Can Eating Fat Balance Your Hormones?
Hormones. They can make or break you. Feeling tired, moody, or irritable? It might not just be your kids or spouse making you feel that way...it could be your hormones are out of balance. Gaining weight despite your best efforts? It could be a hormone imbalance contributing to the extra pounds. When hormones like estrogen, insulin, and cortisol are out of whack, we are fighting an uphill battle to feel and look our best. But there are some simple things we can do to help our hormones stay in balance and support a healthy metabolism.
These Five foods will naturally aide in balancing your hormones. And it may surprise you,they are all healthy fats.
Avocados, Almonds, and Olive Oil. These foods all have Omega 9 fats. Get one serving a day. Have an avocado on your salad or make some guacamole. A handful of almonds is a great snack, and be sure to cook with Olive oil instead of vegetable oils.
Grass Fed Butter, Ghee, Yogurt or Kefir. These dairy foods all contain short chain fatty acids. They help to maintain gut health by providing essential probiotics. A healthy gut is essential to balance your hormones. Be sure they are from grass fed sources.
Wild Caught Salmon, Chia Seeds, Flax Seeds and Walnuts. These all are great sources of Omega 3 Fatty Acids. The Omega 3 Fatty acids in these foods all help to reduce inflammation, which naturally balances your hormones.
Coconut Oil and Coconut Products. Coconuts are a medium Chain Fatty Acid, which can be burned for energy and helps to stabilize blood sugar levels. Use coconut oil to cook with or add coconut milk to your morning smoothie.
Hemp Seeds or Evening Primrose Oil. These contain a fatty acid called GLA (Gamma- Linolenic Acid) It is an Omega 6 fatty acid (The good kind) that has been shown to support progesterone levels in both men an women. Add some hemp seeds to your morning smoothie.
Fat! It does a body good. Try these recipes for some healthy hormone balancing meals!
Hormone Healthy Smoothie
Blend well. Drink quickly as chia seeds get gelatinous after awhile.
½ cup coconut milk/water
½ cup-1 cup cold water
1 banana, broken into pieces
2 cups frozen berries
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1 teaspoon honey (optional)
juice of 1 orange
1 tablespoon almond butter
Healthy Healthy Salad
1 salmon fillet (6 ounces)
2 tablespoons reduced-fat balsamic vinaigrette, divided
3 cups fresh baby spinach
1/4 cup cubed avocado
1 tablespoon chopped walnuts, toasted
1 tablespoon sunflower kernels, toasted
1 tablespoon dried cranberries
Drizzle salmon with 1 tablespoon vinaigrette. Place on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray. Broil 3-4 in. from the heat for 10-15 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Cut salmon into two pieces.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, toss spinach with remaining vinaigrette. Divide between two plates. Top each with half of the salmon, avocado, walnuts, sunflower kernels and cranberries. Yield: 2 servings
