A list of healthy foods that prevent hormonal imbalances in women.
Women can often suffer from problems in the body when their hormones are out of balance. For example, a woman who has too much estrogen may get dry skin, depression, night sweats, brain fog, insomnia, low libido and vaginal dryness. Whereas a woman who has too little estrogen can have enlarged breasts, breast tenderness, ovarian cysts, anaemia, PMS and aching in the thighs and legs. The body makes and uses around 50 different hormones, which are important chemical messengers in the body.
In this article, we will share with you a list of 16 healthy foods that prevent hormonal imbalances in women. These foods help to balance hormone levels by healing the glands which control them.
1. Sea Kelp: This is by far one of the best foods found in nature for balancing hormones. Sea kelp contains a concentrated amount of iodine, a trace mineral which heals the thyroid gland, balances estrogen levels and gets rid of brain fog at any age. Sea kelp is excellent for pregnant women as it contains 10x more calcium than milk. You can get this in capsule form.
2. Kale: The body absorbs many dangerous toxins from the environment, like pesticides, heavy metals and pollutants. These are called endocrine disrupters which puts the hormones out of balance and are very dangerous for your health. Organic Kale helps to detoxify these chemicals from your liver, therefore helping to balance your hormones.
3. Cinnamon: If you suffer from heavy periods then there are certain spices and herbs that you can eat to reduce the pain and cramping. Ceylon Cinnamon bark is a tasty spice which reduces heavy bleeding by boosting blood circulation.
4. Walnuts: These very healthy nuts support female hormone balance as they contain iodine and selenium. Selenium is a key nutrient found to prevent goitres and swelling in the thyroid gland. A small handful of assorted nuts each day is very helpful to the body, but don’t go overboard with these.
5. Apple Cider Vinegar: Drink a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water with your meals. This helps to strengthen your stomach in breaking down foods. This allows you to absorb more nutrients for hormonal health.
6. Avocado: Many women consume too many junk foods which can lead to high insulin levels in the body. This can damage the pituitary gland in the brain and affect the entire endocrine system. Avocados are one of nature’s best healing superfoods for balancing insulin levels and regulating the ovaries.
7. Parsley: The liver plays an important role in balancing hormones levels in the body. You can support a healthy liver by eating parsley which removes harmful toxins and endocrine disruptors from the body.
8. Nutritional Yeast: If you often suffer from constant chatter in the brain, a racing mind or anxiety then nutritional yeast can help. This contains a complex of B vitamins which support the nervous system and reduces the stress hormone cortisol. It can also you to lose weight by reversing insulin resistance.
9. Beet Tops: The leaves found on the top of beets are one of the greatest sources of potassium. This mineral heals the liver and the gallbladder. Eating a mixture of leafy greens each day helps your gallbladder to make bile. This helps you to break down fatty foods, and convert thyroid hormones.
10. Irish Sea Moss: Many vegetarians and vegans consume Irish sea moss on a daily basis. It is a rich source of iodine and all trace minerals, which improve the function of each gland in the body. This is a wonderful supplement for menopausal and post-menopausal women.
11. Broccoli: Eat some lightly steamed broccoli to get more sulforaphane into your diet. This detoxifies harmful chemicals that come from our environment. Broccoli helps to prevent hormone imbalance, especially during the monthly cycle, pregnancy or menopause.
12. Arugula: This is another leafy green vegetable in the cruciferous family, also known as ‘Rocket’ in the UK. Bitter leaves help to balance hormones as they supply a wide range of nutrients and phytonutrients. Consume this is large salads often with a lemon and olive oil dressing for wonderful health.
13. Cauliflower to treat women hormonal imbalance: If you are eating too many carbohydrates then your body may be making too much testosterone. You can make healthy pizza bases and a substitute for mashed potato with cauliflower. This helps to calm hyperactive adrenal glands, making you feel more relaxed.
14. DIM: If you want to get all the benefits of eating leafy greens without the taste, you can purchase a supplement of DIM. These pills are concentrated forms of cruciferous vegetables and are amazing for balancing hormones in women.
15. Coffee: Coffee contains caffeine which can act as a stimulant and cause problems for the nerves and hormones. However, if you consume a small amount of decaffeinated coffee each day, this can actually help supply boron to the body. Boron is essential for balancing estrogen and healing depression and anxiety.
16. Green Tea: Keeping the body free of toxins is the best way to keep your hormones in balance. Drinking matcha green tea is rich in chlorophyll which removes harmful toxins and the purifies the blood. You can also get this in capsule form if you do not like the taste.
As you can see there are many foods that you can eat to prevent hormonal imbalance in women. Keeping the liver strong and healthy should be a priority when it comes to supporting the health of the glands, which release hormones. To do this, stop eating pre-packaged foods, as these contain soy protein. This is a low-quality protein which interferes with the thyroid and the liver. Also, cut back on alcohol and sugar to prevent a fatty liver. Instead, eat whole foods like leafy greens and vegetables lightly steamed. During menopause, the ovaries shut down and the adrenal glands have to take over. Supporting the adrenal with cruciferous vegetables and sea kelp prevents hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness during this time. Also, be sure to perform relaxation exercises such as meditation, long walks or using essential oils. A calm mind and body help to balance hormones and the nervous system.