There are some food which are essential for maintaining hormonal balance in the body along with curing PCOS / PCOD and assisting in weight loss. These food will help you maintain your hormonal balance naturally. Apart from this, these food will also help you to boost metabolism, improve digestion, increase immunity and live a happy lifestyle in general.
Lentils / Sprouts
- These are a great source of protein, fibre and zinc which help maintain the estrogen levels in the body
- These are also an excellent source of numerous vitamins and minerals including folate, niacin, iron, phosphorus, potassium and copper
Pseudo grains
- These are grains which are actually seeds but are consumed as grains
- Quinoa, amaranth, buckwheat etc are some examples
- They are gluten free as well as provide whole protein
- They help balance hormones by keeping female testosterons levels even
- These grains also pack phosphorus and magnesium which alleviate PMS symptoms and promote sleep
Probiotics
- Many hormones are secreted in the gut i.e in the digestive system
- Am improper digestive system and inflammation will lead to hormonal imbalance, therefore, it becomes imperative to take care of the gut health
- An adequate amount of good bacteria helps prevent the leaky gut syndrome
- Fermented food like gains (idli / dosa), curd, apple cider vinegar, buttermilk are very good for gut health
Seeds
- You can try and follow seed cycle even in summers
- Seeds like flax, pumpkin, sunflower etc contain lignans that normalise your estrogen levels by both getting rid of excess estrogen
Fruits
- Melons, cucumber, pineapple etc are extremely low in calories
- These are also rich in potassium, magnesium and amino acids
- These fruits help to maintain the health of blood vessels and ensure smooth blood flow
- These fruits also help imrove your mood because of presence of nerve calming products in them
Green tea
- Green tea boosts metabolism and is loaded with antioxidants
- It contains theanine, a compound which reduces the release of cortisol, the stress hormone
- It also contains antioxidants which reduce inflammation and lower the risk of diseases
Summer green vegetables
- Gourd vegetables which contain high amount of phytonutrients which helps to break down harmful and potent estrogen metabolite
- Apart from that they are great for digestion and have anti inflammatory effects
- They are very high in water content and low in calories
- Most of them come in the category of zero calorie vegetables
Dark chocolate
- These are great but make sure it is 70 % dark
- Darker chocolates have less sugar in them
- They are full of antioxidants and many other hormone friendly minerals
Turmeric, fennel seeds and mint
- These herbs come in handy when it comes to balancing hormones in the summer season
- Curcumin in turmeric contains both anti estrogen and anti androgen properties which are useful in balancing hormones
- Mnt and fennel seeds also help promote good digestive health
Oats
- Oats have vitamin E, zinc, selenium, copper, iron etc which are very good for hormonal health
- They are packed with protein and fibre, which can help balance blood sugar and insulin in the body
- They also help reduce cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease