How to balance hormones at a cellular level

Hormones

Hormones are chemical messengers that help regulate major processes within the body.

There are three types of hormones created in our body:

• Steroid hormones are made from lipids and include reproductive hormones like estrogen and testosterone.
• Protein hormones are made from chains of amino acids and include molecules like insulin which control blood sugar.
• Amine hormones are derived from the amino acid tyrosine. Adrenaline is an amine hormone.

Hormones are created in many sites of the human body, including our endocrine glands like the adrenals, thyroid, and pituitary gland, as well as organs like the pancreas. Our hormones travel through the bloodstream and control the way our organs function.

In a perfect world, the body produces the right amount of hormones needed for different processes to keep us happy, healthy and balanced. But for some, our sedentary lifestyles, modern-day stressors and a Western way of eating means that hormonal disruptions are becoming more common. When the function and production of our hormones is disrupted, the body might be making too much or too little of one or more hormones, creating an ‘imbalance’.

But when it comes to navigating hormone imbalances, rather than focusing on the hormones themselves – it's important to think about the many factors that might be contributing to an imbalance at a deeper level.

Hormones are created in many sites of the human body, including our endocrine glands like the adrenals, thyroid, and pituitary gland, as well as organs like the pancreas. Our hormones travel through the bloodstream and control the way our organs function.

In a perfect world, the body produces the right amount of hormones needed for different processes to keep us happy, healthy and balanced. But for some, our sedentary lifestyles, modern-day stressors and a Western way of eating means that hormonal disruptions are becoming more common. When the function and production of our hormones is disrupted, the body might be making too much or too little of one or more hormones, creating an ‘imbalance’.

But when it comes to navigating hormone imbalances, rather than focusing on the hormones themselves – it's important to think about the many factors that might be contributing to an imbalance at a deeper level.

Oxidative stress

Oxidative stress and the damage it can cause is now thought to be a contributing factor in all health complications – including hormonal imbalances.

Our day-to-day lives expose us to free radicals, which are compounds that can cause damage to our cells, and over time our body if unchecked. Everyday factors like pollution, UV radiation, poor diet, lack of exercise (or too much), too little sleep, daily stress and alcohol consumption all contribute to the accumulation of free radicals in the body.

While our body has mechanisms, like antioxidants, to neutralize these unstable molecules – as we age, and as our exposure to free radicals in our modern environment becomes harder to avoid, the body can tip into a state of oxidative stress – which has now been shown to be involved in the development of many health complications.

Mitochondria, hormones and oxidative stress

The best way to address oxidative stress is to support the body where it needs it the most – your mitochondria. 90% of your body’s energy comes from your mitochondria, and these bean shaped organelles are responsible for generating the energy your cells, organs and tissues need to function effectively. Although mitochondria are needed for energy production, they are also one of the major sources of free radicals in the body – and the most effective way to address oxidative stress is by targeting the source!

The relationship between oxidative stress and hormones is a two-way street. Too much oxidative stress can lead to hormonal imbalances, and in reverse – hormonal imbalances can lead to oxidative stress. Addressing oxidative stress in the body is foundational for supporting healthy hormones, and it all starts at a cellular level.

The relationship between mitochondria and your hormones

Mitochondria play a crucial role in the production of steroid hormones

Our steroid hormones, like estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, and testosterone are built from cholesterol. This process starts in the mitochondria where cholesterol is converted to pregnenolone. Then begins a dance between the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (another key organelle), where pregnenolone is shuttled to and fro, eventually becoming functional steroid hormones after a series of modifications. Because mitochondria play such a central role in the creation of steroid hormones, it’s important that they function properly. If mitochondria aren’t functioning as they should, the production of hormones can be impacted – causing an imbalance from the bottom up.

The adrenal glands rely on mitochondria to function

Our adrenals are two small endocrine glands that sit on top of the kidneys. They are responsible for controlling our flight or fight response and also play a role in our sleep-wake cycle. Mitochondria are crucial for proper adrenal function. When we experience stress, the brain activates our ‘alarm’ response via the adrenals – which disrupts the body’s normal balance. Nowhere in the body feels this more than our cells and their energy centers, aka your mitochondria. When the body senses stress, our mitochondria are triggered to produce more energy to support our fight or flight response. Stress in all its forms (psychological, mental, physical, emotional and environmental) can put mitochondria into an imbalanced state where they need more energy and support to manage stress.

Your adrenal glands are also intricately connected to your ovaries and thyroid – and all three glands depend on one another to function properly. For healthy hormonal balance, all three systems need to be working optimally, and if one system is under-functioning, the others may be compromised. Supporting the adrenal glands (and the cells that give them energy) creates a ripple effect that strengthens the communication between hormones, and encourages hormonal health.

Mitochondrial health can support fertility

Research suggests that the decline in ovarian function that occurs with age may also be associated with a decline in a number of mitochondria. At birth, the female ovary contains up to 2 million oocytes, or developing eggs. Because females aren’t capable of making new eggs, there’s a continuous decline in eggs each month. By puberty – females are left with around 25% of their total eggs.

Viable eggs require a huge amount of energy to sustain, and age-related oxidative stress has been shown to cause mitochondrial decline – impacting the way the body uses energy. Several studies show that antioxidants like CoQ10 can improve the viability of ovarian follicles, and protect ovarian reserves, by reducing oxidative stress in the mitochondria. Recent research shows that MitoQ may also help to keep aged oocytes healthy by reducing oxidative stress and supporting mitochondrial function.

Learn more about the link between CoQ10 and fertility here

The problem with CoQ10 is that only a very small amount of it actually makes its way inside your mitochondria due to their impermeable membranes. But the mitochondria is the very place you need CoQ10 to target in order for levels to be supported.

MitoQ is an advanced form of CoQ10 that effectively delivers high levels of this powerful antioxidant directly into the mitochondria. It is so effective that the dose can be reduced to ten times less than the normal CoQ10 dose, and once it does it’s job – MitoQ is recycled back to its active form, allowing it to perform this task over and over again.

Mitochondria can influence insulin resistance

Insulin is a hormone that keeps our blood sugar in check. It’s responsible for taking the glucose from the food we eat and moving it from the bloodstream into our cells to be used for energy. Insulin is closely linked to the function of mitochondria, and insulin resistance is a common driver of mitochondrial dysfunction.

Studies show that when insulin is working optimally, both mitochondrial function and antioxidant activity become elevated, and oxidative stress lowers – proving that healthy insulin can in turn, support mitochondrial health.

Balance your hormones by supporting mitochondria

Underlying hormonal imbalances often occur when there’s oxidative stress in the body. Addressing any factors that may be contributing to the accumulation of free radicals is key for healthy, balanced hormones.

Learn more about how to address oxidative stress with MitoQ