This fantastic article was written by Sarah Biren, a baker, cook, author, and blogger living in Toronto. We encourage you to check out her website here!

It is astounding how much damage can be done by one minor hormone imbalance. The entire endocrine system works throughout your body coordinating the vital chemical messengers also known as hormones. When one goes off track, the result can be major health problems, with symptoms like:

• Infertility and irregular periods

• Depression and anxiety

• Insomnia

• Fatigue

• Weight gain or weight loss

• Fluxes in appetite

• Digestive issues

• Hair loss and hair thinning

• Low libido

Conventional treatment for hormonal imbalances, such as synthetic hormone replacement therapies, birth control pills, and thyroid medications, seem to help by masking the symptoms but never treating the actual issues causing them. In addition, the patient becomes dependent on them which puts them at risk for side effects like stroke, cancer, osteoporosis, anxiety, and reproductive problems.

The good news is that Mother Nature has given us the cure in the natural foods we can eat. Warm up this cold season with the classic comfort food with hormone-healing properties.

3 Green Soups to Help Reset Hormones

Chinese Broccoli Soup

Benefits:

Broccoli is a superfood when it comes to reducing excess estrogen. This cruciferous vegetable has a phytochemical which changes the extra estrogen into a form safer for the body. This greatly reduces the risk of estrogen-related cancer, such as breast and prostate cancer. (2)

A study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition proved the negative correlation between fibre and estrogen. The female participants doubled their fiber intake and after two months, all of them showed significantly lower levels of estrogen in their bloodstream. This reduced their risk for any cancer linked to hormones and improved their symptoms of excess estrogen, (3) such as anxiety, depression, and mood disorders. (4)

Ingredients:

• 1.5 pounds broccoli

• 2 onions

• 2 garlic cloves

• 2 tablespoon coconut oil

• 4 cups water

• 1 tsp turmeric

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne

• 1 cup coconut milk

Directions:

1. Sauté the onion and garlic in the coconut oil in a large pot.

2. Add the water, spices, and broccoli.

3. Bring to a boil and simmer for about 20 minutes or 2 hours for increased flavor.

4. Puree the soup and blend in the coconut milk.

5. Serve hot.

Asparagus Kale Quinoa Soup

Benefits:

Asparagus is full of antioxidants and fiber which reduces damage from free-radicals, improves digestion, and aids the body in synthesizing the hormones and lowering cortisol levels. (5) This soup also features kale, which is a high source of magnesium, iron, and zinc which are necessary for hormone health. Similar to broccoli, kale also reduces excess estrogen and reverses breast cancer.(6) This soup is topped off with quinoa which contains vitamin E, zinc, magnesium and the nutrients that are crucial for hormone balance.(7)

Ingredients:

• 1 pound asparagus, chopped into 1-inch pieces (about 2- spears)

• 1 onion

• 4 cloves of garlic

• 2 tablespoon olive oil

• 4 cups of water

• 1 teaspoon salt

• pinch of pepper

• 1 teaspoon basil

• 1 cup quinoa (I use a mix of white and brown.)

• 1 cup  chopped kale

Directions:

1. Sauté the onion and garlic in the oil in a large pot until opaque.

2. Add the asparagus, water, and spices.

3. Bring the pot to a boil and then simmer for about 20 minutes.

4. Puree the soup and adjust seasonings to taste.

5. Add the quinoa and cook on medium-low heat until the quinoa is cooked, about 15 minutes.

6. Add the kale and simmer for about 5 minutes until wilted.

7. Serve hot.

Vegetarian Crock Pot Pea Soup

Benefits:

On the flip side, some women suffer from low levels of estrogen. This can negatively affect bone health, hair, skin and heart function. A natural treatment is to consume phytoestrogens, like peas and lentils. Phytoestrogens are pant-based compounds that stimulate many of estrogen’s functions. (8)

Researchers have found sweet potatoes to significantly increase estrogen in postmenopausal women as well as improving their hormonal status. Yams and sweet potatoes are also rich in antioxidants which reduce the risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular disease. (9)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups dried split green peas, rinsed well

• 4-6 cloves of garlic, chopped (depending on taste preference)

• 2 medium onions, chopped finely

• 2 tablespoon olive oil

• 8 cups water

• 1 sweet potato, diced

• 1 teaspoon salt

• pinch of pepper

Directions:

1. Simply add all ingredients into the crock pot and let cook for about 6-7 hours on high or 8-10 on low.

2. Stir and adjust seasonings to taste.

3. Serve hot.

 

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