Do you feel like no matter what you do—eat clean, exercise, manage stress, pray, get outside in nature —you still struggle with bloating, fatigue, hormone imbalances, or mystery symptoms?
If that’s you, read on because we are talking about something that’s often overlooked but incredibly important: hidden infections—like bacteria, viruses, and even parasites—and how they can throw off your hormones, wreck your digestion, and zap your energy.
What infections?
First, let’s define what I mean by infections.
- Bacteria – Not all are bad because we have both good and bad bacteria, but imbalances with more bad than good (like H. Pylori or Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth-SIBO) can create chaos.
- Viruses – Chronic viruses (like Epstein-Barr) can linger silently, affecting your energy, immune response, and increasing inflammation.
- Parasites – Yes, even in developed countries, they’re more common than we think—like Giardia or Blastocystis hominis. Even if you haven’t been to another country, your food has – we import a lot of food. I bet if you looked in your fridge right now, you’d find at least a half dozen from other countries. And those little parasites love to tag along on a trip via the food supply!
These invaders stress the body, activate inflammation, and can hijack how your body functions—including your hormones and gut.
General signs of a hidden infection include:
- Fatigue that doesn’t seem to go away with rest
- Memory problems, brain fog
- Headaches/migraines
- Joint or muscle pain without a clear cause
- Frequent sinus infections or chronic post nasal drip
- Skin issues like rashes, eczema, repeated breakouts
- Night sweats or unexplained low-grade fevers
How do infections disrupt your hormones and digestion?
Gut Connection
- Over 70% of your immune system lives in your gut.
- Infections can cause leaky gut, food sensitivities, and poor nutrient absorption. You may experience symptoms like bloating, bowel irregularity (diarrhea or constipation or a combination), excessive gas or belching, unexplained nausea, or heartburn. Even strong cravings for sugar or carbs can be indicative of a virus or parasite because they live on sugar!
Hormone Disruption
- Chronic infections = chronic stress = cortisol overload = hormone imbalances.
- Impacts thyroid, estrogen, and progesterone especially in perimenopause and menopause.
- Difficulty sleeping or staying asleep
- Mood swings and anxiety
- Weight gain – especially “belly fat”
- Forgetfulness
- Hot flashes
- Your liver and gut help detox excess hormones—if they’re overwhelmed by infections, hormone balance suffers.
Example: If you’ve had recurring Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), gut issues, or viral infections like shingles or mono, then you know what I’m talking about. These may still be affecting your energy, mood, sleep, or even weight and could be caused by hidden infections.
Other Immune Clues
- Long viral illnesses
- Sinus infections or post nasal drip as noted above
- Skin rashes, itchy skin, eczema
- Autoimmune disease diagnosis or more than one
- Reactions to probiotics or fermented food
What can you do?
There is hope so don’t be discouraged. Here are 3 empowering steps you can take:
Diet: Eat more anti-inflammatory foods and avoid sugar/gluten/dairy – can do a trial period such as 2-3 weeks to see if you notice improvement. Foods like garlic, onion, oregano, and pumpkin seeds have natural anti-parasitic properties and may be helpful. Also taking quality probiotics can help – these make gut environment less hospitable to parasites and bad bacteria.
Support your immune system: Prioritize sleep, lower stress, get outside, and consider antimicrobial herbs like oregano, garlic, wormwood, or olive leaf (but check with your own health practitioner first).
Test—don’t guess. Use functional stool tests or viral lab panels which can reveal hidden infections. This is something I help my clients explore as a team with their practitioners.
If this resonated with you, you’re not alone. Many women over 45 are dealing with these hidden health hijackers and don’t even know it.
If you’re ready to dig deeper and get to the root of your symptoms, let’s chat on a free 15-minute discovery call. Click here to schedule it.
You deserve to feel good in your body again. Let’s uncover what’s holding you back.
I am a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach and help women over 40 who have digestive issues (like bloating, constipation, diarrhea, acid reflux), fatigue, brain fog, weight issues, and thyroid and autoimmune conditions. As a team, you and I work together as we focus on nutrition and lifestyle factors to help you decrease your symptoms, have more energy, think clearer, and fit into those favorite jeans again. You can do this! You just might need some help from someone who’s been there herself and worked with clients – helping guide, support, and encourage you each step of the way. Contact me here to set up a free strategy session to see how we can work together. — Leah Cheshire, NBC-HWC
