As women, our hormones can be a friend or a foe when it comes to how we feel and our overall health. Even a slight imbalance in one of our hormones can cause problems. Thankfully, there are natural steps we can take to help keep our hormones balanced, and they aren’t invasive, complicated or expensive. Over the next several posts, we’ll look at 3 steps you can take to begin balancing your hormones. If you follow these 3 steps, you’ll be well on your way to a more balanced and happy you.
1) Stabilize your Blood Sugar
We’ve talked before about the importance of keeping our blood sugar stable throughout the day. Spikes in our insulin levels (from sugar and refined carbohydrates) cause our blood sugar to rise and then come crashing down shortly after. This can create insulin sensitivity or what’s known as “Metabolic Syndrome” in an individual. This puts the body in a constant state of inflammation, which then affects all the hormones of the body like a domino effect. Addressing inflammation in the body must come before trying to address individual hormone issues. So, what’s the number one way to reduce inflammation in the body? Eat a balanced diet of healthy fats, proteins, and complex carbohydrates. These are the kinds of foods I emphasize eating at The Healthy Happy Woman:
- Organic fresh fruits and vegetables
- Nuts and Seeds
- Legumes
- Healthy Fats (like salmon, avocados, coconut oil, and olive oil)
- Organic and grass-fed meats.
- Complex Carbohydrates (like sweet potatoes and brown rice)
These foods help to nourish the body and keep blood sugar levels stable and steady.
Which foods cause inflammation?
- White sugar
- Refined flours and carbohydrates
- Gluten
- Processed meats
- Additives
- Preservatives
- Pesticides and herbicides
- Hydrogenated oils and fats (like margarine)
- GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) foods like corn, soy, and wheat
When we replace these foods with the fresh, wholesome, clean foods mentioned above, our bodies have the necessary ingredients to begin healing themselves and returning to a state of balance.
Check out my Recipe Section for some easy and delicious recipes that will help you begin to make the switch to healthier food choices.
This first step is essential to getting your hormones balanced. The other 2 steps won’t work if this critical first step is not addressed. What we eat affects our health, and our hormonal health is no exception. Remember, a balanced, healthy diet = balanced, healthy hormones! Join me in our next post as we take a look at the second step toward balanced and happy hormones.
Recommended Resource
The Hormone Diet
This is an excellent book by Dr. Natasha Turner, a Naturopathic doctor, who presents a holistic approach to balancing hormones, beginning with our diets. She also addresses individual hormonal imbalances (i.e. excess estrogen, hypothyroidism, etc.) and specific ways to address them. Complete with delicious recipes and a hormone questionnaire to fill out (so you can figure out exactly what issues you have), this book is chock full of practical help and recommendations. I love this book!
*This post contains affiliate links. Please read my Disclaimer and Disclosure page.
