Trust your gut. It’s an increasingly relevant saying as science uncovers more evidence backing the significance of your gut microbiome and how it impacts overall health. But what exactly is your gut trying to tell you?
While some signs are obvious, like occasional constipation telling you the wine and cheese you had for dinner last night wasn’t exactly a balanced meal, other signs are more subtle. In fact, indicators of gut health can go way beyond the digestive system. Your breasts, skin and reproductive organs can also give clues as to your body’s gut microbiota balance.
Surprised? Keep reading to find out how your gut communicates with you and what signs to look for that indicate your gut microbiome may need additional support.
THE LINK BETWEEN GUT HEALTH & HORMONES
How might breasts, skin and reproductive organs give clues to gut health? It all has to do with how your microbiome and hormones work together.
Your microbiome consists of an estimated 38 trillion microorganisms. They outnumber your body’s own cells by nearly 10 to 1, and humans cannot survive without them. While most of these microorganisms are found in the gut, they live in and on virtually every part of your body, including skin and the vagina.
The most abundant microorganisms in your microbiome are bacteria. When your body hosts a dense and diverse population of good bacteria, your microbiome thrives — and so do you. It helps make your body more efficient by supporting a healthy gut lining, which optimizes nutrient absorption, plays a role in how efficiently your body flushes out waste and metabolizes estrogen, and is crucial in the production of several hormones.
But your microbiome isn’t the only means your body uses to carry messages throughout. Your hormones act as messengers too, and their function is not limited between your uterus and ovaries. They also transmit information to and from your thyroid, brain, bones and — you guessed it — digestive system.
It’s no wonder many women are confused about what their bodies are trying to tell them. Let’s simplify…
10 SIGNS YOUR GUT HEALTH & HORMONES ARE OUT OF SYNC
Now that we’ve established your body needs a diverse array of good bacteria to support optimal health, hormonal and otherwise, it tracks that a lack of good bacteria could disrupt your overall wellbeing. The scientific term for “not enough good gut bacteria” is intestinal dysbiosis, or gut dysbiosis. Without a healthy microbiome, your body can’t optimally perform its hormone-regulating functions.
Use this self-check list to see if your body may benefit from additional gut and hormonal support:
- Occasional loose stools, bloating or constipation*
- Fatigue*
- Brain fog*
- Sugar or carb cravings*
- Weight gain*
- Mild cyclical breast tenderness*
- Mild menstrual cramps*
- Mild mood swings*
- Skin congestion*
- Occasional trouble sleeping*
Let’s break down how each of the signals on this list can indicate that your gut health and hormones may be out of sync:
Occasional loose stools, bloating or constipation are reported by 90% of women, especially leading up to your period and during the first few days of your menstrual cycle. These normal symptoms are usually attributed to an increase in prostaglandins, hormone-like substances that cause abdominal contractions during your period to help shed the uterine lining. Excessive prostaglandins can be reduced with hormone-supporting nutrients. But if you notice occasional loose stools, bloating or constipation at other times during your menstrual cycle, it could indicate your gut needs probiotic support.*
Fatigue often shows up cyclically, particularly post-ovulation and during your period, and is normal in menopause. Hormone-supporting nutrients can help address cyclical and menopausal fatigue. But if you feel tired even after a good night’s sleep or after meals, it may indicate your body is struggling with optimal nutrient absorption. A healthy gut lining is essential so your body can absorb the vitamins and minerals it needs from the foods you eat to support natural energy production.*
Brain fog, like fatigue, also shows up cyclically and in perimenopause and is linked to fluctuations in hormones needed for cognitive function, like serotonin. Hormone-supporting nutrients can boost mental clarity tied to your cycle and as you age, but for additional support, some strains of probiotic bacteria like L. plantarum DR7, L. brevis and P. acidilactici have been studied for their benefits to cognitive health.*
Sugar or carb cravings are directly influenced by gut microbiota. Gram-positive bacteria (the good kind) reinforce positive messages to the brain to feed your microbiome nutrient-dense foods that help it thrive, whereas gram-negative bacteria prefer foods that diminish a healthy gut, like sugar and refined carbs. This is also one reason why a lack of good bacteria can lead to weight gain. A healthy gut microbiota is key in helping support insulin levels already within normal range to help reduce cravings and support a healthy weight, especially during menopause as estrogen levels decline and fat is more likely to accumulate in the mid-section.*
Mild cyclical breast tenderness and mild menstrual cramps are directly impacted by estrogen levels, which determine whether your breasts feel more tender before your period or how noticeable your menstrual cramps feel. Gut health plays a role because gut microbiota help metabolize estrogen, and changes in micronutrient levels during your menstrual cycle may also play a role. Supplementing with key nutrients post-ovulation and during your period can help reduce these normal symptoms, while good gut bacteria provide an additional method to help support a balanced body.*
Mild mood swings, particularly those associated with mild PMS or menopause, can be linked to neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, both of which are primarily produced in the gut. Without sufficient good gut bacteria, your body struggles to produce sufficient dopamine and serotonin, which — at best— makes you moody, but can also lead to occasional stress and anxiousness. Supplementing with certain strains of probiotics has been shown to effectively support overall feelings of mental wellbeing and reduce occasional stress and anxiousness, while hormone-supporting nutrients offer another approach to reducing mild mood swings.*
Skin congestion that shows up at the same time every month is likely hormone related, but because your microbiome extends to your skin, microorganisms may play a role too. Increasing zinc intake at certain times during your cycle along with a daily probiotic regimen can support clear looking skin all month long.*
Occasional trouble sleeping may be a sign of gut dysbiosis, and lack of sleep may disrupt your microbiome. How’s that for a conundrum! Worse, normal cyclical changes and changes in menopause can be major sleep disruptors (think mild hot flashes and night sweats). A combination of probiotics and hormone-supporting nutrients that specifically target cyclical health or menopausal health may help you sleep more soundly on a consistent basis and provide your microbiome the support it needs to help your body get back on track.*
OPTIMAL GUT HEALTH + HORMONAL HEALTH: Ova Balanced Body Systems
If your gut health and hormones are out of sync, Modere has the solution. Ova Balanced Body Systems take an intuitive and holistic approach to female health by delivering cutting-edge pre-, pro- and postbiotics needed for a healthy gut microbiome, which supports estrogen metabolism, dopamine and serotonin production and a healthy gut lining, together with proprietary women’s health supplements that deliver science-backed, hormone-supporting nutrients and botanicals synced to your menstrual cycle or the phases of menopause.*
For gut health…
Axis TreBiotic features a first of its kind 3-in-1 Microbiome Matrix™ Technology, providing perfectly paired prebiotics, probiotics AND postbiotics in every scoop. Not only is Axis TreBiotic one of the few gut health formulas on the market to provide all 3 essential components, but the pre-, pro- and postbiotics inside are backed by numerous scientific studies.
GOS Prebioticis shown in-vitro to help specific probiotic bacteria in Axis TreBiotic populate faster and with greater density so you can feel benefits sooner. GOS is shown in-vitro to be more effective than other prebiotics like FOS or inulin.*
NeuroFlora™ Probiotic Complexconsists of 3 select strains of gram-positive beneficial bacteria highly studied for their ability to deliver benefits beyond gut health for overall microbiome support: L. plantarum DR7, L. brevis and P. acidilactici.*
EpiCor® GI+ Postbioticis a one-of-a-kind whole food fermentate backed by 15 scientific studies and shown to help reinforce a protective gut lining to help optimize nutrient synthesis.*
For hormonal health…
If you experience regular menstrual cycles, pair Axis TreBiotic with Modere Ova™ in Ova Balanced Body System. Hormone-free and soy isoflavone-free Ova delivers intuitive nutrition
finely tuned to your unique cycle. Instead of just one formula to take all month long (like most menstrual health supplements), Ova offers 3 proprietary, science-backed formulas that target your period, pre-ovulation and post-ovulation: RELEASE, RENEW and BALANCE.
RELEASE is formulated with Menstrual D-Tox Complex™, which helps reduce mild and occasional period cramps, bloating, loose stools, constipation, fatigue and brain fog during the first 4 days of your cycle.*
RENEW features Bio-Optimal Pre-Ov Blend™ with ingredients that support hormones leading up to ovulation and promotes improved energy, mental clarity, feelings of wellbeing and libido as the body’s estrogen levels normally rise days 5-16.*
BALANCE addresses mild symptoms of PMS with Co-Active PMS Matrix™, specifically targeting mild breast tenderness, fatigue, mood swings and skin congestion, and is taken starting on day 17 until your next period begins.*
If you are experiencing any normal symptoms of perimenopause like irregular periods, mild hot flashes, vaginal dryness or low libido, or are in menopause or post-menopause, pair Axis TreBiotic with Modere Ova™-m in Ova-m Balanced Body System. Hormone-free and soy isoflavone-free Ova-m delivers intuitive nutrition intended for long-term use through the phases of perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause with one comprehensive formula featuring proprietary Estro-OS™ Complex.
Estro-OS Complex delivers ingredients shown to reduce normal menopausal symptoms and vaginal dryness better than soy isoflavones.From helping to reduce mild hot flashes and night sweats to supporting cognitive health and sleep health, Ova-m helps you feel like yourself again every day. Plus, it optimizes mood and energy levels.*†
Trust your gut to Modere. Only Ova Balanced Body Systems put you in control of your gut health and hormonal health like never before. And for additional support, try our other clean label formulas, like award-winning, multi-patented Liquid BioCell® collagen for active joints and amazing skin, Modere GO with brain-boosting nootropics for clean energy without the crash, award-winning Trim to support healthy weight management and our cult-fave Modere CellProof clean beauty skincare line. Because #EveryWoman deserves to live well.*
†The ingredients Angelica gigas Nakai, Cynanchum wilfordii and Phlomis umbrosa together are shown to be more effective than soy isoflavones at improving normal menopausal symptoms and vaginal dryness.
Each woman’s cycle is different, and results may vary. For menstrual and menopausal symptoms outside the normal range, medical conditions, or when taking medication, consult your health care provider prior to use. Not for use if you are nursing or pregnant.
| *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. |
