Hormone imbalances affect a lot of women - about 80%. So it’s not surprising there’s so much talk of their influence. Many women believe hormonal swings are “just part of being female.”

Female hormone imbalance typically crops up when there’s an underlying health issue: hypo- or hyperthyroidism is a common culprit, but so is chronic stress, diebetes, and poor diet.

While not all hormone imbalance is caused by poor diet, nutrition can make a huge impact in hormonal health.

How can you tell if your hormones are out of whack?

Physical Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance

• Digestive problems such as abdominal pain, bloating, or nausea.
• Acne and other skin problems such as Eczema  
• Irregular periods, or severe PMS symptoms
• Weight gain
• Infertility or impaired libido

Mental Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance

• Fatigue
• Brain fog
• Memory problems

What Needs to Happen for Healthy Hormones in Women?

According to Meal Garden’s in-house dietitian Erin Madden, women need three things to happen in order for their hormones to get to a happy place:

1. Healthy digestion
2. Stable blood sugar levels, and
3. A well-functioning liver

But how can women achieve these three pillars of hormone health?

Cook more meals at home.

Here’s the rub: many women aren’t so aware how much processed foods they’re eating. A pizza date. A mocha latte pick-me-up in the afternoon. A burger through the drive-thru at lunch.

As delicious as that New York Slice is, our bodies need real, whole ingredients to support hormone function. Become mindful of your food. Eat real meals made from ingredients you can pronounce. (And better yet, learn to cook healthy meals at home! Start with these uber-easy recipes that take less than 30 minutes to whip up!)

And if you’re not used to eating vegetables, work to eat more. When it comes to your veggies, eat a rainbow of color. Maybe a red pepper or a slice of zucchini. Perhaps some eggplant or cauliflower. Just this step alone can be extremely healing.

Limit sugar and empty carbohydrates

Too much of the sweet stuff can tax your entire hormonal system.

A very common female hormonal imbalance is called Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOS). This is a hormonal imbalance that has symptoms like acne, facial hair, and weight gain. It can also lead to infertility.

Sugar and carbohydrates that turn into sugar are some of the main contributors to PCOS. So we’re not saying you can never eat sugar. But you want to be mindful of your intake or it can set your hormones haywire. Instead, eat healthy, fiber rich fruit to get lots of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Get those phytoestrogens, ladies!

“As the name suggests, [phytoestrogens] have estrogenic properties, says our dietitian Erin, “When you eat foods like flaxseeds, sesame or sunflower seeds, the bacteria in your gut converts them into metabolites that produce a weak estrogenic effect.”

Tofu is another great choice … a vegetarian form of protein that contains phytoestrogens. These are healthy compounds that function like estrogen and help you strike hormone balance.

BONUS: Healthy fats is where it’s at.

Many people get lots of the wrong type of fat in their diet. These are the toxic fats that create havoc, lead to  inflammation, and contribute to hormonal imbalance. Think of fried foods, artery clogging cheese, and smoked meats like bacon and sausage. (And that New York style pizza we all love so much.)

Conversely, healthy fats can help nourish your body for hormone balance. Examples of healthy fats are coconut oil, avocados, nuts, seeds, egg yolks, and omega-3s from low-mercury fish.

Reset Your Hormones with the Meal Garden Hormone Reset Program

So now you know how to eat for hormone balance. But are you feeling overwhelmed at where to start? Overwhelm is a big reason that people stop themselves from making progress and living their best lives.

However, it doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, it can be quite simple.

Meal Garden has a Hormone Reset Program that gives you so many options, you’ll never be confused about what to eat. You get lots of simple and delicious meals to help get your hormones back on track.

You’ll start by really getting to know your hormones. And then you’ll get breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacking made easy. These recipes contain the exact foods that will target healing and balance. There are even menu options for vegans.

You’ve struggled with hormone problems like enough. You were told a lie when others said hormone imbalance is normal. It’s not and you don’t have to live your life as a victim to its symptoms anymore.

hormone balance, inspiration

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