Importance of Eating Well When Hormones are Wacky

There is a whole host of reasons to eat well every day, let alone, when your hormones are being put to the test by your period or pregnancy.  Any time your hormones are imbalanced, you can expect to experience adrenal fatigue or PMS, low estrogen ad higher-than-typical cortisol levels.

So, what’s a woman to do? First, we take a look at likely culprits:

• Above-average stress levels
• poor gut health
• vitamin D deficiency, tied to too little UV light exposure or obesity
• lack of adequate R&R (rest and relaxation)
• too much or too little exercise
• environmental exposure to toxins

With so much of these areas of concern centering around what we can control, it is fortunate that a majority of these issues can be addressed through proper diet.

Below is a simple checklist to make it easier to adopt and adapt to a way of eating to healthier hormones:

Eat balanced meals.  Make sure you are getting a healthy mix of carbs, proteins and fats.

Say goodbye to excessive sweets!  White flour, gluten, sugary treats. Detox from the donuts and other sources of added sugar as this will reduce inflammation.

Add probiotics.  Eat more foods with probiotic properties like yogurt and kombucha. Get high-fiber foods in, like legumes and whole grains. Snack on prebiotics like bananas and oatmeal.

Fill up on Fiber.  Approximately 25-30 grams per day with foods like avocadoes, lentils and raspberries.

Good fats. Coconut oil, grass-fed butters, dairy and meat, as well as, wild-caught salmon can serve up good fats.

Swap the caffeine for water.  You hear it all the time.   Because it works! That 64 oz. of water is going to make a difference.  Opt out of caffeinated beverages and swap them with water.  If you must consume caffeine, limit the amount an only drink it after you’ve enjoyed your hydrating H2O.

Many of the foods and meal plans for eating healthy to maintain a hormone balance are also good for your overall health. Talk with your doctor to gain access to your hormone levels and then, start with the basics of eating for your hormones to see if you feel any changes.  Follow-up with the doctor and see what’s working!  Feel free to share your success with us here!