Hormones are an essential part of the human body as they assist with mood, growth, sexual function and metabolism, however, it doesn’t take much to throw them off balance and with that can come many complications. In fact, having a disrupted hormone balance can affect our weight, mental cycle, our ability to cope with stress and in severe cases, even our fertility.
If you feel that you may have a hormone imbalance, be sure to consult a healthcare practitioner to help you get back on track with a personalised strategy.
If you are just looking to support your hormones, however, here are some super ingredients that you may want to add to your diet that can help you do just that.
Maca
Maca is a beautiful ingredient that is well known for helping to balance hormones due to its levels of vitamins C,A, B2, BY and Niacin. It is also high in magnesium, zinc, copper, calcium and iodine.
Maca is rare because it is one of the few plants that are actually categorised as a herbal adaptogen. It can help produce a great number of hormones, and it also supports the endocrine system, the immune system and sexual health.
Flaxseed
Flaxseed is a powerful ingredient that helps to balance the sex hormones due to compounds called “lignin’s” which are rich in fibre. Lignin’s are also found in the likes of legumes, whole grains and some vegetables.
Flaxseed is great for digestion and for stimulating the production of Sex Hormone Binding Globulin in the liver
Seaweed
Seaweed helps to support Thyroid hormones. It contains powerful amino acids called tyrosine which along with iodine, makes hormones that help to keep the thyroid doing its job properly. An unbalanced thyroid may lead to symptoms such as weight changes, fatigue, swelling of the neck. The thyroid can often become unbalanced due to excess inflammation in the body from stress, eating poorly, overworking/ over-exercising etc.
Kale
Kale is great for supporting your adrenal hormones. It contains potent antioxidant activity which can help to fight disease factors. It is also full of anti-inflammatory properties
Broccoli
Finally, broccoli is brilliant for supporting your sex hormones. It is high in fibre which helps to eliminate excess oestrogen and the sulphur compounds found in broccoli also help to eliminate carcinogens and isothiocyanate which are important nutrients to help prevent oestrogen related illnesses.
By Allana Frisken, founder of We are Wylde
If you want an easy way to boost your superfood intake, try We are Wylde, a vegan, superfood range that contains the likes of Maca and Flaxseed.