Hormones and the microbiome also have a bidirectional relationship. Gut bugs help metabolize and recycle hormones, such as estrogen and testosterone, and hormones can make direct changes to the microbiome.
Well-balanced hormones and gut microbes help regulate mood, metabolism, menstrual cycles, and immune function. But when either is disrupted by stress, illness, medication, or diet, both systems can be thrown off at the same time.
A disrupted microbiome can lead to constipation, for example, which can reduce the body’s ability to clear excess estrogen. This increases the risk of hormone-sensitive conditions like endometriosis and breast cancer.
And hormonal shifts during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause can reshape the gut microbiome, sometimes leading to changes in gut permeability, inflammation, or metabolism.
The Mighty Microbiome
Your gut microbiome affects much more than digestion: It has an impact on your immune resilience, hormonal health, and more. Learn more at “9 Ways the Gut Microbiome Influences Health,” from which this article was excerpted.
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