low libido
- Fatigue
- Depression
Best Testing Method: Salivary adrenal hormone testing.
7. Insulin: Regulating Blood Sugar and Energy
Insulin resistance can develop years before diabetes is diagnosed, affecting metabolism, energy, and weight management.
Symptoms of Insulin Resistance:
- Sugar cravings
- Weight gain (especially around the waist)
- Low energy and frequent hunger
- Irritability
Best Testing Method: Fasting blood glucose or HbA1c test.
Take Control of Your Hormones
Your body is a complex network of hormones, working through feedback loops that affect every aspect of health. If you’re experiencing symptoms, don’t ignore them! Testing and personalized support can help restore balance, energy, and overall well-being.
Want to read more about Hormones? Read this Hormones and Weight Gain After 40
Book your hormone test and start your journey to better health today!
by Feeling Great | Hormones, Weight Loss
Natural Remedies for Insulin Resistance
Tired, Hungry, Gaining Weight? Here’s How to Stop It for Good
Do you often feel exhausted, constantly hungry, or notice unwanted weight gain? Are your afternoons filled with energy crashes, or do you find yourself waking at night to use the bathroom? Maybe you’re feeling thirstier than usual?
These symptoms could be signs of insulin resistance—a condition affecting an estimated 500,000 Australians who don’t even realize they have it. Many people assume it’s just part of getting older and dismiss it. But here’s the truth: you can absolutely do something about it!
When your blood sugar is unbalanced, your body is at risk for diabetes, high cholesterol, weight gain, hormone imbalances, and more. The good news? Insulin resistance can be reversed naturally! Let’s break it down and explore simple, natural remedies that can help you regain your energy, balance your hormones, and feel amazing again.
What Is Insulin Resistance?
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps your body absorb glucose from the bloodstream and use it for energy.
But when you have insulin resistance, your cells stop responding to insulin properly. This means your body needs more insulin to do the same job. Over time, your pancreas works harder and harder—until it can’t keep up anymore.
When this happens, blood sugar levels rise, and you might start experiencing:
- Fat accumulating around your waist
- Constant tiredness and irritability
- Sugar cravings for biscuits, pasta, and sweets
- Achy joints and hormonal imbalances
- Higher risk of prediabetes, diabetes, and chronic health issues
Many people think insulin resistance appears suddenly. It doesn’t. It develops over time, often going unnoticed for years. The key is early awareness and taking action now!
What Causes Insulin Resistance?
Several factors contribute to insulin resistance, including:
- Eating too many sugary foods and refined carbs (cakes, pasta, bread, sweets, alcohol)
- Chronic stress that keeps blood sugar levels high
- Poor sleep that disrupts hormone balance
- Lack of physical activity
- Vitamin D deficiency
- Excess belly fat that increases inflammation
- Hormonal imbalances affecting your thyroid, adrenals, and sex hormones
The question is—can it be reversed? Absolutely!
Menopause & Insulin Resistance: The Hidden Link
Women going through perimenopause and menopause have a higher risk of developing insulin resistance due to fluctuating estrogen levels.
As estrogen shifts, it affects the entire endocrine system, making blood sugar levels harder to regulate. When combined with existing hormonal imbalances, this can create a perfect storm—leading to weight gain, fatigue, mood swings, and poor concentration.
But the great news is: balancing insulin naturally can help stabilize your hormones and relieve these frustrating symptoms!
Natural Remedies for Insulin Resistance
1. Balance Blood Sugar With Smart Eating
The best way to fight insulin resistance is through your diet. Focus on:
- Protein-rich meals (chicken, fish, eggs, tofu) to stabilize energy
- Healthy fats (avocados, olive oil, nuts) to keep you full longer
- Fiber-packed vegetables to slow blood sugar spikes
- Low-glycemic fruits (berries, apples) instead of sugary snacks
Avoid processed foods, white bread, pasta, sodas, and sugary treats!
2. Reduce Inflammation Naturally
Chronic inflammation makes insulin resistance worse. Combat it with:
- Turmeric & ginger—natural anti-inflammatories
- Omega-3 fatty acids—found in salmon, flaxseeds, and walnuts
- Green tea & herbal teas—reduce oxidative stress
By cutting down inflammation, you help your body absorb insulin more effectively.
3. Prioritize Sleep & Stress Management
Lack of sleep increases stress hormones, which drive up blood sugar levels. Try:
- 7–9 hours of quality sleep per night
- Daily relaxation practices—like deep breathing, journaling, or meditation
- Cutting back on caffeine—especially in the afternoon
The more relaxed your body is, the better it can regulate insulin.
4. Move Your Body to Boost Insulin Sensitivity
Exercise forces your muscles to use glucose, making it one of the best ways to fight insulin resistance.
The best workouts include:
- Strength training (weights, resistance bands)
- Cardio (walking, cycling, dancing)
- High-intensity interval training (HIIT)
Pro tip: Exercising before eating can increase fat-burning and improve insulin sensitivity even faster!
5. Try Intermittent Fasting for Insulin Control
Fasting gives your body a break from constantly processing food, allowing insulin levels to drop naturally.
Best fasting methods for insulin resistance:
- 16:8 method—Eat within an 8-hour window, fast for 16 hours
- 5:2 diet—Eat normally for 5 days, reduce calories for 2 days
- 24-hour fasts—Done once or twice a week for a deeper reset
Many of my clients have seen dramatic improvements in energy and weight loss by adding intermittent fasting to their routine.
Take Control of Your Health—Starting Today!
Insulin resistance isn’t a life sentence. With the right strategies, you can balance your blood sugar, prevent diabetes, and feel amazing again.
If you’ve been struggling with weight gain, energy crashes, and sugar cravings—it’s time to take action.
💡 Need help creating a personalized plan? At Feeling Great Health Solutions, I specialize in holistic approaches to balancing blood sugar, improving energy, and optimizing overall wellness.
If you want to read about Intermittent Fasting and If you find this helpful we love hearing your thoughts!
📅 Book a consultation today and let’s get you back to feeling your absolute best!
You deserve to feel fantastic every day!
