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Episode 58

How does your gut health relate to your hormones?

The estrobolome, liver + a healthy microbiome

hosted by clinical herbalist & integrative health educator Kay'aleya Hunnybee

How does your gut health relate to your hormones?

The estrobolome, liver + a healthy microbiome

Download on Apple | Download on Spotify | Download on Google Podcasts

It’s easy to think that our systems are separate.

We don’t typically think -
“oh, I have a hormonal imbalance, I wonder if my food sensitivities or bloating are related to that.

But the truth is, your gut is intricately related to your hormonal health in a variety of ways.


And most especially through your miraculous microbiome, including a specialized part called “the estrobolome.”

Whether you have PCOS, endometriosis, estrogen dominance or even if you have perimenopausal or other hormonal imbalance symptoms, the composition of your microbiome is likely a part of the picture.

Our endocrine system is complex.

And finding that dynamic dance of optimal hormonal health we’re seeking is often a multi-facted path. 


Whether it’s stress, inflammation, detoxification, elimination, microbiome health, or even sleep, every single one of these factors impacts your gut.

And also your hormones. 

This episode gets nerdy in good ways, especially if you’re curious about how all of this works.

Listen in to learn:

  • how your hormones affect your gut, and how your gut affects your hormones
  • what the metabolome and estrobolome are and why they matter
  • specifics on the microbiome and PCOS, endometriosis, menopause and thyroid imbalance
  • how oxytocin ("the love hormone") affects your gut
  • specific ways you can restore a healthy microbiome and gut (herbs, diet, lifestyle, etc)



Resources:

References:

Baker JM, Al-Nakkash L, Herbst-Kralovetz MM. (2017). Estrogen-gut microbiome axis: Physiological and clinical implications. Maturitas, 103, 45-53. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2017.06.025.

Elkafas, H., Wall, M., Al-Hendy, A., & Ismail, N. (2022). Gut and genital tract microbiomes: Dysbiosis and link to gynecological disorders. Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology, 12, 1059825. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2022.1059825

Guo, X., Zhong, K., Zhang, J., Hui, L., Zou, L., Xue, H., Guo, J., Zheng, S., Huang, D., & Tan, M. (2022). Gut microbiota can affect bone quality by regulating serum estrogen levels. American journal of translational research, 14(9), 6043–6055.

Jiang, Y., Greenwood-Van Meerveld, B., Johnson, A. C., & Travagli, R. A. (2019). Role of estrogen and stress on the brain-gut axis. American journal of physiology. Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology, 317(2), G203–G209. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpgi.00144.2019

Jiang, I., Yong, P. J., Allaire, C., & Bedaiwy, M. A. (2021). Intricate connections between the microbiota and endometriosis. International journal of molecular sciences, 22(11), 5644. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22115644

Peters, B. A., Lin, J., Qi, Q., Usyk, M., Isasi, C. R., Mossavar-Rahmani, Y., Derby, C. A., Santoro, N., Perreira, K. M., Daviglus, M. L., Kominiarek, M. A., Cai, J., Knight, R., Burk, R. D., & Kaplan, R. C. (2022). Menopause is associated with an altered gut microbiome and estrobolome, with implications for adverse cardiometabolic risk in the hispanic community health study/study of latinos. mSystems, 7(3), e0027322. https://doi.org/10.1128/msystems.00273-22

Qi, X., Yun, C., Pang, Y., & Qiao, J. (2021). The impact of the gut microbiota on the reproductive and metabolic endocrine system. Gut microbes, 13(1), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/19490976.2021.1894070

Qin, R., Tian, G., Liu, J., & Cao, L. (2022). The gut microbiota and endometriosis: From pathogenesis to diagnosis and treatment. Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology, 12, 1069557. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2022.1069557

Romm, A, & Chutkan, R. (2021). The gut-hormone connection [Video].  The hormone intelligence chats. https://courses.avivaromm.com/lessons/gut-hormone-connection/

Salliss ME, Farland LV, Mahnert ND, Herbst-Kralovetz MM. (2021). The role of gut and genital microbiota and the estrobolome in endometriosis, infertility and chronic pelvic pain. Hum Reprod Update, 28(1), 92-131. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmab035

Siddiqui, R., Makhlouf, Z., Alharbi, A. M., Alfahemi, H., & Khan, N. A. (2022). The gut microbiome and female health. Biology, 11(11), 1683. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11111683

 


DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.

 



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