THE HORMONE CODE.
Hormonal imbalances are one of the more common health concerns we see at the clinic. It is important that we investigate whether the symptoms experienced – such as migraine headaches, acne, changes with mood and anxiety – are the result of suboptimal hormone functioning. In most cases, starting with the fundamentals of health which includes an appropriate dietary approach, is a great place to start.
We know that when it comes to food, there are certain foods that can aid in hormone optimization, while others can be more of a hinderance. With that said, we do want to be careful that we are not labeling particular foods as ‘good’ or ‘bad’, because occasional treats should have their place, for a well-balanced life. For example, having cake as the occasional treat, if cake is considered your treat of choice. We can still have optimal hormonal functioning, while indulging in the occasional treat. *Actually, if we find the occasional treat sets us back to the beginning – this usually means we likely have not done enough of the basic ground work, for optimal hormone functioning to begin with.
A great place to start is with the food we eat; using food as medicine. Generally speaking, what we do know to be useful for hormonal support are adequate vegetables, protein sources and quality fats.
– Vegetables: Aim for 3 to 6 vegetable servings daily. Especially those cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, and kale. Eat the rainbow as well, not just the green vegetables.
– Protein: When it comes to hormones, we need your liver functioning optimally, for the appropriate metabolism and breakdown of excess hormones such as the estrogens. For optimal functioning of your liver detox pathways, the liver needs protein.
– Quality Fat sources: This includes avocados and avocado oil, olive oil and cold pressed olive oil, coconut oil, macadamia nuts, walnuts and almonds. These are used as a way to keep blood sugar stable, while providing adequate calories for energy. As well, certain quality fats have anti-inflammatory properties to them, also essential for optimal hormone support.
We want to balance our hormones. Where do we start?
We first need to lay out the ground work for optimal hormonal production and regulation, which includes some level of gut healing. Knowing what to eat and what to take, is half of the battle. Which is why, we have made this much easier to follow, with our newly re-developed program – The Hormone Code.
In The Hormone Code, there are three modules which you will be guided through, all done virtually over our downloadable phone App, over the span of 12 weeks.
Module 1: Identifying possible food sensitivities
We first need to go through the elimination phase of removing those problematic foods. The purpose of this module is to uncover hidden food sensitivities that may be responsible for your hormonal symptoms.
Module 2: Addressing inflammation
The second module is all about reducing inflammation within the body. When we are in a state of generalized inflammation – which we can test for with two simple blood markers hs-CRP and ESR – optimizing hormones becomes more challenging. We use a paleo inspired plan for this portion of the program.
Module 3: Regulating blood sugar and insulin
This third module is all about blood sugar regulation and metabolism, as the food plan is paired with an element of intermittent fasting. We want our insulin receptors to be very sensitive to insulin, which becomes exceptionally important when dealing with hormonal imbalances, as there tends to be an element of insulin resistance with health concerns such as PCOS, as well as other female hormonal concerns.
To learn more about The Hormone code, and to see if this program is right for you, Dr. Wiggins is hosting a Live MASTERCLASS on Tuesday September 10th at 11am. You can register here!
-The HOA Team
*Disclaimer* The Strategy Call does NOT include any free medical advice. It is to determine the best course of action for you!