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.
