Food for balancing hormones??

[mummyloveslucy]

Hi, I was wondering weather any of you food gurus could help me.
I think I must suffer from a hormone imbalance. I'm 33 years old and still have spots. I have PCOS and secondary infertility. I always seem to be tired and irritable and have become a bit overweight. Not by that much, but I was always very slim.
I find it all such a mine field. I've always eaten a lot of bread, cheese, pasta, cake, chocolate, you name it! And used to stay slim probably due to physical hobbies.
Now I'm eating more healthily and have recently upped my fruit and veg, limited coffee. (Even though it's decaf) I've switched to wholemeal bread, rice and pasta, as I think I'd starve to death without these things. My cooking skills, although improving aren't that fantastic.
I have salmon and smoked haddock once a week and eat chicken occasionally.
If you could give me a list of things to avoid and things which would be good, that would be very helpful.
Thank you in advance.

Not got any advice sorry but I could have written your post word for word and marking my place to share your advice if you don't mind.

Though not massively overweight I am heavier now than I have ever been and it's getting me down. Could easily do with losing a stone and a half to get me feeling back to me iyswim. Have always loved carbs, bread, pasta, rice etc and love cheese. Like you always managed to keep the weight off probably by lots of busy hobbies but don't have time for them anymore. I need to do something about it as I don't want to spend years battling with my weight. I'm also struggling to conceive #2, permanently knackered, don't sleep well and seem to have a low level stress fog all the time. I don't know, it's hard to explain!

Have started today, drinking less caffeine, limiting alcohol to weekends only, less carbs and more fruit and veg. Trying to substitute the usual carbs for other stuff like couscous spelt and polenta. It's exhausting though!

Oh wow! Maybe we have the same condition, what ever that may be. I hope we get some advice soon.
I have just bought some vitamin D and some Maca Root. They are meant to be good at balancing hormones. I can't tell you if it works yet as it's my first day of trying it. I'll let you know though.

bump

Yes, bumpity bump!

I am in a very similar predicament
Age 34 1 dd aged 15 months, have been trying for number two for some time with no luck.
Terrible acne on face, really hate it.
Have put on weight despite exercising and eating well
Feel generally bleurgh and a bit depressed

I have been googling and also think vitamin d deficiency may be part of it, I have started going out with no suncream for an hour a day, eating salmon etc
I am still breastfeeding dd and it makes sense to me that I am deficient in nutrients so I have really improved my diet over the last few weeks. Eat seeds, salad and fruit every day, fish and lean meat. Drink lots of water, hot water with lemon and cut right back on coffee.
I do think it is already making a difference, my skin has improved and I definitely feel better. I think cutting back to one coffee a day has made the biggest improvement.
I'm not an expert though but don't think there is anything to lose by eating well.

Vitamin D you say ladies, I shall get some tomorrow, can't hurt to try!

I have been trying to improve my diet too:
Today I've had:
3 egg omelette with spinach and smoked mackerel
Banana raspberry and almond milk smoothie (usually avoid this as hate cleaning the blender)
Toasted English muffin with low fat philli and smoked salmon
Roast chicken breast with butternut squash, asparagus, courgette and low fat cottage cheese.
1 mug of tea
1 twirl
Not enough water.

I think you balanced out the twirl well!

I had
1 weak coffee
Yoghurt
Salad with two boiled eggs, quinoa, salmon
White choc magnum
Small portion couscous and more salmon
Lots of water
Small white wine

I have a nutribullet (sort of blender / juicer thing) and had one of those as well, made with baby spinach, seed mix, nectarine and raspberries

I take peppermint tea - 2 cups a day!

Thank you. I've bout some vitamin D and I'll try peppermint tea. I'm not too keen on it to be honest, but I think I'll try it cold instead.

Also I have hot water with a slice of lemon.

Many people with PCOS find they do well on a low GI or low carb diet. Pretty much all of us do better minimising sugar and refined carbs in any case so its definitely worth a try.

There's a book called Woman Code by Alissa Vitti that is worth a look if you are interested in diet and hormones, particularly wrt fertility and pcos.

Oh and come and join the Eating Better thread, which is about making healthy changes (no diets), mindful eating and trying to keep to unprocessed and low sugar food without banning anything completely. Plenty of great recipes and lovely foodie support. . It's in Food section.

Best way to clean a blender: Once you've poured out your smoothie/whatever, put warm water and washing up liquid in the blender, attach lid, and switch:)

half my post disappeared! Switch on, and the repeat above until blender is clean :)

That's brilliant. Thanks everyone! I'll join that thread and order that book.

Surely, at this time of year you can get enough vitamin D by going outside at midday for 15 minutes?

The quality of vitamin d from sunlight is better, apparently it lasts twice as long but if your levels are very low then supplements will help to give it a boost.

Thanks everyone. I'm out and about in the sun all the time, so I should be o.k for vit D then.

Keller that is genius! I will be blending more frequently from now on, can't believe it never occurred to me! Also going to move over to the other thread and maybe try some peppermint tea. Can someone do a linky to the eat better thread please?

Hi guineapig, eating better here you are

Lovely thank you!

OP, do read Why we get fat by Gary Taubes. I suffered from the same condition as you and now I follow low-Gi, low-carb (Prosecco is different of course!) and the weight has been falling off gradually but consistently.

Definitely check out Low GI diets. They're remarkably easy to achieve - not faddy at all - and conform to regular healthy eating advice. Main things to exclude are sugar, refined starch and heavily processed foods which spike insulin levels. Replace with wholegrains and other natural wholefoods which keep insulin levels stable. It's the same approach as those with Type II Diabetes and there are plenty of articles and books on the subject.

Rick Gallop's book is a very good introduction.