5 Tips for Balancing Hormones Naturally

Nicole Jardim is a certified women's holistic health coach specializing in the treatment of hormonal imbalances that cause conditions like PMS, fibroids, infertility and endometriosis.

1. Avoid caffeine (coffee, soda and other “energy” drinks):

Caffeine increases estrogen levels. Studies have shown that drinking just two cups of coffee a day boosts levels of estradiol, a natural estrogen. Every woman has a natural, individualized ratio of estrogen and progesterone that surges and recedes to make up her unique menstrual cycle. When estrogen is too high and progesterone is too low, it tends to irritate the nervous system causing anxiety, irritability and insomnia. On the flip side, progesterone is a natural diuretic, sleep aid, anti-anxiety compound, and metabolism stimulator. It acts like Valium.

2. Avoid dairy products: So here’s the scoop - most dairy in the US comes from factory farms, where cows are fed products not natural to their diet, such as grain, corn and soy. Some are injected with bioengineered hormones that forces the cows to produce more milk than their bodies normally would. This over-stimulation of the cow’s udder causes it to become infected, thus requiring antibiotics. As a result, these added hormones and antibiotics reside in the milk, which interfere with the female hormonal system - most notably changing the way hormones are metabolized in the bowel and ultimately changing our hormonal levels. 

Nicole & her God child

3. Choose organic fish and meat when possible: Non-organic animals are fed estrogenic steroids to fatten them up. When we eat these foods, the estrogenic compounds are passed into our blood stream causing a rise in estrogen levels. This ultimately leads to estrogen dominance. Estrogen dominance has been linked to some unpleasant conditions such as migraines, PMS, fibroids, ovarian cysts, infertility, weight gain and irregular periods.

4. Eat full fat products (skip fat-free products): Low-fat diets are one of the main reasons so many women have hormonal imbalances. We know this may sound crazy since we’ve been told for years to cut out fat but fat is your friend! We’re not condoning over-consumption of fat or cholesterol by any means but guess what? Your hormones are made out of cholesterol. If you don’t eat enough cholesterol, your body can’t make hormones. If you are not eating sufficient amounts of fat and cholesterol, you could be exacerbating your hormonal imbalance. Natural, healthy fats include olive oil, coconut oil, butter, avocados, nuts, seeds, and fish.

5. Stop the stress: Okay, we know that this isn’t entirely possible but you sure need to try. Here’s why: studies have shown that stress affects the endocrine system in such a way that it throws off our hormonal balance, which can literally stop ovulation from happening. Therefore, it is important to find ways to lessen the load and start having some FUN! Try yoga, guided meditations or an exercise routine that you actually like.

Nicole is a women’s holistic health counselor specializing in the treatment of hormonal imbalances through food and lifestyle modification. Her latest program is called Fix Your Period – 8 Weeks to Better Periods in 2012.  Go to www.fixyourperiod.com for all the details. You can contact her at nicole@thehealthyelements.com or visit her website at www.thehealthyelements.com.