5 Healthy Hormone Balancing Diets

The importance of hormones in our bodies cannot be overemphasized.  But if I asked,  how many hormones do you know if in your body? In addition, what is the significance of these specific hormones in your body? The common hormones in your body include estrogens,  progesterone,  testosterone,  insulin, and adrenaline.  These chemical messengers can have massive effects on several aspects of your life if left unchecked.  There are glands in your body whose main purpose is to secrete hormones.  Other organs in your body also play a significant role in the secretion of hormones.  These organs include the pituitary,  adrenals,  thyroid,  ovaries,  testicles and the pancreas.  The control of hormones circulating your body is a responsibility of the entire endocrine system.  If any section of your endocrine system is faulty,  your body might experience serious health complications.

Luckily,  there are conventional ways of taking back control of your hormones.  The existing treatments include birth control pills and insulin injection.  There is also an option for synthetic insulin injection or thyroid medications.  We use these medications to either increase or decrease the secretion of hormones.  Unfortunately,  most of the common folks who frequently suffer from hormone imbalance cannot gain access to some of these treatments.  Additionally,  an over-reliance on the above treatments can result in one or a combination of the following conditions:

• As a patient, these treatments will only mask the real problem by suppressing the symptoms.  In the real sense,  the treatment will not cure your condition.  The adverse effects of this are that it will allow the illness to progress to other parts of your body hence leading to development in several areas in your body.
• If the above scenario is not the case, you could end up with an addiction to the prescription drugs. With an over-reliance on these medications,  your body will be in a constant need for the drugs to feel normal.  This addiction will become your body’s response to keeping the symptoms in suppression.
• The treatments above can have serious side effects including osteoporosis, stroke,  reproductive disorders,  cancer and anxiety among others.

For those suffering from hormone imbalance,  there is no need to panic. The good news is that you can balance your hormones using natural means such as a healthy diet.  In our post today,  we shall talk about the foods which are effective in balancing your hormones.  You’ll get to know that you can use these diets to balance your hormones without any risks of the previously mentioned side effects.

But before we look at these highly beneficial foods,  which can help you recover from hormonal imbalance, it would suffice to get a glance at common symptoms of hormonal imbalance.  Knowing your symptoms will help you to know whether or not you need to use the foods we are going to suggest.

 Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalance

• Insomnia- This boost by the general lack of sleep is a common symptom of hormonal imbalance.
• Infertility- Infertility as a symptom of hormonal imbalance is also associated with low libido.
• Irregularity in your periods- This is another very common alert that signals to women whenever there is an issue with their reproductive hormones.
• A general drastic loss or gain of weight
• Depression and anxiety
• Abrupt changes in your appetite
• Hair thinning and hair loss

Depending on the disorder you are experiencing and the disease it causes,  the hormonal imbalance will vary considerably.  For instance,  high levels of estrogen could lead endometriosis and other reproductive complications.  On the other hand,  diabetes may have symptoms such as acute weight gain,  nerve damage,  unexplained changes in appetite and sight problems.

 Natural ways of Balancing Hormones Using a Healthy Diet

1. Coconuts and Avocados and Sources of Healthy Fat

To keep your hormones in check, there is a need for foods with a high short,  medium and long-chain fatty acids.  Your body requires a constant supply of healthy fats to produce hormones.  Therefore, it is highly necessary for you to consume food that is a great source of natural fats as well as cholesterol.

You will also find a natural cure for inflammation by using healthy sources of fats.  Natural fats which you can obtain coconuts and avocados will boost your metabolism besides being at the core of hormone production.  This is why I encourage all clients who could be suffering from hormone deficiency to increase their consumption of healthy fats.

2. Using Adaptogen Herbs

These are perhaps some of the very rare but unique healing plants which promote an efficient hormone balance.  Adaptogen herbs do a great job in protecting your body from a wide variety of illnesses. In case you have stress induced illnesses you may use this magical herb.  Besides acting as an immune stabilizer and stress combatant,  adaptogens can do the following;

• Lower your cholesterol levels
• Improve the functionality of your thyroids
• Reduce depression and anxiety
• Reduce degeneration of your brain cells
• Support your adrenal gland’s functionality
• Stabilize your blood sugar and insulin levels.

3. Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fats

There has been a skyrocketing trend in the consumption of refined vegetable oils since the beginning of the 20^th  Century.  Such has been the trend for the use of Omega-6 fatty acids in our diets.  Because we have not been boosting our intake of Omega-3 fatty acids,  the levels of Omega-6 have been on an upward trend.  Take a look at the Western community, and you will realize a distinct variation in the spread of chronic diseases. These are conditions whose cause is the disproportionate fatty acids in our diets. The use of Omega-3 is to enhance brain cell-to-cell communication.

According to numerous studies, we can use Omega-3 to protect our bodies against hippocampal neural loss. Besides, Omega-3s are also very effective in reducing pro-inflammatory responses.  Research shows that there is a drastic change in the ratio of Omega-3 to Omega-6 from 1:1 to 10:1.  This change is the main reason for an ever increasing rate of chronic illnesses in America.

Therefore, as a rule of thumb, I would recommend you abide by the following guidelines;

• Stay clear of oils which have a higher content of Omega 6 fats. Such foods include sunflower, safflower,  canola,  cottonseed, soya bean and peanuts.
• Instead, you need to boost your intake of Omega-3. Natural sources of Omega-3 include flax and chia seeds, wild fish,  grass-fed animal products and walnuts.

In addition, while there is an aspect of decreasing your intake of Omega-6, I would also like to mention a certain type of Mega-6 which is crucial in your body.  GLA, which is a special type of Oega-6 can be used in maintaining the levels of progesterone to the optimal. You can find GLA in the evening primrose oil or from borage oil.

4. Vitamin D3

An article from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition highlights the role that vitamins D3 plays promoting your health. According to the article, vitamin D3 impacts your insulin secretion which means it has a direct relationship to your hormonal balance. Besides, this vitamin D3 can also influence your adaptive and innate immune system.

There is also evidence to suggest that vitamin D3 could also be at the center of the functionality of heart. It regulates the blood pressure and the development of the brain functionality and the fetus. In fact, vitamin D3 takes up some of the roles of hormones in your body. You can optimize the levels of vitamin D3 by getting sunlight or by consuming diets with Vitamin D3. There is strong evidence to support that dietary supplements are better sources of vitamin D3. This is because prolonged exposure to sunlight could also lead to skin cancer.

5. Clean protein and healing spices

Proteins play a vital role in regards to balancing your hormones. The following foods are good in regarding hormonal imbalance

• Beans
• Seeds
• Cinnamon
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Turmeric
• Caffeine
• Cayenne
• Seeds
• Sprouted nuts
• Quinoa
• Lentils
• Cumin

The foods discussed above can help you restore your hormones to the optimal levels.  Balancing your hormones can have great value to your body.  Glowing skin,  improved fertility,  consistent energy levels and a stable immunity.  Your body has incredible ability to recover from any setback, but you need to ensure it is in the right frame to do so.  You can achieve this by simply keeping your hormones in check.