8 Hormone-Healthy Foods (With Recipes) To Boost Your Endocrine System

Last updated on 13 JUN 2015

The endocrine system works inside you to regulate your metabolism, proper growth and development of muscles and tissues, as well as tissue function, sexual function, reproduction, sleep and mood, among other things. The endocrine system does a lot of work, and works hard, so how can we help it?

There are many foods that help to balance your hormones. When eaten in the right amounts, your hormones, skin, mood, and overall bodily functions will be drastically improved. Any foods that are full of fiber, magnesium, B vitamins, and antioxidants help with detoxing your body of hormonal problems, and regulate hormone-health.

Read:  10 Sources of Endocrine-Disruptors And How To Avoid Them

The following foods are the best when looking to regulate hormones and boost your endocrine system:

Broccoli and Cauliflower

These two tree-looking vegetables are rich in sulforaphane and B vitamins, which other veggies don’t have lots of. They’ve been linked to fighting cancerous cells and eliminating excess hormones that disrupt your normal cycle. These veggies are also top sources of fiber and wonderful sources of B vitamins that support hormones further.

Try this Broccoli and Cauliflower Juice recipe:

Cruciferous Trifecta

1 head of broccoli
1 head of cauliflower
5 kale leaves
5 carrots
2 green apples
½ lime

Kale and Spinach

These greens are amazing sources chlorophyll, a great detoxification nutrient that comes with green foods. The chlorophyll helps cleanse your cells of wastes like added hormones and harmful chemicals that turn up in lots of animal products. These greens are also a rich course of amino acids your body uses to make protein. Plant-based proteins helps our bodies by promoting brain health, muscle forming, and blood sugar regulation, without the insulin spikes (like dairy products).

Try one of these easy, tasty kale and spinach Juice recipes:
• Cucumber, collards, kale, spinach and half a Granny Smith apple
• Kale, spinach, carrots, celery, ginger
• Kale, spinach, green apples, pineapple, lemon, ginger and celery

Almonds and Pumpkin Seeds

These magnesium-rich nuts and seeds help stabilize insulin levels and lower cortisol levels which can shock your endocrine system if too high. Almonds and pumpkin seeds are two of the best sources for magnesium, but also zinc and protein. Zinc makes your metabolism work more efficiently and helps your body use carbohydrates as energy (which is what they’re supposed to be used for). Because they’re packed with protein, these will make you feel fuller without causing your blood sugar levels to spike. They’re also a great source of fiber, helping you get rid of excess waste including hormones.

Recipe: Larchmont Bars

Avocados and Sweet Potatoes

You metabolism and nervous system will be happy thanks to the vitamin B6 found in avocados and sweet potatoes. Lower stress, higher serotonin, and a healthier mood. These foods have low glycemic scores (meaning they’re low in sugar) and high fibre scores to promote hormone health.

Recipe: Big Ol’ Texas Bowl—this dish looks amazing, tastes amazing, and doesn’t send your blood sugar into spikes or spirals.

Berries and Cacao

These foods are high in antioxidants which are great for hormonal support, fighting free radicals, stress, and inflammation. Berries are high in vitamin C, cacao is a rich source of sulfur, as well as containing more antioxidants per portion than any other food.

This juice recipe is packed with dark berries, their pectin, lectin, and (of course) antioxidants:
1 cup of blueberries + 1 cup of cranberries + 1 cup of strawberries + 1 cup of pomegranate.

The following are all great sources of nutrients and vitamins that support a healthy endocrine system:

Coconut and Brazil Nuts

Contain healthy fats and support your thyroid which is critical to healthy hormones. Coconut is full of amino acids, enzymes, minerals, and B vitamins and Brazil nuts are a top source of selenium. Replace your dairy with coconut milk, and include Brazil nuts in your daily diet.

Flax, Chia, Hemp

Flaxseeds, chia seeds and hemp seeds all contain omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, magnesium, and potassium which helps regulate blood sugar, blood pressure, and hormones. They are also a great source of the B vitamins.

Root Vegetables

Maca, sweet potatoes, beetroots, carrots, radishes, and all other root vegetables “warming foods” and are hormone-stabilizing. They are natural sources of fiber, complex carbs, and nutrients that leafy veggies don’t have.

Remember: fiber is one of the best tools to arm yourself with for supporting your hormone health. Plant-based proteins are much better sources of protein, fiber, and the other vitamins and nutrients that help your hormone health and balance your endocrine system.

Source:
https://www.onegreenplanet.org/natural-health/skip-the-cows-millk-these-foods-support-your-hormones-much-better/

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About Sara Ding

Sara Ding is the founder of Juicing-for-Health.com. She is a certified Wellness Health Coach, Nutritional Consultant and a Detox Specialist. She helps busy men and women identify their health issues at the root cause, in order to eliminate the problems for optimum physical/mental health and wellbeing.

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