Your body throws multiple signs on a daily basis to indicate imbalances of any kind. Hormone imbalances more specifically can be due to issues related to adrenals, thyroid, gut, liver, diet, and other lifestyle-related factors. 

It can result in a plethora of issues in the body like anxiety, depression, mood swings, weight gain, hair fall, acne, insomnia, fatigue, energy loss, digestion issues, and blood sugar imbalance. It is quite a common problem these days due to poor diet and lifestyle followed these days.

Hormones are the most potent chemical messengers in our bodies, telling your body what to do and when. That’s why when your hormones are out of balance, you may be able to feel the effects, whether it be via insomnia, fatigue, weight gain, hair loss, or mood swings. 

But usually, these imbalances are reversible—learn the symptoms of hormonal imbalance to look out for and how to balance hormones naturally.

What is the hormonal imbalance?

Produced by our endocrine glands—the parts of the endocrine system including adrenals, thyroid, pancreas, and female or male reproductive system that communicate with our nervous system—hormones perform essential functions, relay important warnings, and communicate messages throughout the body. 

Everything from your appetite and metabolism to heart rate, sleep patterns, reproduction, and mood is dictated by your hormones. That means your hormones make sure everything is running smoothly and that your rhythms stay in sync.

Top diet tips to balance hormones naturally

Food as medicine is the foundation of balancing hormones naturally. Hence, consuming a nutrient-dense diet that is a perfect combination of carbohydrates, proteins and good fats becomes essential. So, let's look at 5 food categories that you can find in your kitchen which will help you regulate hormone imbalances.

Seed Cycling

Seed cycling is an alternative medicine to help regulate your hormones. It is the process of consuming 4 different kinds of seeds, i.e., pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, sesame seeds and sunflower seeds. 

It will be done in 2 phases. In the first phase, take one tablespoon of pumpkin seed and flax seeds each in the first 15 days of the cycle. In the second phase, whole and raw sesame seeds and sunflower seeds are to be consumed 1 teaspoon each. 

These seeds are high in zinc and selenium and support the thyroid gland. You can add these seed powders to your daily meal to let it do the trick.

Rainbow Diet

A rainbow diet demands that you include food of different colors in your daily diet including fruits, and vegetables. Different species of colored food every week maximize the intake of nutrients and improve your health and immunity in various ways. 

Add one food of each color to get maximum nutrients:

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  Purple - Brinjal, Purple Cabbage, Black Current, Raisins

  
  


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  Blue - Blue Berries

  
  


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  Green - Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Kale

  
  


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  Yellow - Yellow Bell Pepper, Saffron, Avocado

  
  


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  Red - Apple, Plum, Water Melon, Cherry, Strawberry, Beetroot

  
  


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  White - Banana, Mushroom, Ginger, Cauliflower

  
  

Take a high-quality probiotic and incorporate fermented foods.

Taking a probiotic can help balance your gut microbiome and the amount of “good” versus “bad” bacteria that live in your system. 

The greater the “good” bacteria, the easier it is on your digestive system to process food. 

Research has shown that estrogen-related imbalances might be able to be reversed with probiotic supplementation by restoring the set of bacteria known as astrobleme, which is responsible for metabolizing estrogen. 

Biohack your way to better sleep.

When life is busy, often the first thing we sacrifice is sleep. Sleep or rather inadequate sleep quickly throws our bodies off balance. 

This is why it’s one of the first things our doctors ask about when patients come in for their initial visit. In a small study testing the impact of prolonged sleep restriction, participants that slept only 4 hours versus 10 or 12 hours experienced an increase in ghrelin, a hormone responsible for appetite regulation, alongside a decrease in leptin, a hormone responsible for communicating satiation.

Key takeaway

Natural ways to balance your hormones include eating anti-inflammatory polyunsaturated fats, reducing your exposure to endocrine disruptors, getting adequate sleep, and using supplements to fill in any nutritional gaps related to gut health and vitamin D levels.