So, food and hormones have a relationship. We’re sure you may have noticed little things like during your PMS phases, you find yourself woofing down carbs and chocolate. Or, maybe when you’re stressed out, your body craves something specific.
Food is literally fuel for our body. Food is full of the nutrients our body needs to maintain a healthy-functioning system, including the production, detoxification, and metabolism of hormones. Without enough of the right stuff, our hormone balance can suffer, leading to an imbalance, and sometimes that’s not so pretty.
The food we consume impacts our entire being on so many levels.
Why Food Has Such An Impact On Hormones
Our body has somewhere around 200 different hormones. These chemical messengers control various systems including our immune system, metabolism, reproduction, and menstrual cycle. Eating specific food can provide the essential nutrients we need to facilitate the production of the hormones.
Not consuming enough of the nutrients our body needs can lead to an imbalance or fluctuation. Consuming too much of something might result in an increase of whatever hormones are impacted by the certain food.
How Food Affects Hormones
Let’s use a set of hormones for this example. Steroid hormones; including estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone, contribute to the normal functions of the above body systems plus some. Steroid hormones are among the most essential and active hormones within our body.
Steroid hormones are synthesized from cholesterol!
Our body requires cholesterol! We know it typically has a bad rep, since having high cholesterol levels leads to heart disease. BUT, if we don’t have enough cholesterol, our body can be negatively impacted. Life is all about a balance, including what and how we eat.
A woman who has extremely low body fat can suffer from amenorrhea, an absence of periods, as well as infertility. Without enough cholesterol, the body struggles to synthesize estrogen and progesterone, two essential hormones found within the reproductive system.
What To Add To Your Diet To Help Balance My Hormones
A balanced diet is the root to a healthy system. Too much or too little of anything will always present some form of negative consequence on any positives. We often see or hear about these “Extreme Diets” and to bring it straight to the point, they’re not necessary.
The simple solution is to eat a diverse and balanced diet. Don’t always choose the same simple set of fruits and veggies, unless your choice includes every shade of the rainbow! A balanced and diverse diet will help ensure that your body gets the nourishment it requires to do three things:
- Help hormones function optimally
- Maintaining a healthy endocrine system
- Maintaining a healthy and sensible body weight
- 40% Vegetables
- 30% Whole Grains
- 20% Lean Protein
- 10% Healthy Fats
Remember to include variety, not only does it help spice things up, but it broadens the horizons and increases the types of nutrients, as well as the amount consumed. Keeping your body balanced will help keep your entire being running a bit more smoothly.
