HealthNotes

Looking to regulate your hormones sans medications? Here are a few methods to consider as curated by our subject matter experts:

• Include certain foods in your diet. Soy foods, ground flax seeds, and lentils are especially rich in plant nutrients called phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens work by binding to estrogen receptors on cells and causing very slight estrogen-like stimulation within those cells. During the reproductive years, when estrogen levels are high, phytoestrogens lower the overall estrogenic activity in the body by blocking estrogen’s ability to bind to cells.
• Work with a nutrition-oriented practitioner. Clearing hormones efficiently through the liver and bowels is also important for regulating their activity at this time of life, so many nutrition-oriented healthcare providers recommend eating plenty of fiber and nutrient-dense foods (especially fruits and vegetables) to support these elimination channels.
• Add herbs to your supplement regimen. Medicinal herbs such as black cohosh, wild yam, burdock, dong quai, and chaste tree are sometimes used to assist in hormone regulation by altering hormone activity and promoting cleansing through the liver and bowels. Of course, always consult with your healthcare practitioner before taking new supplements.

Source: American Journal of the Medical Sciences