7 Foods That Help Correct Hormonal Imbalance – ‘Fix it With Food’ by Kavita Devgan

The havoc that hormones can cause is huge. Patchy skin, severe acne, excess hair on the face, debilitating fatigue, fluctuating weight, an irregular menstrual cycle, dry, brittle hair, mood swings, depression, anxiety, appetite changes, low libido, poor fertility—the symptoms of hormonal imbalance in the body and their severity may vary in different people, but they are relentless and very distressing. They are today an epidemic of sorts.

However, this hormonal chaos is not a lost cause. Even though hormones sound complex (after all, there are about 200 of them working in the body), it is not that difficult to tame them as long as you gently keep resetting them.

Here, the food you eat plays a major role. To keep your hormones happy, include these 7 foods in your diet on a regular basis.

1. Spirulina to Tackle Estrogen

Excess of estrogen can show up as abdominal obesity, bloating, cold hands and feet, hair loss, mental fogginess, hot flashes, night sweats and temperature swings. Spirulina contains the essential fatty acids that help the liver to metabolize the excess estrogen.

Eating Cue: You can have it mixed with water or just add to smoothies.

2. Cinnamon to Keep Insulin Stable

Insulin regulates sugar in our body. Its imbalance results in tiredness, hunger, brain fog and weight gain. Just a pinch of cinnamon is enough to keep the blood sugar stable through the day, and insulin tamed.

Eating Cue: Add a pinch of cinnamon to your morning cup of tea or coffee.

3. Sesame Seeds to Keep the Thyroid Healthy
Thyroid imbalance affects our metabolism and we feel cold and sluggish all the time. Sesame seeds are great for the thyroid gland as they are a good source of selenium. Thyroid has the highest selenium content of any organ, and selenium deficiency is often the reason behind thyroid disorders.

Eating Cue: Munch on them during mid-mornings.

4. Banana to Increase Melatonin

Sleep problems are associated with higher weight and hormonal imbalance. This results in fatigue, impaired memory and lack of concentration. Pile on vitamin B6-rich foods, particularly banana. Banana helps the body produce melatonin, the sleep hormone, which helps you sleep well and stay rested.

Eating Cue: Just peel and bite in.

5. Ghee to Keep Cortisol Low
When the stress hormone cortisol rises, it encourages the conversion of blood sugar into fat for long-term storage (and our weight increases). It also causes cravings, addictions, irritability, frequent headaches, anxiety and high blood pressure. Eating ghee from grass-fed cows can help keep cortisol low.

Eating Cue: Cook at least one vegetable in some ghee, or make your dal tadka with it.

6. Spinach to Boost Adiponectin

This fat-burning hormone works on the brain to regulate inflammation and oxidative stress, both of which contribute to weight gain. Have spinach as it has certain enzymes and antioxidants that stimulate this hormone.

Eating Cue: Eat tender spinach leaves as part of a salad, or make spinach soup.

7. Jamun to Strengthen the Liver
The liver cleans out toxins that we are exposed to (works as a filter) and also produces most hormones. Jamun, also known as Java Plum, can keep it healthy as it prevents fatty liver, and the resultant multiple hormonal imbalances.

Eating Cue: Make jamun chutney, jamun squash or just snack on them.

Note: All our hormones are interconnected, and interact and work together synergistically—so when one gets imbalanced, it can start a negative cascading effect. So, to keep your weight and health in check, it is important to eat a hormone-stabilizing diet.

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