Are Your Hormones Crying Out for Help? Check Your Gut!

Written By Erin Numon

If you’re crushing your workouts, eating pretty healthy, but still feel bloated, exhausted, inflamed, or hormonally “off”… you’re not alone. And it might not be your hormones’ fault. It might be your gut.

Let’s break this down:

Your Gut Runs the Show

Your gut isn’t just for digesting food—it’s the control center for nutrient absorption, immunity, and hormone balance. But if your gut lining is inflamed or “leaky” (yes, that’s a real thing), two big problems happen:

  1. You stop absorbing key nutrients (like zinc, magnesium, and vitamin D).

  2. Toxins leak into your bloodstream, triggering chronic, low-grade inflammation.

That inflammation? It’s hormone-disruptive. It interferes with your cycle, your stress response, and how your ovaries do their job.

⚠️ The Hormone Fallout

When gut-driven inflammation lingers, it can mess with:

  • Progesterone production (hello PMS, anxiety, or short luteal phases)

  • Estrogen detox (leading to symptoms like cramps, breast tenderness, or endo flares)

  • Insulin sensitivity (which fuels PCOS symptoms and weight gain)

  • Thyroid conversion (slowing your metabolism and energy)

If you’re dealing with PCOS or endometriosis, this gut-hormone connection is even stronger. Research shows women with these conditions often have imbalanced gut bacteria—and that imbalance makes symptoms worse.

🏃‍♀️ And Then… There’s Cardio

Here’s the kicker: if you’re relying on intense cardio every day to “fix” things, it could be making it worse. Why? Chronic endurance training without enough rest spikes cortisol (your stress hormone). High cortisol weakens your gut, suppresses ovulation, and messes with your metabolism.

Translation: You’re running yourself into the ground—literally.

🔄 The Vicious Cycle

Poor gut health → inflammation → hormone imbalance → fatigue & weight gain → more cardio → more stress → even worse gut health.

Sound familiar?

💡 So What Can You Actually Do?

Here’s what does help:

✅ Eat for your gut – Fiber-rich whole foods, fermented veggies, bone broth, and less processed junk.
✅ Prioritize micronutrients – Zinc, magnesium, vitamin D, omega-3s. They’re not just supplements—they’re essentials.
✅ Lift heavy things – Resistance training helps regulate blood sugar, reduce stress, and balance hormones way better than daily HIIT.
✅ Rest like it’s your job – Sleep, yoga, breathwork, and true rest days reduce cortisol and give your gut time to heal.
✅ Focus on real healing, not just hacks – It’s not about doing more. It’s about doing what works.

✨ Bottom Line

Your hormones aren’t broken—you’re just working against your body instead of with it.
Start with your gut. Nourish it. Slow down. Be strategic. Your body will respond.

Want better energy, clearer skin, more balanced cycles, and less bloat?
It’s not just about your hormones. It’s about your gut.

Not sure where to start with your wellness journey?

Through 1:1 coaching, I help women reconnect with their bodies, build gut-friendly routines, and reduce the stressors that may be holding them back.

Book Your Free Discovery Call


References

  1. Theoharides, T.C., et al. “Psychological Stress and Corticotropin‑Releasing Hormone Increase Intestinal Permeability in Humans by a Mast Cell–Dependent Mechanism.” American Journal of Physiology – Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology, vol. 305, no. 1, 2013, pp. G53–G62.
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24153250

  2. Vanuytsel, T., et al. “Acute Psychological Stress Increases Paracellular Permeability and Modulates Immune Activity in Rectal Mucosa of Healthy Volunteers.” Gut, 2023.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9892435

  3. Kraisins, C., et al. “Effects of Acute Stress Provocation on Cortisol Levels, Zonulin, and Inflammatory Markers in Low‑ and High‑Stressed Men.” Psychoneuroendocrinology, vol. 90, 2018, pp. 152–159.
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30118757

  4. Lamprecht, M., et al. “Endurance Exercise and Gut Microbiota: A Review.” Frontiers in Nutrition, 2019.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6188999

  5. Hansen, T.K., et al. “Endometriosis and the Microbiome: A Systematic Review.” Journal of Reproductive Immunology, vol. 140, 2019, pp. 12–21.
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31454452

  6. Zhu, C.-B., et al. “Western Diet Promotes Endometriotic Lesion Growth in Mice and Induces Depletion of Akkermansia muciniphila in Intestinal Microbiota.” BMC Medicine, 2024.
    https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-024-03738-9

  7. Van Hul, W., et al. “Association Between Endometriosis and Gut Microbiota: Systematic Review and Meta‑Analysis.” Frontiers in Microbiology, 2025.
    https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1552134/full

  8. Luissint, Anouk‑C., et al. “Lipopolysaccharide Causes an Increase in Intestinal Tight Junction Permeability in Vitro and in Vivo by Inducing Enterocyte Membrane Expression and Localization of TLR‑4 and CD14.” Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2013.
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23329818

  9. Li, Pan, et al. “Perturbations in Gut Microbiota Composition in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta‑Analysis.” BMC Medicine, vol. 21, 2023, article 302.
    https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-023-02975-8

  10. Huang, Fang, et al. “Fecal Microbiota Transplantation from Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Induces Metabolic Disorders and Ovarian Dysfunction in Germ‑Free Mice.” BMC Microbiology, vol. 24, 2024, article 364.
    https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-024-03513-z

  11. “Gut Microbiota and Gut‑Derived Metabolites Are Altered and Associated with Dietary Intake in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.” Journal of Ovarian Research, vol. 17, 2024, article 232.
    https://ovarianresearch.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13048-024-01550-w

  12. “The Effect of Prebiotics, Alone or as Part of Synbiotics, on Cardiometabolic Parameters in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta‑Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.” Biomedicines, vol. 13, no. 1, 2024, article 177.
    https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/1/177

  13. Kulakov, V. I., et al. “Impact of Gut Microbiota and SCFAs in the Pathogenesis of PCOS and the Effect of Metformin Therapy.” International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol. 25, no. 19, 2024, article 10636.
    https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/25/19/10636

  14. “Microbial Composition across Body Sites in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta‑Analysis.” Reproductive Biomedicine Online, 2023.
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37208218

Erin Numon