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                      Foods That Help Balance Your Hormones

                      Published by Ginger Hultin, MS RDN CSO

                      maca root powder

                      Healthy whole foods offering a rich and concentrated source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants are often referred to as “super foods” and can play a significant role in human health. Aside from support to the cardiovascular, neurologic, inflammatory, immune and digestive systems, the plants we eat play a role in balancing hormones.

                      Hormones are a complicated discussion because they are all interconnected and play master regulatory roles in the body. When talking hormone balance, it is important to consider external hormones affecting us from the environment as well. Compounds in food and plastics like the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) can disrupt our delicate balance by acting as an estrogen. Luckily many foods help the body process and eliminate excess hormones in a variety of ways.

                      Hormone balance often means supporting detoxification pathways and that is where many of these foods come in, containing nutrients that aid the liver in excreting estrogen and other hormones among other toxins that build up in the body. All fruits and vegetable really are superfoods and support the body in so many ways. These five superfoods go above and beyond to help the body achieve hormonal balance are proven to target specific systems that play a role in hormone processing and excretion.

                      Cutting and cooking broccoli on grey textured backdrop

                      Broccoli: containing co-factors for detoxification in the liver as well as sulfuric compounds unique to the cruciferous vegetable family, make sure to eat your broccoli (and cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale, broccoli sprouts and cabbage). There is evidence that broccoli and other vegetables in this family aid in the processing and removal of hormones by the liver.

                      Spoon with flaxseeds to mix with water - Linum usitatissimum

                      Flaxseeds: these power seeds contain a type of fiber called lignin and studies have shown that this compound binds to and promote excretion of excess estrogen in the body. Bonus, these tiny seeds also support good bacteria living in the gut. Be sure to include ground flaxseeds in the diet as the grinding process makes the benefits easier for our body to access.

                      Peruvian ginseng or maca (Lepidium meyenii), superfood

                      Maca root: a fiber-rich tuber native to South America, this root has been said to aid women with hormonal imbalances including premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and menopause symptoms including hot flashes. Not surprising, it is related to the common radish and so also belongs in the cruciferous vegetable family, famous for excreting toxins and excess hormones. Maca is an adaptogen which helps the body adapt to external stressors. Human studies have shown a hormone balancing effect of maca including decreased hormones estradiol and luteinizing hormone.

                      A bowl of Wakame seaweed salad

                      Seaweed: edible seaweed fibers have been shown in human studies to help the body rid itself of excess estrogen. Some forms of seaweed like kudzu also help modify estrogen receptor activity through antioxidants called isoflavones.

                      Soy Bean Food and Drink Products Photograph with Several Elements

                      Soy: myth-busting time! Soy (and many other foods) contain plant estrogens or phytoestrogens and the antioxidant family isoflavones. Diets that include soy foods – choose an unprocessed source like tofu, tempeh or edamame – have been shown to modify estrogen receptor activity in a positive way.

                      If you have any concern about your hormonal balance, be sure to ask your doctor for testing. Medications, medical conditions, age and family history need to be properly assessed before supplementing or treating. Symptoms of one hormonal issue can mimic another and so this topic should be addressed integratively by a qualified health care provider. Too much of a good thing can also cause imbalance – these foods should be consumed in moderation and discussed with your doctor or dietitian for individualized recommendations. Enjoy and let us know if you have any other favorite super foods for balancing hor mones!

                      Resources

                      Bisphenol A (BPA) Action Plan. Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/bisphenol-bpa-action-plan. Published 9/26/16. Accessed 10/20/16.

                      Hall D. Nutritional influences on estrogen metabolism. Applied nutritional science reports. 2001;1:1-8.

                      Liu AG, Juvik JA, Jeffery EH, Berman-Booty LD, Clinton SK, Erdman Jr JW. Enhancement of broccoli indole glucosinolates by methyl jasmonate treatment and effects on prostate carcinogenesis. Journal of medicinal food. 2014;17(11):1177-82.

                      Meissner HO, Mscisz A, Reich-Bilinska H, Mrozikiewicz P, Bobkiewicz-Kozlowska T, Kedzia B, Lowicka A, Barchia I. Hormone-balancing effect of pre-gelatinized organic Maca (Lepidium peruvianum Chacon):(III) clinical responses of early-postmenopausal women to Maca in double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover configuration, outpatient study. International journal of biomedical science: IJBS. 2006;2(4):375.

                      Teas J, Hurley TG, Hebert JR, Franke AA, Sepkovic DW, Kurzer MS. Dietary seaweed modifies estrogen and phytoestrogen metabolism in healthy postmenopausal women. The Journal of nutrition. 2009;139(5):939-44.

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                      Ginger Hultin, MS RDN CSO
                      Ginger Hultin, MS RDN CSO
                      Ginger Hultin, MS, RD, CSO, LDN, is a health writer and owner of Champagne Nutrition specializing in integrative health and whole food-based nutrition. She serves as Immediate Past President for the Chicago Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Chair-Elect of the Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group and is a Media Representative for the Illinois Academy. Read Ginger's blog, Champagne Nutrition, and follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. Ginger Hultin MS RD CSO LDN gingerhultin@hotmail.com | @GingerHultinRD Chair-Elect, Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group ChampagneNutrition.com

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                      This website is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. FoodTrients – A Recipe for Aging Beautifully Grace O, author and creator of FoodTrients® -- a philosophy, a cookbook and a resource -- has a new cookbook dedicated to age-defying and delicious recipes, The Age Beautifully Cookbook: Easy and Exotic Longevity Secrets from Around the World, which provides one hundred-plus recipes that promote health and well-being. The recipes are built on foundations of modern scientific research and ancient knowledge of medicinal herbs and natural ingredients from around the world. Since the publication of her first anti-aging book, The Age GRACEfully Cookbook, Grace O has identified eight categories of FoodTrients benefits (Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Immune Booster, Disease Prevention, Beauty, Strength, Mind, and Weight Loss) that are essential to fighting aging, which show how specific foods, herbs, and spices in the recipes help keep skin looking younger, prevent the diseases of aging, and increase energy and vitality. Grace O combines more exotic ingredients that add age-fighting benefits to familiar recipe favorites.

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