There are many different ways you can keep your hormones in check. One important way is to follow a healthy diet, filled with hormone healing foods.
Since most hormones are released and influenced by the microbiota in our guts, hormone balance is expected to begin in the intestines. Eating for your best digestive health creates a cascade effect that affects how all your hormones are produced and used.
Women’s hormonal health
We’ve all heard the famous saying “a woman’s brain is wired differently”. And rightly so! We ladies are made up of a complex symphony of hormones — insulin, estrogen, progesterone, thyroid, cortisol, and more — and these chemical messengers must be in unified harmony so that you can experience optimally functioning harmonious health.
These chemical messengers play a key role in controlling your appetite, weight, and mood, among other things. Normally, your endocrine glands produce the exact amount of each hormone needed for different processes in your body. However, many women have common hormonal imbalances that can lead to mood swings, irritability, brain fog, fatigue, and weight gain.
Luckily, a nutritious diet and other healthy lifestyle behaviors can help improve your hormonal health and make you feel and do your best.
Let’s list out 5 hormone healing foods that are easily available in any Indian kitchen –
1. Eggs
Eggs are one of the most nutritious foods on the planet. Reach for eggs to take a dose of choline, a vitamin that helps us create the neurotransmitter acetylcholine that is vital to the nervous system, brain function, memory, and development. They also contain omega-3 fatty acids, anti-inflammatory fats that support the brain. When our minds and nervous systems are balanced, we’re better able to cope with stress.
2. Probiotics
Probiotics are live microorganisms that may be able to help prevent and treat some illnesses. They promote a healthy digestive tract and support your gut. Make sure you include foods like yogurt, kefir in your diet and aim to have a serving or two of these foods each day. Research shows probiotic supplements can help manage mood disorders including anxiety and depression, normalize inflammation, and help balance hormones.
3. Legumes
These tiny gems are a great source of protein and fiber that can reduce the levels of estrogen. Lentils and sunflower seeds also contain zinc, which raises testosterone. In women with PCOS, foods such as chickpeas, beans and peas can be effective in reducing body fat, regulating menstrual periods, and lowering cholesterol.
4. Millet
Millet is a gluten-free whole grain that provides a broad variety of B vitamins that help our nerves and brains in times of stress. It is full of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and has a high fiber content. The low glycemic index helps diabetics control their blood insulin levels. The right nutrients flush out excess fat and water from the body to help control obesity and hormonal imbalances.
5. Spinach
You can protect and support your thyroid by including dark leafy greens. Iron-rich foods, such as spinach, help improve thyroid function and aid in the production of thyroid hormones. Its iron content, as well as the range of B vitamins, can also provide an energy boost to those who feel sluggish and tired. Spinach is an excellent source of magnesium, which is important because it stimulates the uptake of insulin.
Your hormones are part of every aspect of your health. You need them to function optimally in very specific amounts for your body. Although aging and other factors are beyond your control, there are many steps you can take to help your hormones function optimally.
Start by including these 5 hormone healing foods in your diet regularly, exercise on a regular basis and this will surely go a long way.