Lost Your Spark? How Hormones Impact Your Libido (and How to Fix It!)

Libido, or sexual desire, is a complex interplay of hormones, neurotransmitters, and overall health. While many factors influence sexual desire, one of the most significant is hormonal balance. When key hormones are out of sync, libido often declines, leaving both men and women frustrated and confused about why their desire has diminished.

Uncovering the root causes of low libido rather than just treating symptoms is key. By addressing hormonal imbalances, underlying metabolic dysfunction, and lifestyle factors, it’s possible to restore a healthy sex drive and overall well-being.

Let’s dive in!

Signs and Symptoms of Hormone-Related Low Libido

Low libido due to hormonal imbalances often presents alongside other symptoms. Understanding these signs can help identify the root cause:

• Low Testosterone: Testosterone is the primary hormone responsible for libido in both sexes. Symptoms of low testosterone include reduced motivation, fatigue, difficulty building muscle, and increased body fat. Men may experience erectile dysfunction, while women might notice vaginal dryness and a lack of arousal. Low testosterone can also contribute to depression and brain fog, further reducing sexual interest.

• Estrogen Imbalance: Both low and high estrogen can impact libido in women. Low estrogen is often associated with perimenopause and menopause, leading to vaginal dryness, discomfort during intercourse, and mood changes. High estrogen (estrogen dominance) can result in heavy periods, bloating, and irritability. Estrogen also plays a key role in increasing blood flow to sexual organs, so imbalances can lead to decreased sensation and arousal.

• Progesterone Deficiency: This hormone plays a role in balancing estrogen levels. Low progesterone can cause anxiety, sleep disturbances, and mood swings, which indirectly contribute to a diminished sex drive. It also works with estrogen to regulate dopamine and serotonin, neurotransmitters that influence pleasure and emotional well-being.

• Cortisol Dysregulation: Chronic stress leads to high cortisol, suppressing sex hormone production. Symptoms include weight gain (especially around the midsection), brain fog, poor sleep, and low energy—factors that significantly impact libido. Over time, high cortisol can lead to adrenal fatigue, further reducing hormone production and sexual desire.

• Thyroid Dysfunction: Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can lead to decreased libido. Hypothyroidism often causes fatigue, weight gain, and depression, while hyperthyroidism can result in anxiety and rapid weight loss. The thyroid regulates metabolism and energy levels, so dysfunction can lead to sluggishness and a lack of interest in intimacy.

• Insulin Resistance: Poor blood sugar regulation contributes to inflammation, hormone imbalance, and weight gain—all of which negatively impact libido. Elevated insulin can suppress sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), leading to increased estrogen in men and reduced testosterone in women, both of which negatively affect sexual desire.

Natural Strategies to Enhance Libido

Restoring a healthy sex drive requires a comprehensive approach. Here’s how to support the key libido-enhancing hormones:

1. Optimize Testosterone Naturally

• Strength Training: Resistance training, such as weightlifting, increases testosterone levels.

• Zinc & Vitamin D: Zinc supports testosterone production, while vitamin D acts as a hormone regulator.

• Healthy Fats: Avocados, nuts, and omega-3-rich fish support hormone synthesis.

• Adequate Sleep: Poor sleep reduces testosterone levels, so aim for 7–9 hours per night.

• Reduce Alcohol & Endocrine Disruptors: Excess alcohol and exposure to xenoestrogens (found in plastics and certain chemicals) can lower testosterone levels.

2. Balance Estrogen & Progesterone

• Cruciferous Vegetables: Broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts help metabolize excess estrogen.

• Seed Cycling: Flaxseeds and pumpkin seeds support estrogen production in the first half of the cycle, while sesame and sunflower seeds promote progesterone in the second half.

• Chasteberry (Vitex): An herbal remedy that supports progesterone levels.

• Reduce Xenoestrogens: Avoid plastic containers, conventional dairy, and personal care products with endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

• Support Liver Health: The liver helps metabolize estrogen, so consuming foods rich in sulforaphane (e.g., Brussels sprouts) and drinking plenty of water supports detoxification.

3. Regulate Cortisol and Stress Levels

• Adaptogens: Herbs like ashwagandha and rhodiola help regulate cortisol.

• Mindfulness Practices: Meditation, deep breathing, and yoga lower stress and improve hormone balance.

• Consistent Sleep Routine: Going to bed at the same time each night supports cortisol rhythm.

• Magnesium: This essential mineral calms the nervous system and supports adrenal health.

• Cold Exposure & Exercise: Brief cold showers and regular movement can improve resilience to stress and lower excessive cortisol levels.

4. Support Thyroid Function

• Iodine & Selenium: Essential nutrients found in seaweed and Brazil nuts that support thyroid health.

• Reduce Gluten & Processed Foods: Many individuals with thyroid dysfunction benefit from a gluten-free diet.

• Test & Treat Deficiencies: Ensure adequate iron, B vitamins, and vitamin D levels.

• Incorporate Adaptogenic Herbs: Herbs like guggul and ashwagandha can support thyroid hormone production.

5. Improve Insulin Sensitivity

• Reduce Sugar Intake: Excess sugar spikes insulin, leading to hormonal imbalances.

• Prioritize Protein & Fiber: These nutrients help regulate blood sugar levels.

• Regular Movement: Strength training and walking improve insulin sensitivity.

  • Berberine Supplementation: This natural compound has been shown to lower blood sugar and improve metabolic function.

• Intermittent Fasting (IF): IF can improve insulin sensitivity and reduce inflammation when done appropriately.
  
  

Low libido isn’t just a result of aging - it’s a sign that something in the body is out of balance. By addressing the underlying hormonal imbalances and implementing targeted lifestyle changes, it’s possible to restore a vibrant sex drive and overall well-being.

If you struggle with persistent low libido, consider functional testing for hormonal imbalances and begin incorporating nutrient-dense foods, stress management techniques, and hormone-supportive practices into daily life. We can help - schedule your consultation today!

The 7-Day Gut Reset Guide Rebalance, Reboot, and Restore Your Digestion for Better Energy, Metabolism, and Well-being By: Cardinal Roots Wellness

Why Your Gut Needs a Reset

Your gut plays a huge role in your metabolism, immune function, brain health, and even mood. When it’s out of balance, you might experience:
❌ Bloating & gas
❌ Sugar cravings
❌ Brain fog & fatigue
❌ Weight loss resistance
❌ Skin issues (acne, eczema)

If this sounds familiar, your microbiome may need a reset. Follow this 7-day plan to start healing your gut and restoring balance!

The 7-Day Gut Reset Plan

Step 1: Remove Gut Irritants

For 7 days, eliminate:
🚫 Gluten – Can trigger inflammation & leaky gut.
🚫 Dairy – Difficult to digest for many people.
🚫 Processed Sugar – Feeds harmful bacteria & yeast overgrowth.
🚫 Alcohol & Caffeine (if possible) – Disrupt gut lining & stress the liver.

Instead, focus on anti-inflammatory, whole foods that nourish your gut.

Step 2: Eat Gut-Healing Foods

Base your meals on:
✅ Fiber-rich veggies (broccoli, carrots, zucchini, leafy greens)
✅ Fermented foods (sauerkraut, kimchi, coconut yogurt, kefir)
✅ Healthy fats (avocados, olive oil, wild-caught salmon)
✅ Bone broth & collagen (heals gut lining & reduces inflammation)
✅ Prebiotic foods (onions, garlic, asparagus, flaxseeds)
✅ Herbal teas (ginger, peppermint, chamomile)

Step 3: Support Digestion

👉 Drink warm lemon water in the morning to stimulate digestion.
👉 Chew your food thoroughly (at least 20-30 times per bite).
👉 Take digestive enzymes with meals (if you experience bloating).
👉 Try apple cider vinegar before meals (1 tsp diluted in water) for stomach acid support.

Step 4: Balance Your Gut Bacteria

🦠 Probiotic supplement – Take a high-quality probiotic with at least 10 billion CFUs of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains.
🍽️ Eat fermented foods daily to naturally increase good bacteria.
🌱 Limit antibiotics & NSAIDs (if possible) as they can disrupt gut flora.

Step 5: Reduce Stress & Improve Sleep

Your gut and nervous system are deeply connected!
💆‍♀️ Try 5-10 minutes of deep breathing or meditation daily.
🌙 Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep (dark, cool room, no screens before bed).
🚶‍♂️ Gentle movement like walking or yoga helps gut motility.

Step 6: Hydration & Detox Support

💧 Drink half your body weight in ounces of water daily (e.g., 150 lbs = 75 oz).
🌿 Dandelion or ginger tea supports liver detox & digestion.
🥒 Add electrolytes or minerals (like sea salt) to water for better absorption.

Step 7: Track & Listen to Your Body

📖 Journal what you eat & how you feel (energy, digestion, cravings).
🔍 Notice patterns – Are certain foods causing bloating or fatigue?
📆 After 7 days, start reintroducing foods slowly (one at a time) to identify triggers.

Sample 1-Day Gut Reset Meal Plan

🥤 Morning: Warm lemon water + gut-healing smoothie (collagen, berries, coconut milk, flaxseeds)
🥗 Lunch: Wild salmon with roasted veggies & sauerkraut
🍵 Snack: Coconut yogurt with chia seeds & cinnamon
🍲 Dinner: Bone broth soup with zucchini noodles & turmeric

What’s Next?

After 7 days, you should notice:
✅ Less bloating
✅ Better digestion
✅ More energy & mental clarity
✅ Reduced cravings

If you want a deeper gut healing protocol, reach out for personalized support!

My Next WHY: The Most Important One Yet

Let’s take a journey back to 2017. I began noticing troubling patterns with one of my sons. While my other kids would recover quickly from common illnesses, he seemed to linger in sickness for weeks. His tonsils were frequently enlarged, he snored heavily at night, and I even observed sleep apnea. Out of the blue, at just three years old, he started bedwetting—despite being potty trained for over a year. Additionally, he faced speech difficulties that raised further concerns.

Searching for answers, I came across a mention of tongue ties in an online group, connecting it to some of his symptoms. This led us to a holistic dentist who confirmed he had a tongue tie. A simple laser procedure reversed it, and within a few weeks, the bedwetting and sleep apnea stopped. He no longer got sick so easily. I thought his difficulties were over—but I was wrong.

The Storm Intensifies

Between 2018 and 2019, while we were traveling out west, my son’s health took another drastic turn. He began exhibiting extreme behaviors. It was as if a switch flipped, turning my sweet boy into someone unrecognizable. He would experience intense rage, destroying anything in his path, and the smallest triggers would send him into violent episodes lasting from a few minutes to half an hour. Then, just as suddenly, he’d return to his usual self. It was like living in a real-life Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde story.

During these episodes, he displayed obsessive-compulsive tendencies, repetitive behaviors, and tics. Communicating with him felt impossible; it was as though “no one was home.” He became highly sensitive to textures, complained of things “crawling” on his skin, frequently scratched his bottom, and experienced leg pain. His weight dropped, he developed dark circles under his eyes, and his pupils dilated during episodes. Learning, once effortless, became a struggle, and I felt like we were regressing.

This period was exhausting. I was navigating my own health challenges, yet I refused to give up. I researched tirelessly, determined to find the root cause of his suffering.

Unraveling the Mystery

Many of his symptoms pointed to parasites, particularly as his symptoms worsened around full moons. This suspicion was confirmed when a significant number of pinworms were discovered in his stool, I still have a video of it-Yikes! Despite trying various cleanses, nothing seemed to work until a friend recommended a specific brand. Finally, success! The full-moon irritability, itching, crawling sensations disappeared, and worms were no longer visible in his stool.

However, we weren’t out of the woods. The rage episodes persisted, alongside dilated pupils and dark circles. Diving deeper into functional medicine, I stumbled upon PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Strep) and PANS (Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome). These conditions—described as “Brain On Fire”—perfectly matched his symptoms. Frequent illnesses in his early years suddenly made sense.

Testing revealed multiple gut pathogen overgrowths, including Candida, Strep, and Pseudomonas. He had poor pancreatic enzyme function, making digestion difficult, and his symptoms worsened with sugar or high-carb foods. Genetic testing highlighted methylation issues and challenges with carbohydrate metabolism. Further tests confirmed high antibodies to Strep, food sensitivities, and mycotoxins in his system. It was a perfect storm.

Building a Path to Healing

Our first step was cutting out all sugar and most grains. He could tolerate small amounts of gluten-free sprouted grains, and stevia was the only sweetener that didn’t trigger a reaction. We started him on an antimicrobial protocol, and soon, the rage episodes decreased. Eventually his dark circles vanished, and most of his symptoms subsided. Most recently the dark circles came back but I then realized it was due to an ingredient in a food product he was eating as I learned dark circles under the eyes usually indicate some sort of allergy, most freq food.

This journey has been long and layered, spanning years of trial and error. Today, my son is thriving. Besides one accidental flare-up at the start of the school year, he has been episode-free for nearly two years. We’ve learned to be cautious—he still can’t tolerate sugar or artificial dyes, and his immune system remains sensitive. But now we have tools to stop inflammation in its tracks before it escalates.

A Mission Born from Experience

This journey—as grueling as it’s been—has shaped my purpose. I’ve realized that the number of children and even young adults suffering from “brain on fire” conditions is growing. My mission is clear: to help as many parents and children as possible uncover solutions and address root causes.

Through education, functional medicine, and perseverance, healing is possible. My son’s story is proof of that. And it’s why I’m committed to making a difference, one family at a time.

If you haven’t watched the 2016 film Brain on Fire, then I highly suggest it! Its a powerful and eye-opening experience. This movie takes you on an emotional journey into the life of one suffering from a mysterious illnesses, trapped within their own mind, desperate for someone to uncover the root cause and help them heal. It’s a testament to the importance of digging deeper—something functional medicine excels at. By addressing the underlying causes rather than just treating symptoms, functional medicine offers hope and real solutions for those facing these life-altering conditions. Watching this film will not only move you but also open your eyes to the potential of holistic approaches to healing.

My Journey, My Why: The Heart Behind What I Do

My Transformational Journey with Functional Medicine: Finding Peace After Panic

In 2016, my life took an unexpected turn—one that tested my strength, resilience, and determination to heal. It began about a year after my twins were born. What should have been a joyful time in my life was overshadowed by sudden and random panic attacks. With no prior mental health concerns, I found myself in uncharted territory.

These episodes were terrifying: a lump in my throat, the sensation of being unable to breathe, the fear of passing out. Even driving on cloudy days triggered a paralyzing sense of doom, as if the world was closing in on me and I was going to die. Nights became especially challenging. When my husband left the house, I’d spiral into thoughts of dread, fearing the worst for my children and wondering how they would cope if something happened to me.

Then, I became pregnant with our fifth child, and the panic escalated to an unbearable level. Every day felt like a battle against racing thoughts and a crushing heaviness in my chest. I sought help from multiple practitioners, endured an ER visit, and was told I had “anxiety and reflux.” I was offered medication but instinctively knew that this was not the solution for me. I refused to accept this diagnosis and the meds and instead became determined to uncover the root cause of my symptoms.

The Turning Point: Finding Functional Medicine

After months of searching, I connected with a provider who revealed I had a severe Vitamin D deficiency. This revelation was surprising because I was already taking Vitamin D supplements. However, I learned that brands and co-factors—such as Vitamin K and magnesium—play a crucial role in absorption. Within two weeks of switching supplements, the panic attacks disappeared. Although occasional anxiety lingered, addressing my emotional and environmental triggers helped me find lasting peace. After 18 months, I was free from the suffocating grip of panic attacks.

A New Battle: PMDD and Mycotoxins

Fast forward to 2019, and I found myself in another life-altering struggle. This time, I experienced intense, debilitating suicidal thoughts and physical pain throughout my whole body just days before my monthly cycle. The symptoms vanished once my period began, but the pattern repeated every month. It felt like a storm I couldn’t escape. The pain wasn’t just physical—it was emotional and spiritual. I felt as though I carried the collective pain of others, leaving me overwhelmed and psychotic. Sharing these thoughts felt impossible, but I knew I couldn’t give in. My father’s suicide during my teenage years served as a stark reminder of the impact such a loss has on children. The only way I could describe these episodes were “Dark Days!”

During this time, I was working as a travel nurse in Oregon. We eventually returned to Michigan, where I discovered mold and fungus growing under our my side of the bed in our fifth-wheel camper. This discovery led me to learn about mycotoxins and their impact on health. Testing confirmed my body was overloaded with these toxins, and I connected the dots between my symptoms and my exposure to mold. I also discovered PMDD (Pre-Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder) and its connection to hormonal and environmental triggers.

The Healing Journey

Armed with this knowledge, we removed the mold and relocated to Arizona for a fresh start. I began a detox regimen to eliminate mycotoxins and delved deeper into the spiritual aspects of the female cycle. Learning about traditional cultures’ reverence for women during their cycles was transformative. Women were seen as visionaries, and their time of introspection and leading the tribe was honored. Understanding this shifted my perspective, suddenly one day as I was listening to a book about this the weight lifted from my body and instantly I was at peace . My next cycle was normal, free from the torment I’d endured for months. Those dark days have never returned.

Lessons from the Journey

This journey taught me the importance of listening to my body and seeking the root cause of illness rather than masking symptoms. Functional medicine empowered me to reclaim my health by addressing physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of my well-being. I learned that the environment, mindset, and even the supplements we choose can profoundly impact our health.

Today, I share my story to inspire others to advocate for their health and never settle for incomplete answers. Healing is possible when we approach our bodies with curiosity, compassion, and a willingness to dig deeper. If you’re facing your own health challenges, know that your body is speaking to you—and it’s worth listening.