Hormones have a major role to play in our physical, mental and emotional health. They have an effect on our metabolism, energy levels, immune system, fertility, cycles, appetite, weight and mood.
Find out how to regain your balance the natural way!
by Natalia García, RD/N, IFNCP, CISSN, CHWC
Hormones are amazing chemical messengers that need to be in balance to work well. They can become out of whack when either too little or too much is produced or if something blocks the pathways hormones take within the body.
When hormones are out of balance, it can lean to diabetes, weight management problems, infertility, low libido and the body’s muscle-fat balance. The aging process plus our modern lifestyle can affect hormone levels. Hormones are given to farm animals to make them gain weight and then we ingest this meat. Non-organic milk often comes from dairy cows that have been given hormones to increase milk production.
A healthy diet can bring hormones back into sync
As a nutritionist I see how imbalanced hormones result in weight gain, hunger, high blood sugar, poor calorie burning, sleep disturbances and body fat accumulation. Certain foods can promote hormonal imbalance, while eating other foods may restore this balance. Yet, not many people are aware of the role that food has on keeping hormonal levels stable.
How to regain your hormonal balance in a natural way
First step is to identify the common toxins affecting your hormones. A clean environment is key for healthy living, so check your house and reduce the use of toxic substances as much as possible. For example:
Wash your fruits and vegetables before eating them to remove surface pesticide residues, waxes, fungicides, and fertilizers.
Use homemade or organic cleaning, toiletries and hygiene products, the chemical compounds used in these products like parabens, triclosan or fragrances might disrupt your endocrine system.
Aim for whole foods with minimal packaging or packed in high-quality materials (e.g. non-BPA lined cans), and keep plastic water bottles away from heat
Second step is to clean your pantry and fridge!
Get rid of the foods that are affecting your hormonal balance, such as:
Bad quality meats such as hot dogs, saussages or high fat burgers. Instead switch to grass-feed meats when possible since the former could count for estrogen dominance
Non-organic diary foods, which can affect your growth hormone balance
High processed foods. These are foods which contain high amounts of salt, sweeteners or saturated fat plus artificial flavors, artificial colors and preservatives. Examples include sugary drinks, candy, ice cream, commercially baked goods, fast foods and many snack foods.
Limit your caffeine consumption to keep your cortisol levels in check.
Clean eating and therapeutic foods can turn your hormonal levels around!
There are some foods that will help you keep your glands working well such as:
Wild Salmon - Fat and cholesterol are the building blocks of hormones. The key is to choose fats high in omega-3s and to limit saturated fats.
Avocado - Loaded with beta-sitosterol, which can positively affect blood cholesterol levels and help balance cortisol
Ashwagandha - A potent herb that supports your adrenal glands, which produce hormones that help regulate metabolism, immune system, blood pressure, response to stress and other essential functions.
Even though aging and other factors may be out of our control, choosing the right kinds of foods can allow the body to re-balance the hormonal system.
Want to know more about how some foods might be affecting your hormones?
Register for a zoom session 'Which foods are throwing your hormones out of whack?'
Check out my video below and start making the changes to live the life you want!
Natalia Garcia is a contract dietitian who can help with not only hormone imbalance, but weight loss, high blood pressure, heart disease, digestive disorders and all aspects of health and nutrition.
Contact her at 941-264-4644 or at natalia@fnwellness.com