5 Foods You Should Be Eating Today to Keep Your Hormones In Balance
Hi Beauties!
Today we'll be talking about the 5 foods you should be eating to keep your hormones in balance. Truth be told, pre-conception is the perfect time to get your hormones in order. Pregnancy will undoubtedly have your hormones in a tailspin so it's important to give your endocrine system a solid foundation before you see the beloved BFP (big fat positive).
The easiest way to balance your hormones is to adjust your diet. Of course, I suggest that you get labs run by your ND or MD to see exactly which hormones are out of whack. However, if you want to make some safe changes while awaiting your next appointment, here are 5 foods to add to your next grocery list.
1. Healthy Fats
Contrary to popular belief, healthy fat is GOOD for you!! Your hormones are all made from cholesterol and fatty acids which means that your body needs healthy fat to continue to make enough hormones to support a healthy reproductive system. Healthy fats include:
coconuts/coconut oil
olives/olive oil
avocado/avocado oil
raw butter/ghee
seeds like hemp & flax (including their respective oils)
These healthy fats can be added to smoothies, salads & used whenever you cook!
2. Complex Carbs
Complex carbohydrates are your fruits & vegetables that have carbohydrates in them but also have tons of fiber. The fiber in these fruits & veggies helps prevent blood sugar spikes and keeps your insulin levels in balance. Complex carbohydrates include:
dark leafy greens (kale, chard, spinach, etc.)
whole grains (faro, quinoa)
fruit (berries, kiwi, etc)
legumes (lentils, beans, etc)
starchy vegetables (sweet potatoes, parsnips, etc.)
3. Foods Rich in B Vitamins
B vitamins are important for so many of our body's normal functions. We need B vitamins for energy production, healthy red blood cell formation, and even the proper functioning of our central nervous system. There are 8 different kinds of B vitamins and each has a special role in keeping our body's functioning properly. Most people (including myself) take B vitamin supplements but if you are easily overwhelmed with taking a bunch of pills here are some foods that are full of B vitamins & can easily be added to your diet:
vegetables like green peas
dark leafy greens
lean meats
beans, legumes, lentils
eggs
seeds & nuts (sunflower seeds, pistachios)
avocado
organic fish (salmon, mackerel)
4. Fiber
Fiber is king!! Should you find that you are struggling with a hormonal imbalance, the first thing you should consider adding to your diet is FIBER! Fiber is so great because it bulks up your stool and helps moves things along quickly. Regular bowel movements are important because your colon is responsible for removing excess toxins that have been excreted by the liver. Many of those toxins are actually excess hormones that the body doesn't need & unless they are properly excreted they can throw you hormones off balance. In addition, fiber is great for insulin/blood sugar regulation. Here are some ways to add more fiber to your diet.
beans & legumes
berries (raspberries in particular are really high in fiber)
nuts & seeds
avocados
ALL OF THE VEGGIES. ALL. OF. THEM.
If a big fat positive pregnancy test is on your wish list this year then be sure to add in these foods into your diet sooner rather than later. Our babies will only be as healthy as we are so lets give them the best foundation possible!
Got any other suggestions? Share them below in the comments & join in on the conversation over on my Facebook Page!
Xo,
Sarah