Hormones are our body’s messengers; they respond to emotion, stress, reproduction, and aging. If they are out of balance, rapid aging, pre-menstrual syndrome, menopausal difficulties, and prostate issues may become present. To keep your hormones in check, follow these simple tips:
1. Drink enough water. Water is necessary for all bodily reactions, and hormonal imbalance can be avoided with proper hydration. Drink whenever you are thirsty. And, if you exercise or live in hot climates, you may need more. A good rule is to make sure your urine is a clear light yellow.
2. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. These are good sources of fiber, which can help detoxify your body of extra hormones, and the extra nutrients will promote hormonal balance. If possible, go organic, as pesticides can trigger hormonal imbalance.
3. Eat cruciferous vegetables. Broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale, collard greens, cabbage, and turnips contain detoxifying compounds that prevent accumulation of unhealthy hormones and may also reduce cancer risk.
4. Steer clear of sugar and caffeine. Both disrupt hormonal balance because they can stress your endocrine system. In addition, they cause rapid increases and crashes in blood sugar which may cause food cravings, irritability, and headaches.
5. Limit alcohol to 2 drinks or less per day. Hormonal symptoms can worsen due to dehydration and overworking of the liver, both of which are caused by alcohol.
6. Consume organic, hormone-free or range-fed meat and dairy instead of commercial products. Decreasing the amount of pesticide residues and artificial hormones entering the body will avoid confusion of natural hormonal signals inside the body.
7. Eat unsaturated (good) fats rather than saturated (bad) fats. Hormone production depends on good fats, which include avocado, flaxseed, nuts, seeds, and fatty fish. Try Nature’s Path Organic Ground Premium Flaxseed or Bob’s Red Mill ground flax meal – 2 tablespoons a day (see label below). Make sure the seeds are ground for absorption by the body. Bad fats such as full-fat dairy and fatty meats can block hormone production pathways so limit these as much as possible.
8. Get adequate shut-eye. During sleep, the liver detoxifies, which helps it to work more effectively. And, a healthy liver is more likely to produce a healthy balance of hormones.
Rebecca
