The Conversation Between the Gut and Hormones

DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational use only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider for personalized guidance.

Your gut and hormones are always in communication. When one system is disrupted, the other responds.

The gut microbiome helps regulate how hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, and thyroid hormones are produced, metabolized, and cleared. When the gut is balanced, hormone signaling flows smoothly. When it becomes inflamed or lacks microbial diversity, hormones can build up or drop too quickly. (1)

These imbalances can show up as acne, cycle changes, fatigue, mood swings, or low libido. They are signs that your hormones are reflecting what is happening in the gut.

The Gut-Brain-Hormone Connection

The gut and brain communicate through the vagus nerve, a key part of the parasympathetic nervous system. This connection helps regulate how the body responds to stress and how hormones such as cortisol and thyroid hormones are released.

When gut communication is disrupted, stress hormones can stay elevated, which affects reproduction, metabolism, and mood. Practices that support vagal tone, such as slow breathing, calm eating, and regular rest, help restore balance. (2)

Practices that support vagal tone, such as slow breathing, calm eating, and regular rest, help restore balance.

To naturally support vagal tone and stress resilience, try My Vagus Nerve BALANCE™, a neuro-adaptive tincture designed to nourish the gut-brain connection and help the body return to calm.

The HPA Axis and Hormonal Harmony

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis works alongside the gut-brain connection to regulate stress and hormone production. It acts like a feedback loop between the brain, adrenal glands, and thyroid, controlling how much cortisol and other hormones are released in response to stress.

When the gut is inflamed or undernourished, signals through the HPA axis can become overactive. This keeps cortisol elevated and disrupts the balance of sex and thyroid hormones. Restoring gut health and calming the nervous system helps the HPA axis reset, allowing hormones to return to their natural rhythm. (3)

Supporting Gut and Hormone Health

To restore balance, start with these foundational habits that strengthen both gut and hormone health.

• Eat a wide variety of fiber rich and fermented foods
• Include prebiotics and probiotics daily
• Support digestion with minerals like magnesium and zinc
• Manage stress and maintain a consistent sleep routine
• Use adaptogens such as Holy Basil and Saffron to support cortisol regulation

True hormone balance starts with nourishment, not restriction. The goal is to create conditions where your body can regulate itself. (4)

Your hormones mirror the health of your gut. When digestion is calm and diverse, hormones find rhythm and balance naturally. When the gut is inflamed, the entire system feels it.

Restoring gut health is one of the most effective ways to bring your hormones and your energy back into alignment.

The Estrobolome and Estrogen Balance

A group of gut bacteria known as the estrobolome plays an important role in how the body manages estrogen. These microbes produce an enzyme called beta glucuronidase that determines whether estrogen is cleared from the body or reabsorbed into circulation.

When the estrobolome is balanced, excess estrogen leaves the body as it should. When it becomes disrupted, estrogen can build up and lead to symptoms like bloating, PMS, irritability, or breakouts. (5)

A diet built on nutrient-dense animal foods, quality proteins, and natural fats supports the estrobolome and helps the body maintain natural hormone clearance. Raw dairy, grass-fed meats, eggs, and mineral-rich broths provide the amino acids and fat-soluble vitamins the gut and liver need for healthy detoxification. Ripe fruits, raw honey, and other natural carbohydrates also nourish beneficial microbes and support hormone metabolism without the inflammatory effects of processed foods.

Inflammation and Hormone Signaling

Inflammation in the gut can interfere with nearly every hormone pathway in the body. It can raise cortisol, slow thyroid conversion, and change how cells respond to insulin. Over time, these shifts affect energy, mood, fertility, and skin health.

Reducing inflammatory foods, supporting digestion, and restoring microbial balance allows the endocrine system to recalibrate. The gut often recovers first, and hormone balance follows. (6)

Research shows that specific gut bacteria can convert inactive hormones into active ones through specialized enzymes. This means that when beneficial bacteria thrive, hormones move through the body in the right form and at the right time.

Probiotic strains such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium have also been shown to help lower cortisol levels and reduce perceived stress, demonstrating how closely gut health and hormone balance are connected.

How Imbalance Shows Up in Men and Women

Hormone imbalances often appear differently in men and women, but they share the same foundation in an imbalanced or inflamed gut. When digestion slows, inflammation rises, or detoxification becomes sluggish, hormones are among the first systems to respond. The result can be subtle shifts in mood, energy, and recovery that gradually become more noticeable. (7)

Women:

When the gut is inflamed or estrogen is not cleared properly, women may experience what is known as estrogen dominance. This occurs when estrogen becomes high in relation to progesterone. The body may respond with heavier or more painful cycles, breast tenderness, bloating, or jawline breakouts. Because progesterone promotes calm and stability, low levels can also contribute to anxiety, poor sleep, and mood changes.

Supporting gut health helps the body metabolize and clear excess estrogen through the liver and intestines. As digestion and microbial balance improve, the endocrine system begins to restore itself. Many women notice steadier energy, clearer skin, and smoother cycles as this balance returns.

Men:

Men can experience estrogen dominance as well, especially when gut inflammation or sluggish liver detoxification slows the removal of excess estrogen. This imbalance can lower testosterone, increase fatigue, reduce motivation, and make it harder to build or maintain muscle.

A healthy gut supports testosterone production by improving nutrient absorption and reducing inflammation that interferes with hormonal communication. Restoring microbial balance and supporting digestion help bring energy, focus, and strength back into alignment.

The Liver’s Role in Hormone Detoxification

The liver works closely with the gut to process and remove excess hormones from the body. When it becomes overburdened by inflammation, toxins, or nutrient deficiencies, estrogen and cortisol can recirculate instead of being cleared. Supporting the liver through hydration, mineral-rich foods, and reduced alcohol intake helps the body maintain hormonal equilibrium. (8)

Rebuilding Balance from Within

Hormonal health begins in the gut, but it influences every system in the body. When digestion is calm, microbes are diverse, and inflammation is low, hormones naturally find their rhythm.

Prioritizing whole foods, restful sleep, movement, and mindful stress management creates the environment your body needs to regulate itself. Supplements and adaptogens can provide support, but the true foundation is nourishment and consistency.

Your hormones reflect the health of your inner environment. When you care for your gut, you care for your entire being. Energy, mood, and vitality begin to align, and balance becomes your natural state.