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🌿 Hormones and digestion: the hidden connection that affects your well-being

📌 What do hormones have to do with digestion?

Have you ever felt like your belly bloats right before your period ? 🎈 Or that you struggle to go to the bathroom 🚽 and that feeling of heaviness becomes habitual? Maybe you notice that your digestion slows down at certain times of the month , or that you suddenly go from having a calm bowel to suffering from diarrhea or gas .

If you can relate, your hormones are probably influencing your digestive well-being more than you think .

When there are hormonal imbalances (think estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, insulin… ), it is very common for chronic digestive symptoms to manifest, such as:

✅ Swelling
✅ Constipation
✅ Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

💡 If conventional treatments aren't working for you, it may be time to look beyond the immediate symptoms and focus on hormonal balance.

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🔥 Cortisol and digestion: the price of chronic stress

When we live under constant stress , our body goes into survival mode , which means it prioritizes certain functions (such as increasing heart rate and breathing ) and pauses digestion .

➡️ The culprit? 👉 Cortisol , the stress hormone.

🔹 In excess , it reduces blood flow to the intestine 🩸
🔹 Slows intestinal motility , causing constipation, bloating, or diarrhea 🚽
🔹 Weakens the intestinal microbiota , promoting the growth of harmful bacteria 🦠

📢 “Elevated cortisol can profoundly disrupt digestion, weakening the gut microbiota and generating inflammation.”

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⚖️ Estrogen vs. Progesterone: Their Impact on Gut Health

Estrogen and progesterone levels fluctuate 📆 during the menstrual cycle, directly affecting digestion.

📉 When progesterone is high (before menstruation):
🔹 Slows down intestinal transit 🐌
🔹 Causes constipation and bloating 🎈

📈 When estrogen rises:
🔹 Accelerates digestion , causing softer stools or diarrhea 💨
🔹 It can cause intestinal spasms , alternating between constipation and diarrhea.

⚠️ Many women with IBS notice that their symptoms worsen during certain phases of the menstrual cycle.

📢 “During the menstrual cycle, the increase in progesterone slows digestion, causing bloating and constipation, while estrogen can speed up bowel movements, causing diarrhea.”

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🍬 The role of insulin and blood sugar spikes

Insulin not only regulates glucose, but also affects digestion .

📉 When there is an insulin imbalance (due to a diet high in sugars, refined carbohydrates, or insulin resistance) , the following may appear:

🔹 Imbalance in the intestinal microbiota 🦠
🔹 Dysbiosis (proliferation of harmful bacteria such as Candida albicans )
🔹 Bloating, gas, diarrhea, or constipation

📢 “Insulin imbalances can cause intestinal inflammation and problems like leaky gut, worsening digestive symptoms.”

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🦋 Slow thyroid, slow digestion

If you have hypothyroidism , even in its subclinical phase, your digestion may slow down .

🛑 This can cause:
✅ Chronic constipation 🚽
✅ Feeling of heaviness after meals 🥴
✅ Difficulty absorbing essential nutrients

📢 “Hypothyroidism can slow bowel movements, causing constipation and affecting nutrient absorption, which impacts overall well-being.”

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✅ What can you do?

To improve your digestion and balance your hormones:

✔️ Eat consciously and in a balanced way , including foods rich in soluble fiber and prebiotics 🌱
✔️ Reduce stress by practicing conscious breathing, yoga, or meditation 🧘‍♀️
✔️ Take care of your intestinal microbiota , incorporating fermented foods such as kefir or sauerkraut 🥛
✔️ Maintain stable blood sugar levels by choosing healthy fats like avocado and nuts 🥑

📢 Your hormones and your digestive system are deeply connected. Listening to your body and paying attention to these signals will help you improve your digestive health and overall well-being.

💡 If you want to improve your digestion and balance your hormones, book an appointment with our team of nutritionists at 👉 www.mpunti.es 💙