Foods for Female Hormone Balance

12 May Foods for Female Hormone Balance

Hormones are responsible for more than you might think. Hormonal imbalance in females can lead to symptoms like hair loss, skin issues, weight fluctuation, mood swings, and more. But here’s the good news: lifestyle changes can help.

Foods That Decrease Female Hormone Balance

Animal Protein

Eating enough protein is very important. Protein provides the amino acids that the body struggles to make on its own and provides peptide hormones, which regulate processes such as growth, energy metabolism, appetite, stress, and reproduction. Not only that, but protein temporarily suppresses the hunger hormone and increases the hormones that help you feel full.

However, animal products such as cheese, milk, yoghurt, meat and eggs naturally contain steroid hormones, including oestrogen, testosterone and progesterone. So, organic, free-range, and grass-fed is often best. It contains the same amount of hormones but usually fewer chemicals.

Dysbiosis and Refined Sugar

Dysbiosis is an imbalance of gut bacteria. A diet high in refined carbohydrates reduces the healthy elimination of oestrogen and other hormones. To assist with this,  probiotics and high fibre improve digestion and support the detoxification pathways. Additionally, cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and citrus aid and encourage detoxification.

We know, sometimes the sugar craving is just too strong and you cannot resist that chocolate slab you’ve been saving for this exact occasion. We’re not saying cut out sugar altogether (unless your doctor says so), but maybe eating an entire slab of chocolate at a time is not the best idea.

Minimising sugar, especially added sugar, not only helps female hormone balance, but it also helps avoid obesity, diabetes, and numerous other diseases.

Arguably, the biggest culprit of added sugar (yes, even before chocolate) is those tempting little bottles of soft drinks, fruit juices, and sports & energy drinks. These contain fructose, and sadly, it can be quite difficult to avoid. But, it’s worth it to avoid it. Eating less added sugar reduces your chances of insulin resistance.

Be sure to read about the Epigenetics Diet and why the YOLO Health way is the best way.

Alcohol, Caffeine and Unfiltered Water

Alcohol, caffeine, and unfiltered water can make your liver work overtime. This hampers the detoxification process. Additionally, these liquids often contain toxins, which can disrupt your hormones.

This includes endocrine-disrupting chemicals, which can affect your kidneys and reproductive health, among others. These substances tend to mimic natural hormones, block their effects, or alter how your body produces them.

Foods That Increase Female Hormone Balance

Hormone-friendly foods

Some hormone-friendly foods you can add to or increase in your diet include:

• “Clean” protein: nuts, seeds, beans, free-range eggs and meat
• Berries: blackberries, cranberries, raspberries, strawberries
• Cruciferous vegetables: broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale
• Herbs and spices: sage, oregano, ginger, turmeric, ashwaganda, coriander.

Complex carbs and healthy fats

The added benefit of these is balanced blood sugar and sustained energy for longer. This further reduces the urge to crave sugary snacks or food and caffeine. In turn, you may find it easier to manage your weight.

Complex carbs include:

• Oats
• Buckwheat
• Quinoa
• Brown rice
• Beans
• Carrots
• Sweet potato
• Apples
• Berries

Healthy fats include:

• Extra virgin olive oil (not heated)
• Avocados
• Coconut oil (fine heated)
• Nuts and seeds
• Fatty fish

Herbal teas and filtered water

Herbal teas such as chamomile, tulsi, rooibos (red bush), peppermint, spearmint, dandelion, nettle, maca, and ginseng, with filtered water, assist your kidneys and liver in functioning well. They also support detoxification and hormone balance.

Non-diet Items for Female Hormone Balance

Everyday items

It may come as a surprise that toxins and hormone disruptors are also found in everyday items. Chemicals in plastic, household detergents, and some cosmetics are known to disrupt hormones.

Some quick fixes, such as swapping plastic for glass where possible, purchasing paraben-free cosmetics and household detergents, and using more natural alternatives where possible, will make a big difference.

Regular exercise

Fat tissue produces hormones. So, decreasing body fat and maintaining a healthy weight helps balance hormone levels in the body.

It is very important to lose weight slowly and sustainably; therefore, an achievable and maintainable exercise routine and diet are key. Not only will your hormones start to balance out, but you will also improve your mood, gain mental clarity, and keep your bones and joints strong and healthy.

If you’d like to find out a bit more about genes and nutrition, you can read a bit more here.

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