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3. Hormonal Balance & Endocrine Health

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Intro

 

Your hormones help coordinate energy, mood, metabolism, stress response, and recovery.

This section focuses on key endocrine markers that influence day-to-day wellbeing — presented in a clear, structured, science-informed format.

 

These markers are part of your VitaCode blood analysis and are interpreted to highlight patterns that may relate to hormonal balance, stress exposure, and lifestyle demands.

 

How we use these markers

 

We evaluate your markers using structured, evidence-based reference models.

This helps us identify patterns and tendencies that may benefit from lifestyle, nutrition, and recovery adjustments, aligned with your age, context, and health goals.

 

The insights on this page:

 

  • do not diagnose or treat medical conditions

  • are intended as informational input for conversations with your healthcare provider

  • are designed to support smarter everyday decisions about sleep, stress, movement, and nutrition

 

Core Markers

 

Depending on your test panel, this section may include:

 

  • TSH

  • Free T3

  • Free T4

  • Thyroid Antibodies (TPO / TG-Ab)

  • Cortisol

  • DHEA-S

  • Testosterone (sex-specific reference models)

  • Estradiol (E2)

  • Progesterone

  • SHBG (Sex Hormone Binding Globulin)

 

What these markers mean

 

TSH

Reflects how your brain communicates with the thyroid gland.

Higher values can be associated with reduced thyroid signalling; lower values can reflect increased thyroid drive. Interpretation always depends on the full panel and clinical context.

 

Free T3 / Free T4

Measure active thyroid hormones that influence metabolism, energy, temperature regulation, and bowel function.

Imbalances may be associated with fatigue, weight changes, or mood shifts.

 

Thyroid Antibodies (TPO / TG-Ab)

Indicate immune activity directed at thyroid tissue.

Elevated levels can signal increased autoimmune involvement and should be interpreted together with your doctor and the rest of your lab results.

 

Cortisol

A key stress-response hormone that follows a daily rhythm.

Higher or lower values may reflect chronic stress, altered sleep patterns, or recovery demands. Values should always be assessed in context (time of day, medications, clinical history).

 

DHEA-S

Supports resilience, immune function, and broader hormonal balance.

Lower levels are often associated with chronic stress exposure and ageing; higher levels can appear in certain metabolic or endocrine patterns.

 

Testosterone (male & female reference models)

Influences energy, muscle mass, libido, motivation, and metabolic health.

We interpret results using sex-specific reference models and in relation to SHBG and overall context, rather than any single cut-off alone.

 

Estradiol (E2)

A key regulator of menstrual cycles, bone density, mood, and metabolic balance.

Both low and high levels can be associated with symptoms, depending on age and cycle phase.

 

Progesterone

Supports menstrual cycle regulation, sleep quality, and perceived stress tolerance.

Values are strongly cycle-phase dependent and are interpreted relative to estradiol and timing.

 

SHBG

Controls how much “free” (biologically available) hormone circulates in the body.

Changes in SHBG are typically associated with liver function, insulin resistance, thyroid status, and overall metabolic health.

 

Lifestyle Factors

 

Hormonal balance can be influenced by:

 

  • Sleep quality, rhythm, and duration

  • Stress exposure and recovery routines

  • Training volume and rest days

  • Body fat distribution and overall body composition

  • Nutrition patterns (especially protein, fats, and refined sugars)

  • Caffeine and alcohol intake

  • Exposure to endocrine disruptors (plastics, pollutants, solvents)

 

These factors do not change your lab values in isolation, but they can contribute to patterns that your markers may reflect over time.

 

Recommendations

 

These are general lifestyle considerations, not medical treatment plans.

Any changes — especially supplements — should be discussed with your healthcare provider.

 

Diet

 

  • Prioritise whole, minimally processed foods that help stabilise blood sugar.

  • Include healthy fats (e.g. olive oil, avocado, nuts, seeds, oily fish) that support hormone production.

  • Ensure adequate protein intake across the day.

  • Include natural sources of iodine, selenium, and zinc (e.g. seafood, eggs, dairy, nuts) where appropriate.

  • Reduce excessive alcohol and ultra-processed foods, which may impact endocrine and metabolic balance.

 

Supplements

(Examples of commonly used nutrients — not prescriptions or treatment.)

 

  • Magnesium – often used to support relaxation, muscle function, and sleep quality.

  • Omega-3 – may support cardiovascular and inflammatory balance.

  • Zinc – involved in hormone production and immune function.

  • Vitamin D – important for bone health, immunity, and hormonal signalling.

  • Ashwagandha – a botanical traditionally used for stress support; not suitable for everyone and should be discussed with a healthcare professional.

  • Selenium – supports thyroid hormone metabolism when intake is insufficient.

 

Suitability, dosing, and safety of any supplement depend on your individual situation, medications, and diagnoses — these should always be reviewed with your doctor or pharmacist.

 

 

Training

  • Aim for a balanced mix of strength training and moderate-intensity cardio.

  • Avoid chronic overtraining with no recovery, which may contribute to elevated stress load.

  • Plan regular rest or lighter days to support recovery and hormonal resilience.

 

 

Recovery

  • Target 7–9 hours of regular, good-quality sleep to support your cortisol–melatonin rhythm.

  • Incorporate calming routines (breathing exercises, stretching, yoga, meditation) to help manage perceived stress.

  • Seek daily daylight exposure and consistent wake-/bedtimes to support circadian alignment.

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