Hormones-they are often talked about in a negative light and thought to be the cause of all sorts of unwanted symptoms like mood swings and weight gain. But, here’s the thing. Hormones are little chemical messengers that are critical to overall health. They are involved in body processes such as metabolism, growth, and fertility to name a few. The problem comes in when there’s a hormone imbalance present, and it doesn’t take much to throw hormone balance out of whack. Having even just a mild imbalance in your hormones can make you feel out of sorts and can lead to numerous health issues.
The good news is that there are plenty of ways to help support better hormone balance, and it really all starts with a nutrient-dense diet.
Here are five foods you can add to your diet for better hormone balance.
5 Foods For Better Hormone Balance
#1 Avocados: Adding healthy fats to your diet is always a great idea to help support better hormone balance, and avocados are a great option. Your body needs different fats in order to create hormones, so strive to add more healthy fats to your diet in place of refined and processed carbohydrates. You can get more avocados in your diet by adding some to your smoothie for added creaminess or enjoying some with a salad or your favorite veggie wrap.
#2 Dark Leafy Greens: Dark leafy greens are a great addition to a healthy diet as they are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. Magnesium is especially beneficial as it can help with symptoms related to hormone imbalance such as anxiety and fatigue. Dark leafy greens such as collard greens, Swiss chard, and kale are all great options.
#3 Bone Broth: If you’re looking for a way to support both gut health and hormone balance, try adding bone broth to your diet. Having nutritional deficiencies can lead to hormone imbalances, and poor gut health is often a cause of poor nutrient absorption. Bone broth is great for not only boosting your calcium intake, but it’s also rich in important amino acids to help support the health of your digestive tract, an important part of making sure your body is absorbing all of the wonderful nutrients you are consuming in your diet.
#4 Probiotic-rich Foods: Again, supporting gut health is key to better hormone balance, and you can support a healthy gut by enjoying probiotic-rich foods. Try adding things like sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, and full-fat unsweetened coconut milk yogurt to your diet for a healthy probiotic boost.
#5 Adaptogenic Herbs: Last but not least is to consider adaptogenic herbs. Adaptogens can help support the body during times of stress and even help support hormone balance. Adaptogenic herbs may also help reduce fatigue and boost mental clarity. Check out our adaptogenic herb blends Yinergy and Vigor to see what they can do for your stress levels and hormone balance.
Whether you think you may be dealing with a hormonal imbalance or not, enjoying these nutrient-dense foods along with some adaptogenic herb support can be extremely beneficial for your overall health. Remember that optimal health and harmonious hormone balance really all starts in the kitchen with the foods you eat. So, try to reduce your sugar intake, eliminate processed and artificial foods, and enjoy as many whole and nutrient dense foods as you can. You will be amazed at what these simple dietary changes can do for your overall well being both physically and mentally.