Complete Guide to Hormone Health – Ask Dr Olz

November 19, 2025

Hormones control your energy, mood, weight, sleep, libido, and more. This guide from Ask Dr Olz explains how hormones work, why they go out of balance, how to test them, and the practical, evidence-informed steps you can take to restore balance naturally and safely. Read through the quick checks, deep-dive sections, and the FAQ to get clarity, action steps, and when to book a telehealth consult.

The Ultimate Guide to Hormone Health

A complete Ask Dr Olz functional-medicine roadmap for understanding, testing, and balancing your hormones naturally.

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What Are Hormones?

Hormones are chemical messengers that help your organs talk to each other. When balanced, they help you feel clear, energised, focused, and stable. When disrupted, everything from mood to metabolism can shift dramatically.

Why Hormone Imbalances Are So Common Today

Chronic stress and cortisol overload
Sleep deprivation
Ultra-processed foods and nutrient deficiencies
Environmental hormone disruptors
Dysregulated blood sugar
Gut microbiome imbalance

Signs Your Hormones May Be Out of Balance

Hormone issues rarely come with one symptom. They show up as patterns. Look for clusters like:

Low Thyroid

Fatigue
Cold intolerance
Slow metabolism
Hair thinning

Estrogen Dominance

Heavy periods
Breast tenderness
Bloating
Fibroids or PMS

Low Progesterone

Irregular cycles
Insomnia
Anxiety
Mid-cycle spotting

High Cortisol

Unexplained weight gain
Racing thoughts
Afternoon crashes
Sleep disruption

The Ask Dr Olz 5-Pillar Functional Medicine Approach

These pillars are adapted from proven clinical frameworks used in functional and integrative medicine.

Balance blood sugar to stabilise energy and hormones.
Support adrenal health by reducing stress load.
Optimise gut function for improved estrogen and thyroid regulation.
Correct nutrient deficiencies essential for hormone production.
Address environmental triggers including endocrine disruptors.

Testing: What to Ask For

TSH, Free T4, Free T3
Anti-TPO and anti-TG
Estradiol, Progesterone (day 21 if cycling)
Total and Free Testosterone
Fasting insulin, HbA1c, Fasting glucose
Ferritin and Vitamin D

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my hormones are out of balance?

Look for recurring patterns like fatigue, low energy, sleep issues, mood swings, irregular periods, or unexplained weight gain.

Which lifestyle habits help the fastest?

Balancing blood sugar, improving sleep, and lowering stress load create the quickest hormonal shifts.

How long does it take to fix hormones?

Some people feel better within weeks. Most meaningful hormone shifts take 8 to 12 weeks.

Dr. Olwethu Sotondoshe

My mission is to empower individuals to achieve optimal health through holistic and integrative care. We are committed to providing personalized telehealth consultations and premium wellness products that support and enhance your well-being.