Posted by Everything you eat directly or indirectly affects your body. Although many biochemical factors can cause hormonal imbalances, the normal functioning of your body is significantly affected by your diet. According to experts, such hormonal changes drastically impact various aspects of your life.
Ask any holistic doctor in Atlanta they’ll explain what hormones are and how they work to harmonize the functioning of your body. In simple terms, hormones are like tiny chemical messengers inside your body. It is their job to relay all the vital information linked to every physiological process in your body.
Take a closer look at patients, and it’ll become pretty evident that poor lifestyle and diet choices contribute significantly to hormonal imbalances. But during my research, I was surprised and intrigued to learn that certain food items tend to throw off the hormonal balance while others can help restore it.
Let’s dive into the biochemical world of hormones and how certain food items in your diet can affect the normal levels in your body.
ESTROGEN
Estrogen is the primary female sex hormone responsible for regulating the menstrual cycle and preparing the uterus for pregnancy. The estrogen levels in the body fluctuate wildly during perimenopausal times but show a significant drop at the onset of menopause.
Menstrual irregularities, hot flashes, mood swings, night sweats, and other menopausal symptoms are caused by the fluctuations and drop in estrogen levels. Since your body cannot derive estrogen directly from your diet, getting bioidentical hormones in Atlanta may seem like the only viable treatment option.
But wait! Certain food items contain phytoestrogen, a group of chemicals that can act as a weak substitute for estrogen in the body. Hence, eating phytoestrogen-rich food may help alleviate some menopausal discomfort.
- The richest dietary source of phytoestrogens is soybeans. It contains isoflavones that can lower the risk of ischemic heart illness, improve blood cholesterol, and relieve hot flashes.
- Lignans found in flaxseed also show similar effects but to a much lesser extent.
CORTISOL
Often referred to as the stress hormone, the adrenal glands produce cortisol in your body. It is a vital part of your body’s natural fight or flight response and survival. However, chronically high cortisol levels can increase your body’s normal stress levels, blood pressure, and visceral fat deposition in your midsection.
High levels of cortisol become extra bothersome during menopause. Large deposits of visceral fat, when added to the menopausal shift in body fat composition, contribute to an apple-shaped body.
- Caffeine can boost cortisol secretion to bring you into a high state of alert. But too much of it can cause severe hormonal imbalance.
- Initially, alcohol is a great stress-reliever, but regular consumption can lead to a chronic rise in your body’s cortisol levels.
INSULIN & GLUCAGON
A pair of diet-dependent hormones, insulin, and glucagon, are antagonistic pancreatic hormones responsible for keeping your blood sugar levels steady. Insulin reduces blood sugar levels by promoting glucose in the blood to make energy in the cells. In contrast, glucagon acts to increase blood sugar by converting stored glycogen into glucose.
Hence, a well-balanced and controlled diet is critical to maintaining normal blood sugar levels in your body. Here are a few diet suggestions from some of the most reputed bioidentical hormone doctors: Bio Identical Hormone Doctors
- Bad overeating habits or consuming too many calories causes weight gain and increases risks of insulin resistance leading to diabetes.
- Favor complex carbohydrates like whole-grain bread, bran, oats, beans, lentils, carbs, sugar, and junk food.
Improper lifestyle and dietary patterns can wreak havoc on your body’s hormonal balance. The aftereffects of chronic hormonal imbalance can be devastating later in life. Uncontrolled weight gain, constant fatigue, persistent headaches, heavy hair loss, indigestion, insomnia, etc., are just a few examples.
Beware of these food items that can adversely affect your hormone levels:
ALCOHOL
Eliminating alcohol from your diet is the first step any holistic doctor in Atlanta takes before starting you on bioidentical hormones. Alcohol disrupts insulin production, damages sex hormones, reduces fertility, and increases cortisol levels with long-time use.
CAFFEINE
A strong cup of coffee can snap you out of a stupor instantly. Since caffeine can boost cortisol secretion in your body, just one shot is enough to send your body on high alert. It may seem beneficial, but too much of it can damage your natural cortisol variations and mess with your circadian sleep rhythm.
DAIRY GOODS
Milk can also devastate your hormonal levels. In lactose-intolerant people, it causes gut inflammation, irritable bowel, stomach aches, excessive flatulence, and other digestive problems. Overconsumption can raise triglyceride levels, cause diabetes, affect the liver, boost sebum production and increase instances of acne and other skin-related issues.
SOY PRODUCTS
Soy-based food items are safe to consume in small amounts. Chronic over-consumption can lead to tumor growth, breast cancer, and thyroid issues. Excessive phytoestrogens from soy can completely stall the ovulation cycle as well. It is also one of the most genetically modified, heavily toxic crops and has many harmful chemicals.
PROCESSED TREATS
Gluten and sugar is the worst possible combination for your body. Both cause inflammation, stress adrenal glands, and increase the risk of autoimmune diseases. Processed sugar instantly spikes insulin levels and leads to leptin and ghrelin insensitivity with prolonged use. Gluten increases water retention, causes weight gain, and reduces testosterone levels in your body. Hence, their culmination is a sureshot ride to obesity and type II diabetes.
SOME VEGGIES
Potatoes, eggplants, tomatoes, peppers, and other nightshade vegetables can cause inflammation in your body. Cauliflower, broccoli, cabbages, kale, and other cruciferous vegetables also have similar effects. These veggies are entirely safe to consume in moderation, but overeating can lead to severe iodine deficiency and thyroid issues.
A precisely maintained hormonal balance is essential for proper body functioning. It has become quite common to treat hormonal imbalance using bioidentical hormones in Atlanta. Still, for those willing for a well-balanced nutrition and an active lifestyle can work wonders in keeping all your body functions in harmony.