How to Naturally Balance Your Hormones
Hormones are essential chemicals in your overall health. Lately, I have been seeing more and more signs of hormone imbalances in my clients. Some of the signs/complaints include the following:
- Feelings of fatigue or exhaustion all the time
- Low sex drive
- Digestive issues
- Hair loss
- Unexplained weight loss or weight gain
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Irritability
- Cravings
The list could go on and on. The degree to which each of these signs impacts my clients is different. Perhaps some of these issues resonate with you. But, the one thing they all have in common? These issues stem from a lack of proper nutrition.
We all need a good balance of protein, carbs, and healthy fats. More often than not, we cut back on fat first because it has the most calories and we think eating less fat will help us lose weight more quickly, which can be true in some instances. However, by cutting out a significant amount of fat we do more harm to our bodies than good. It's tempting, and we certainly have had periods of time in our culture in which we believed that fat was the enemy; all those low-fat diet fads are a testament to such thinking.
READ MORE: 10 Reasons Why You Are Having Food Cravings
But here's the thing. Fat is the most important macronutrient for balancing hormones because they are produced from fatty acids and cholesterol. So, when we cut back our fat we are basically depriving our bodies of the elements it needs to keep our hormones in balance. Yikes! That's not something anyone wants.
By structuring your meals around a solid foundation of all three macronutrients—carbohydrates, protein, and fats—your body will really begin to flourish because your hormones will be balanced.
15 Foods To Help You Naturally Balance Your Hormones
Start by adding one or two, and then slowly increase from there.
Protein Sources
Try to stick with organic, grass-fed, or wild-caught for the following:
Carbohydrates
- Quinoa
- Lentils
- Dark leafy green vegetables
- Kale
- Spinach
- Broccoli
- Asparagus
- Bright-colored vegetables (also loaded with antioxidants)
- Peppers
- Tomatoes
- Carrots
- Cabbage
- Starchy Vegetables
- Sweet Potatoes
- Squash varieties
- Beets
- Parsnips
Healthy Fat
These will be the most important. Try to aim for a variety of healthy fat sources each day. You can always keep some nuts handy as a snack, in your car or in a backpack. Try cooking with coconut oil or ghee if it's unfamiliar to you. (Or make these coconut fat bombs!)
- Avocado
- Coconut Oil
- Ghee
- Nuts/Seeds
- Egg Yolks
READ THIS NEXT: 13 Tips for Cutting Calories the Right Way
Additional Items
Other things such as spices and seasonings can go a long way too! Try adding:
- Cinnamon (great in your coffee or morning oatmeal)
- Tumeric (add some to rice)
- Cayenne
- Ginger
- Garlic
- Onion
- Cumin (it's essential to any taco dish with ground beef!)
Including a variety of these foods gives your body the nutrients it needs to really flourish. You will be amazed at how quickly our bodies can heal from a lack of nutrients, thanks to a few small daily changes.
If any of this strikes a chord with you, it's always a good idea to consult your physician.
