Metabolic Dysfunction: How Your Metabolism Affects Your Hormones

When we think about hormones, we often think about puberty, menopause, or maybe

testosterone and estrogen. But your hormones are responsible for much more than that. They

help control your energy, mood, weight, sleep, digestion, and even how well your brain works.

And one big thing that can throw your hormones out of balance is something called metabolic

dysfunction.

So what is metabolic dysfunction? Simply put, it's when your metabolism isn't working the way it

should. Your metabolism is how your body turns food into energy. When it works well, your body

runs smoothly. When it doesn’t, many systems start to struggle – especially your hormones.

What is Metabolic Dysfunction

Metabolic dysfunction is very common. Research shows that up to 88% of adults in the

United States have at least one sign of poor metabolic health, even if they don’t know it.

This includes high blood sugar, high blood pressure, excess belly fat, or abnormal cholesterol

levels. Many people have metabolic dysfunction and are never diagnosed, especially in the

early stages.

This is a big deal—because when the metabolism breaks down, hormone health can suffer, too.

Let’s look at three big pieces of metabolic dysfunction that can affect hormones in both men and

women: insulin resistance, vitamin D deficiency, and thyroid imbalance.

Insulin Resistance: A Hidden Hormone Disruptor

Insulin is a hormone your body makes to help move sugar (glucose) from your blood into your

cells for energy. When your cells stop responding to insulin like they should, it’s called insulin

resistance. This means sugar stays in your blood longer than it should, which causes your

body to make even more insulin.

Too much insulin over time can throw off your entire hormone system.

● For women, it can lead to problems like PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), irregular

periods, acne, or trouble getting pregnant.

● For men, insulin resistance can lower testosterone levels, which may lead to fatigue,

weight gain (especially around the belly), and low sex drive or erectile problems.

Many people believe that testosterone naturally goes down with age, but that’s not always

true. In fact, research shows that insulin resistance is one of the key drivers of low testosterone in aging men. When men improve their blood sugar and insulin levels, their

testosterone often improves, too—without medication.

Insulin resistance also increases inflammation in the body, which stresses the hormone system

even more. Eating too much sugar and processed food, not getting enough movement, and

living with chronic stress can all make insulin resistance worse.

Vitamin D Deficiency: The “Sunshine Hormone”

Vitamin D acts more like a hormone than a regular vitamin. Your body makes it when your skin

is exposed to sunlight or a person eats Vitamin D rich foods, but many people don’t get enough

because they stay indoors, live in northern climates and have a limited diet.

It’s estimated that over 40% of adults in the U.S. are low in vitamin D, and the number is

even higher in people with darker skin, autoimmune conditions, or chronic illness.

Low vitamin D levels can affect many other hormones:

● It can make insulin resistance worse.

● It can affect how your thyroid works.

● It can lower testosterone in men and disrupt estrogen and progesterone balance in

women.

Vitamin D also helps reduce inflammation and supports the immune system. When you don’t

have enough, your body can feel tired, moody, and even experience hormone-related weight

gain or trouble sleeping.

Getting enough vitamin D is important for both your metabolism and your hormone health.

Some people need supplements, especially in the winter months.

Thyroid Imbalance: The Master Controller

Your thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland in your neck. It makes hormones that help control

your metabolism, body temperature, heart rate, and energy. When your thyroid isn’t working

properly, it can affect every system in your body.

There are two main types of thyroid problems:

● Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid): slows everything down. You might feel tired, gain

weight, have broken or thinning hair, constipation, feel cold, abnormal menses, difficulty

conceiving and/or experience depression.

● Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid): speeds everything up. You might feel anxious,

weight loss, sweating, irritability, difficulty sleeping, abnormal menses and/or have a fast

heartbeat or other cardiac concerns.

Metabolic dysfunction can cause the thyroid to go out of balance, and a poorly working thyroid

can worsen metabolic problems. It becomes a cycle.

Also, if you're low in nutrients like iodine, selenium, or vitamin D, your thyroid may struggle to

do its job. Inflammation and stress can also interfere with thyroid hormone production and how

well your body uses those hormones.

How Functional Medicine Helps

In functional medicine, we look at the root causes of symptoms. Instead of only treating

hormone problems with medications, we ask: "Why are these hormones out of balance in the

first place?"

Often, the answer lies in your metabolism.

By improving metabolic function, we can help your hormones get back in balance. This might

include:

● Eating more whole foods (little to no sugar and processed food)

● Moving your body daily with purpose

● Supporting gut health

● Getting enough sleep (7-9 quality hours nightly)

● Reducing stress

● Checking vitamin D and thyroid levels and supplementing if needed

We may also do advanced lab testing to see how your insulin, vitamin D, and thyroid are

working. That way, we can create a plan tailored to you.

Final Thoughts

Hormone problems don’t happen in a vacuum. They often come from deeper imbalances,

especially in the metabolism. By taking a root-cause approach and supporting your body from

the inside out, you can improve both your metabolism and your hormones.

Whether you're dealing with fatigue, weight gain, mood swings, low libido, or irregular periods,

the key might be in your metabolism. These issues are not just a part of getting older—they’re

signs that your body is asking for help.

Let’s work together to help your body heal and thrive.