If you’re suffering from hormone imbalance, you’re not alone. In fact, a recent survey found that 47% of American women deal with symptoms of hormonal imbalance. (1)
These symptoms can run the gamut, from mildly irritating to downright debilitating. Whether you’re dealing with mood swings, hot flashes, weight gain, low libido, fatigue, or killer cramps -- hormone imbalance is no joke.
But here’s the good news -- it is possible to naturally balance your hormones. A good place to start? Look at what’s on your plate.
Certain foods have hormone-balancing superpowers. Adding more of these foods into your diet may reduce or even eliminate those frustrating symptoms.
Read on to discover five hormone-balancing superfoods that can help get your body back in harmony.
What Nutrients Help Balance Your Hormones?
Before we dig into those superfoods, here are some key nutrients your body needs to become an efficient hormone-producing machine:
Healthy Fats are the building blocks for hormone production. Getting plenty of healthy, anti-inflammatory sources like fatty fish, walnuts, chia seeds, flax seeds, coconut, and avocado is key.
Protein not only balances your blood sugar, but it also supplies the essential amino acids needed for hormone production.
Minerals like iodine and selenium are essential for proper thyroid function.
Gut-healing foods ensure your beneficial bacteria can form neurotransmitters and break down used hormones.
Liver-boosting foods help your body release excess toxins and excess hormones.
What Foods Balance Your Hormones?
Ready to get those hormone levels back in check? Here are five hormone-balancing superfoods to try adding to your diet:
1. Fermented Foods
Beneficial bacteria enhance your immune system and help regulate your body’s estrogen levels. Recent research has found that when your microbiome is off balance, it’s likely your estrogen is too. Low microbiota diversity is associated with:
Adding in a few daily servings of fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, yogurt, kefir, and kombucha can help keep your microbiome diversity strong...and your estrogen levels in check.
2. Wild Salmon
Wild salmon is one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids out there, providing 2.2 grams per serving. (4) Remember, your body needs healthy fats to effectively produce hormones.
In addition, omega-3 fatty acids have been found to:
Need some recipe inspiration? Here’s a few delicious salmon dishes to try:
3. Broccoli & Broccoli Sprouts
Broccoli’s hormone-balancing superpowers come from two different compounds: Diindolylmethane (DIM) and Sulforaphane.
DIM helps your body regulate estrogen, whether it be too high or too low. (7) This estrogen-balancing action has been associated with reduced risk of breast cancer. (8)
Sulforaphane has been found to improve liver function, enhance immunity, and promote healthy bowels, among many other things. (9, 10, 11) Optimal liver and bowel function allow your body to release excess hormones.
Want an extra boost of sulforaphane? Enter broccoli sprouts. They contain up to 100 times the sulforaphane content of regular ol’ broccoli! (12)
You can grow your own, or go the easy route and try our Broccoli Sprout and Seed. It gives you tons of sulforaphane benefits with just one capsule a day.
4. Brazil Nuts
Brazil nuts are one of the richest sources of selenium, a mineral needed for proper thyroid function. In fact, selenium deficiency is associated with autoimmune disorders like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease, as well as thyroid cancer. (13, 14)
Best of all, you only need to eat 2-3 Brazil nuts a day to get your daily dose of selenium!
5. Kelp Flakes
All seaweed varieties are rich sources of iodine, which is essential for proper thyroid function. (15)
Iodine deficiency has been associated with:
Weight gain
Hair loss
Irregular and heavy menstrual cycles
Dry skin
Fatigue
Feeling cold (16)
Kelp flakes are an easy way to get your daily fill of iodine while getting a boost of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Just sprinkle them on your dinner and you’ll get all the iodine you need to keep your thyroid humming along happily.
Hungry for Even More Hormone Lovin’ Superfoods? Get Your FREE eBook
Just incorporating the five foods above will get you on the path to better hormone harmony. But if you’re craving more hormone balancing foods, be sure to download our FREE 25 Hormone Lovin’ Superfoods eBook.
You’ll find the five superstars listed above, as well as 20 additional superfoods that encourage hormone health. There’s even tips and recipe ideas to get you started!
Want to Solve Your Hormone Puzzle? Try Our DUTCH Test
If you're suffering from symptoms of hormonal imbalance, getting tested is always a wise move.
Symptoms of high and low estrogen and progesterone can be very similar. Treatment can be tricky until you have a good baseline of where you’re starting.
Testing can find your particular flavor of hormone imbalance, so that your treatment is more effective and efficient. Basically, it saves you time, guesswork, and gets you relief faster!
My favorite way of getting hormone clarity is our Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones (DUTCH).
The DUTCH Complete panel tests for:
Estrogen
Progesterone
Testosterone
DHEA
Cortisol
Melatonin
Some vitamins
Neurotransmitters
Oxidative stress markers
You will have the option to get your results reviewed with our custom consultation. You’ll get targeted dietary and supplement recommendations to bring your body back into balance.
If you’re ready to stop suffering and start thriving, order your DUTCH test here. Be sure to order soon!
Bridgit Danner, LAc, FDNP, is trained in functional health coaching and has worked with thousands of women over her career since 2004. She is the founder of Women’s Wellness Collaborative llc and FunctionalDetoxProducts.com.