FOODS TO HELP WITH HORMONE BALANCE
Originally published: JUNE 8, 2021
Acne and other skin problems are the result of an internal imbalance in the body. Beautiful skin is a reflection of internal balance = body + mind + soul. If you suffer from hormonal breakouts, this post may help guide you.
Some common signs of hormonal imbalance:
- Persistent weight gain
- Fatigue
- Depression/ anxiety
- Low libido
- Hot flashes/ night sweats
- Breakouts around the jawline
- Persistent acne: A lot of women breakout before their period, due to hormonal shifts. However, if you suffer from deep, cystic acne all the time, then androgens could be the culprit. Testosterone stimulates excess production of oil, which can get trapped underneath the skin and merge with bacteria and dead skin cells leading to clogged pores.
- Memory fog
- Breast Changes- tender and sore, which could lead to lumps, fibroids, and cysts.
Some things that can interfere with hormonal balance:
- Birth control pill
- xenoestrogens
- Tampons and pads (non-organic, bleached, have chlorine)
- Stress, Acute and chronic
- Hormone medications
- Medical conditions: thyroid issues, diabetes
Foods for hormonal balance:
Flaxseed: Flax is one of the oldest cultivated crops, having been grown since the beginning of civilization. It contains lignans (a form of phytoestrogens) that can help to reduce excess estrogen, by binding to estrogen receptors in the human body. It also helps to keep you regular, which is essential for hormone balance. If you are not eliminating daily, those excess hormones and toxins are re-circulating, and causing trouble.
Cruciferous veggies: Want to support healthy estrogen levels? Chow down on delicious foods like kale, cauliflower, broccoli, and cabbage which contain a compound called diindolylmethane (DIM). DIM encourages active and healthy estrogen metabolism.
Ghee: Our sex hormones need GOOD cholesterol (which is found in Ghee, yes there is good and bad forms of cholesterol) because cholesterol provides the building blocks to these hormones (testosterone, oestrogen and progesterone). If you cut a whole food group out because of mis-information, your body suffers, and so do you.
Wild Salmon: packed with cortisol fighting omega-3s (cortisol increases in the body with long-term stress). It also helps to reduce inflammation in the body.
Unpasteurized Sauerkraut: Your gut is extremely linked to your hormones, so having a healthy gut is essential, which can help reduce hormonal acne. Organic yogurt and kefir (can be dairy-free), sauerkraut and kimchi, organic miso and tempeh, microalgae, and kombucha tea.
Maca: a root from Peru, black for men, red/purple for women, super hormone balancing, adaptogenic herb. Maca root has been shown to be helpful for many hormonal problems including PMS, menopause, and hot flashes. This food source is an adaptogenic herb, which means natural substances that help the body naturally adapt to stressors (work, sleep, fatigue, etc). It can also help with energy, and mood as those are also hormone related.