Everyone thrives when their hormones are balanced. Lack of adequate hormone secretion can affect mood, digestion, and fertility. For female-bodied people, there are not any foods that contain estrogen or progesterone. However, certain nutrients support the body’s natural process of producing these hormones in a balanced way. Since most of the neurotransmitters that produce our hormones live in our intestines, using food to balance hormones is very effective!

After age 35, progesterone levels tend to decrease and estrogen levels increase. This slow process eventually leads to menopause. We can support this gentle change while we are still in the child-bearing years (until age 43 on average) by boosting progesterone levels.

Here is a list of progesterone-stimulating nutrients and their food sources in order of importance. Don’t feel like you need to get all of these nutrients every day. Focus on L-Arginine, Magnesium, and B Vitamins.

L-Arginine: aim for 6 grams per day

• Turkey – 4 ounces contain about 16 grams

• Chicken – 4 ounces contains 9 grams

• Pumpkin Seeds – 1 cup contains 7 grams

• Chickpeas – 1 cup contains 1.3 grams

Magnesium: aim for 500 mg per day

• Spinach – 79mg per 100g

• Pumpkin Seeds – 534mg per 100g

• White fish (cod, trout, haddock) – 97mg per 100g

• Brown Rice – 44mg per 100g

• Dark Chocolate (70% or higher) – 327mg per 100g

• Vital Calm Magnesium powder – 320mg per serving

Vitamin C: aim for 1,000 mg daily (do not exceed)

• Yellow Peppers –3mg per large pepper

• Kale and Collard Greens – 120mg per 100g

• Kiwi – 64mg per Kiwi

• Broccoli – 89.2mg per 100g

• Oranges – 69.7mg

Vitamin B6: aim for 25 mg per day

• Sunflower Seeds –35mg per 100g

• Pistachio Nuts – 1.12 mg per 100g

• Tuna – 1.04mg per 100g (cooked)

• Turkey – 0.81mg per 100g (cooked)

• Prunes – 0.75mg per 100g

Vitamin E: aim for 150 mg per day

• Almonds – 2mg per 100g

• Sunflower Seeds – 3mg per 100g

• Shrimp – 2mg per 100g of Shrimp

• White fish (cod, trout, haddock) – 8mg per 100g

• Olive Oil – 4mg per 100g

Zinc: aim for 25 mg per day

• Beef – 12.3mg per 100g

• Wheat Germ – 16.7mg per 100g

• Pumpkin and Squash Seeds – 10.3mg per 100g

• Cashews – 5.6mg per 100g

Here are some recipes that include hormone-balancing ingredients.

Easy Trail Mix

You will need:

• 2 cups pumpkin seeds (pepitas)

• 1 cup almonds

• 3/4 cup sunflower seeds

• 1/4 cup cashews

• 3 tablespoons pure Grade B maple syrup

• A pinch of sea salt

• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

• 1 cup prunes,chopped

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, toss all the ingredients except the prunes until well mixed.

Spread mixture in an even single layer on the lined baking sheets.

Bake the mixture, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes. Remove from oven, place back into bowl, add chopped prunes and toss to combine. Cool completely.

Store cooled trail mix in an airtight container at room temperature.

Lemony Turkey Stew

You will need:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

• 1 pound organic ground turkey

• 2 stalks celery, chopped

• 2 carrots, chopped

• 1 inch fresh ginger root, chopped

• 2 cups kale, chopped

• 1 teaspoon each: coriander, cumin, oregano and salt

• 1 bunch kale

• 1 inch chopped kombu or wakame seaweed

• 3 cups chicken stock

• juice of 1 lemon to finish

In a soup pot, sauté turkey on medium high heat with vinegar, stirring constantly with a metal spatula, until chicken is cooked through - about 25 minutes depending on the cut.

Add the celery, carrots, ginger, cabbage, seaweed and spices. Stir well. Add the kale and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer, cook for 15 minutes, and stir in lemon juice. 

Serve and enjoy!