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The need-to-knows:
What does “hormone imbalance” really mean?
“Balancing hormones means bringing hormones back into relative balance for that individual,” she adds.
Avocado
Avocadosare low in carbs and rich in heart-healthy, anti-inflammatory monounsaturated fats.
The healthy fats and low carbs promote stable insulin, one of your key metabolic hormones.
Stable insulin keeps your energy steady and prevents your blood sugar from crashing.
Berries
Raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries are all hormone-balancing foods packed with nutrients.
If you suffer from especially rough PMS, research shows thata progesterone imbalance could be a contributing factor6.
Berries are also packed with polyphenolspowerful antioxidants that protect your cells from stress.
Read ourdeeper dive into the research on using seeds to support healthy estrogen production here.
Bhatia recommends trying to get at least five servings of green vegetables a day, if not more.
It also supportsprolactin secretion12.
A literature review published inNutrients17aimed to clarify the effects of fasting on reproductive hormone levels.
The results suggest thatintermittent fasting(IF) decreases testosterone in premenopausal females with obesity.
On the other hand, fasting did not affect estrogen or prolactin levels in women.
This data suggests that time-restricted eating may benefit those who have a goal of reducing their testosterone levels.
More research is needed to know exactly how fasting affects women’s hormones.
There are many different types of fastingsome of which are more extreme and restrictive.
It’s an oversimplification to claim that eating certain foods can directly and comprehensively balance all hormones.
There are many foods that support hormone health.
What foods should you cut out to balance hormones?
How do you balance hormones to lose weight?
The hormone that has the biggest influence on weight gain is insulin.
Eatinganti-inflammatory foods, exercising, and managing stress will also help.