Diet plays a huge role in hormone balanced hormone. For women, particularly, hormone imbalance can be the root of many, many health problems that can make you feel crummy, make it difficult to lose or gain weight, impact your fertility and even increase your risk of certain cancers and other serious diseases.
Besides healthy fats (which provide the building blocks for steroid hormone production), fiber is my go-to for overall health.
The 3 most important reason fiber helps your health and hormones are:
- Stabilizing blood sugar
- Reducing cortisol levels
- Flushing out excess estrogens and toxins
Fiber is a special type of carbohydrate that does not get converted to sugar and therefore does not raise blood sugar levels like other carbohydrates do.
Fiber comes in two forms, soluble and insoluble fiber.
Insoluble fiber is found in the cell walls of plants and cannot be dissolved in water. This adds bulk to stools by binding with water and acting as a stool softener that helps move stool through the digestive tract.
Soluble fiber dissolves in water, helps slow the passage of food through the digestive tract, lower blood sugar levels, and reduces cholesterol (by binding to it and giving it transport out of the body in the stool).
Both soluble and insoluble fiber are essential to a good diet.
Not only does fiber help lower blood sugar but it helps keep blood sugar levels balanced. It can help you achieve a healthy weight by keeping you feeling fuller longer and ensuring that your bowels are functioning properly. That bowel function is key since fiber helps eliminate excess estrogens and other toxins that mess with hormone balance.
Enjoy a variety of fiber-rich foods in your diet. Sources of soluble fiber include Oatmeal, Apples, Oranges, Pears, Beans, Lentils, Flax/chia/hemp seeds and Berries. Insoluble fiber is found in dark leafy greens, Whole grains, Nuts and Seeds, Cruciferous veggies (broccoli, cabbage, Brussel’s sprouts), celery, and onions.
Increase your fiber intake slowly so that your body can adapt. Sharp increases in fiber can cause digestive distress, so take it slowly to avoid gas and bloating. Recommended intake for women is 35-45 grams of fiber daily (more if you are diabetic.)
Try this delicious recipe to get a little boost of fiber:
Fabulous Fiber Smoothie
Ingredients:
- 1 frozen banana,
- ½ cup raspberries,
- 1 Tablespoon flaxseed meal,
- 2 cups cold water
- a few drops of liquid stevia
Directions:
Blend until smooth.
Drink!