Hormone balancing foods might be your answer to your autoimmune disease! It’s true! I have many patients that come to me that have many different autoimmune diseases such as hypothyroidism, Hashimotos, leptin resistance, high cortisol or low cortisol levels, low progesterone or high estrogen. All of these diseases have many symptoms and ailments but all of them can be healed the same way, through your diet. I know that might not be the answer many of you want, it’s not a magic pill pr a quick fix but it can be done in your home. I want you to think of your kitchen as your pharmacy, you go there to get fuel and only fill it with foods your body needs, and these foods will begin to help heal the disease. There are key foods that can help with these diseases. Why? Well when you heal the gut and detox the liver, many of these issues go away. The gut is often the primary concern and these other diseases, the ones that we are prescribed medicine and see the symptoms of, well they will actually begin to subside.
The nutrients your body gains from your diet is the same nutrients that plays the part in creating hormones and their function. A good example of this is much of our reproductive system uses cholesterol, which comes from foods like whole fat dairy, eggs, butter and meat. So if you are not getting enough of those your reproductive system won’t be getting enough support. This is just one example. Everything in the body is connected, and the bottom line to this is if your body is not getting enough vitamins and minerals to support the production of the good hormones like estrogen and progesterone, then your body starts going into survival mode and it makes bad hormones like cortisol, which is the stress hormone. This then leads to many auto-immune diseases and emotional instability.
So today I have made a list of the top 10 hormone balancing foods. Start adding these to your diet and you will begin to feel more balanced hormonally.
Top 10 Hormone Balancing Foods
1. High Probiotic and Prebiotic Foods
Fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kombucha, bananas, artichoke, oats, and onions are all great for balancing hormones. Why? Well the gut is very important to your hormones. Probiotics are the good bacteria that live inside your digestive system and having these helps with supporting immune system function, smooth digestion, decreasing inflammation, and the production of hormones.
2. High Fiber Foods
High fiber foods help keep cholesterol and blood sugar down, and they also support the gut. Moderate amounts of fiber are key, so aim to eat 15 grams of fiber and obtain it from avocados, raspberries, lentils and peas. These are all wonderful hormone balancing foods.
3. Healthy Fats
So many people avoid fat, but they play a crucial role in making hormones and that is why they have made the list for hormone balancing foods. They also help the brain, focus, memory and cognitive function, they boost metabolism and lower inflammation, and they support or reproductive organs and keep you full longer which in turn promotes weight loss. Some sources to get all the good fats from is: coconut oil, avocados, nuts, seeds, organic whole dairy, wild caught salmon or other wild caught fatty fish.
4. Drink Water
This can be easy for some and difficult for others but it is an easy and affordable way to balance your hormones. Eight cups is a good average to shoot for but most people need more depending on their age and lifestyle. Water is so important to every single cell in our bodies. It regulates our body temperature, naturally detoxes and of course, hydrates every cell. Water is the most important sustenance and it is an important hormone balancing food.
5. Drink Green Tea
Green tea is one of the healthiest drinks, besides water, of course. It contains many antioxidants and has been shown in studies to lower insulin levels and reduce insulin resistance. It is considered a metabolism-boosting caffeine. So you could say it is a drink where you get the benefits of caffeine while also boosting your metabolism as well. Not all green teas are created equal, so make sure you check the ingredients and the source and aim for buying organic.
6. Leafy Greens
I think I have leafy greens on every list I have made. The reason they are on the list for hormone balancing foods is because they are full of antioxidants that help balance hormones and they are filled with anti-inflammatory properties that lower the levels of stress, which in turn, lowers your cortisol levels. They also balance out estrogen and because they are full of iron, they support women during their cycle.
7. Nuts
Nuts have a positive effect on your endocrine system which helps in lowering your levels of cholesterol, and they also aid in lowering insulin levels and balancing blood sugar levels. They are also rich in Omega-3s and are anti-inflammatory. When you buy nuts look for words like organic, raw and whole.
8. Turmeric
Turmeric is a go-to to heal inflammation so it plays a very important role in balancing your hormones. It is strong anti-oxidant an anti-microbial, and one of turmeric’s main components, curcumin, mimics the activity of estrogen. Which means it decreases pain during mensuration and it normalizes mensuration.
9. Quinoa
This grain is a complex carbohydrate that has many benefits and can be eaten many different ways making it an easier food to add to your diet weekly. Quinoa keeps blood sugar and insulin levels steady. It is also a great source of protein and fiber and it is also gluten free which is great for those who have a gluten sensitivity.
10. Pomegranate
This fruit has the power to block excess estrogen production making it an amazing hormone balancing food. A recent study found that pomegranates have the ability to prevent certain types of breast cancers. They are also anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and a great source of vitamin C.