3 Foods to Support Healthy Hormones

Hi! Today I am going to be sharing 3 amazing foods to help balance your hormones naturally! Please remember to always consult your physician or book a consultation with me before implementing diet changes, especially if you are experiencing thyroid conditions or are taking any medications. 

You can watch the 15-minute video where I go into all of this, or continue reading below!

Balancing our hormones using more natural methods is a relatively safe and effective way of experiencing relief from some of the uncomfortable symptoms we live with as women. Oftentimes, many of our hormonal imbalances can be linked to the quality of food that we’re eating or even a lack of specific nutrients in our daily diets. So knowing some foods that are particularly amazing for your hormones can be handy when that time of the month rolls around!

In my last video, “Symptoms of a hormonal imbalance in women & What to do about it”, I shared a bit of my own hormonal hell that I lived through, and that really only scratched the surface.  However, I will say today that I’m grateful to have learned what I know about nutrition and lifestyle because they became my saving grace in ending a lot of the hormonal issues and symptoms that I was dealing with.

I won’t ever be cured, Endometriosis and PCOS are not curable.  But I have been successfully managing my symptoms for 4+ years through diet and lifestyle better than I ever was able to use traditional medicine. It’s been an empowering journey to feel my body change positively in response to adding quality nutrients to my diet.

And even though I’ve personally experienced it before, it always amazes me every day to hear how my clients’ bodies are also responding. 

It’s just so exciting when they tell me things like: “wow, my period didn’t even hurt this month”; or “omg, my skin has never been this clear before”; or even “I can’t believe that my cycle is so regular now, it’s amazing!” 

And since in my practice I focus on helping my clients develop a diet and lifestyle plan that works for them, I really like to focus on ADDING quality nutrients to their diet.  Ultimately, there are always things in their diets that should/could be removed for optimal hormone health, but identifying my clients’ specific dietary needs is important in determining how to navigate that.

So with that in mind, let’s have a look at my 3 favourite foods to add for hormonal health!

1. Maca

Maca is a root native to Peru. It is full of antioxidants and is a very popular superfood renowned for easing hormonal imbalances6. Rich in vitamin C, copper, protein, and fiber, Maca is known to help with libido problems, PMS, and hot flashes.

If you have high blood pressure, thyroid hormone issues, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have PCOS, you should consult with your physician or nutritionist before consuming Maca.

Steep Maca in hot water like tea, and add it to your smoothies, overnight oats, raw protein balls, or even soups!

2. Kale

Kale is a leafy green cruciferous vegetable. Cruciferous veggies contain indole-3-carbinol. Indole-3-carbinol helps the body to metabolize estrogens and can be very beneficial for people who struggle with Estrogen Dominance. Uterine fibroids, menopausal symptoms, low progesterone, and fibrocystic breast disease can all benefit from balanced estrogen levels. Kale is also packed with vitamins including A, K, C, and B5 as well as minerals like copper, manganese, and calcium.

For those with thyroid issues, it is important to cook kale to reduce goitrogenic compounds that inhibit the way thyroid hormones are metabolized. If you are eating a lot of raw kale and begin gaining weight or notice an increase in PMS, bloating, fatigue or moodiness, cut back or cook the kale --- those may be signs that you’re enjoying more raw kale than your thyroid can handle.

3. Walnuts

Omega 3 fatty acids support brain, cardiovascular and hormonal health. They are also known to reduce prostaglandins (which can help ease menstrual cramps and systemic inflammation). Other sources of omega 3s would be chia seeds, hemp hearts, salmon, and krill.  Many women who struggle with extremely painful periods, ovulation, or inflammatory pain find that supplementing their omega-rich diet with a high-quality omega-3 blend provides adequate (or in my case and many of my clients, substantial) relief.  

There you have it! From PMS to mood swings, menstrual pain, menopause, and everything in between, maca root, kale, and walnuts are amazing foods to support your hormones! And if you’re curious about which high-quality supplements I personally use and recommend in my practice, check them out here.

To get some support and direction with your hormones, take the Hormone Health Quiz! Good luck on your hormone journey!