Food has the power to heal. With the right diet and exercise plan, you can overcome many of the ailments that plague our culture today.
Treating severe perimenopausal symptoms is no different. You'll find a number of foods that can help treat your body and balance your hormones without the help of synthetic drugs.
Below is my list of the top five best foods for perimenopause.
Top Five Best Foods for Perimenopause
#1. Salmon.
Salmon is rich in Omega 3 fats and protein, both of which are beneficial during your perimenopause years. Omega 3 not only helps manage those nasty hot flashes it also boosts your mood and supports brain health. The protein from fish and meat increases progesterone production in the body, balancing your hormones.
Try to avoid Atlantic farm-raised salmon as it contains PCB's and other chemicals. Wild Pacific or organic salmon is your best bet and provides the most benefits.
#2. Flax.
Also rich in omega 3 fats and protein as well as fiber and antioxidants, flax helps alleviate gut issues and fights estrogen dominance.
Flax also contains something called lignans. Lignans are a type of phytoestrogen that has the power to block the xenoestrogens found in our environment. These xenoestrogen toxins contribute to estrogen dominance and aggravate your perimenopause symptoms. Lignans also help balance overall estrogen levels in your body and are great for breast health.
Add flax seed oil as a dressing to your salad and sprinkle ground or whole flax seeds into your yogurt, smoothies, granola or salads.
#3. Broccoli.
Broccoli, and other cruciferous vegetables like kale, cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts contain a phytonutrient called indole 3 carbinol-(or I3C). Studies are still being done on I3C but researchers think that it may help ward off cancer. I3C also promotes liver detoxification and assists the body in burning fat. Because it helps block toxic estrogen found in our environment, I3C can promote hormone balance in the body.
But there are still other benefits found in adding more broccoli to your diet. Broccoli, along with broccoli seeds, fenugreek, cauliflower and fresh parsley, help decrease the amount of aromatase in the body. Aromatase is an enzyme, if in excess, that can produce too much estrogen in the body. Eating aromatase inhibitors like broccoli can help reduce estrogen dominance and alleviate severe perimenopause symptoms.
Eat broccoli and other cruciferous veggies raw, lightly steamed or fermented. You can also find a good quality I3C supplement to take.
#4. Eggs.
Egg yolks specifically are rich in healthy fats and protein- everything you need to promote progesterone and DHEA production in the body.
Don't believe the notion that eating fat will make you fat. The opposite is actually true. Healthy fats boost your metabolism and help you to feel satiated for longer periods. Sugar, trans fats and hydrogenated oils are your real enemies in weight loss. If you're looking to shed a few pounds, avoid those foods at all cost.
The fats and saturated fats found in eggs help build cell membranes, reduce inflammation and assist the body in hormone production. Exactly what you need during your perimenopause years.
#5. Pomegranates.
A powerhouse when it comes to fighting estrogen dominance, pomegranate seeds can block toxic estrogen in the body by up to 80%. Also great for breast health, pomegranates can prevent certain types of breast cancer cells from multiplying. Add them to your yogurt and smoothies.
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