7 Best Hormone Balancing Foods for Naturally Glowing Skin

7 Best Hormone Balancing Foods for Naturally Glowing Skin

A rich complexion that looks like it has been lovingly kissed by the sun is every woman’s dream. However, when it comes to beauty secrets, it can feel, in our regular dissection and discussion, that we have left no stone unturned, no nook or cranny unexplored. But still, there’s one thing we cannot stress enough – the importance of nutrition in developing healthy, shiny skin.

Every woman wants stunning looks, luscious hair, glowing skin that looks like it has been touched by the gods —- need I go on? And millions of women worldwide have already discovered the secret to achieve this bronzed goddess look – by keeping hormones at balance.

Hormones play a part in everything

From growth and development to tissue repair, immune responses, and inflammation, hormones play a role in everything. Take insulin, for example, this hormone keeps our blood sugar from getting too high or too low; but if released in excess amounts, it’s been known to speed up wrinkling of the skin. Therefore, the next time you turn to those munchies, be mindful of the toll, the sugar puts on your skin!

The same goes for other hormones like cortisol, which is a stress hormone that leads to dull, sagging skin, insufficient estrogen responsible for inelastic skin, excessive testosterone responsible for acne and so on and so on.

Therefore, be it PMS breakouts, teenage acne, or inelastic skin from hypothyroidism and menopause, hormonal imbalance can really wreak havoc on the skin.

But fret not! As mentioned before, millions of women worldwide have already discovered that nature has already blessed us with everything needed to glow inside and out. By combining hormone balancing diets, exercise routines, and a positive outlook on life, women are achieving healthier-looking skin.

Glowing skin is a measure of how healthy you are on the inside

Even if you have access to the very best facials and the most qualified dermatologist in town on speed dial, do not take nutrition and exercise plans for granted. Glowing skin is a measure of how well you care for your body, and here are the 7 best foods for hormone balancing you can combine with your other self-care program for balanced hormones and glowing skin:

1. Eat more greens

Whether it’s kales, spinach broccoli sprouts, dandelion greens, Lettuces, etc., nothing says healthy skin like a plate of dark garden-fresh leafy greens. Green vegetables are an essential part of the diet because they not only contain vitamins but also pack a ton of antioxidants and other essential nutrients that helps the skin retain its youthful glow.

Green veggies can be taken in various ways. You could prepare salads or stuff them in sandwiches; you could also make soup, or blend these viridescent leaves and juice on the cocktail; yeah, you heard it right, fresh veggie blends – the road to radiant skin may not be tantalizing on your taste buds, but take your veggies sister.

For example, you should not miss broccoli sprouts. Broccoli is a nutritious and delicious cruciferous vegetable that is full of anti-aging Vitamins A and C and blood-sugar balancing fibers. It also contains DIM and sulforaphane molecules that resolve estrogen imbalance issues. Estrone, for example, is a carcinogenic form of the estrogen hormone, by helping eliminate estrone, DIM molecules in broccoli reduce the risk of developing different types of cancer.

2. Eat healthy fats

Do not be afraid of fats because not only are fats required as the fundamental building blocks for hormones, but they are also great for inflammation, cognitive function, cardiac health, and promoting healthy weight. And all of these are essential for stress-free living, which leads to glowing skin.

Without fats, your body won’t be able to build hormones, so make sure you include the above-mentioned food items as part of your diet regularly. Some fan-favorite rich sources of saturated and monounsaturated fats are food items like coconuts, avocados, extra virgin olive oil, fish, etc.

3. Adaptogens and green tea

Instead of drinking a lot of caffeine, take herbal tea instead. Caffeine is a nervous system stimulant that can impact your adrenal glands really really hard. Caffeine also can disrupt your sleep leading to high glucose levels in the blood. So, if you want to support your hormone, please reduce your caffeine intake and try different herbal teas instead.

Green tea is anti-inflammatory tea. It’s rich in inflammation-fighting antioxidants that is really important not only in preventing various forms of cancer but also promotes overall body health.

Adaptogenic herbs help the body to adapt and cope with stress. They have been verified as both non-toxic and safe by scientists. They counteract the harmful effects of stress on the immune, neurological, and endocrine systems.

My favorite adaptogenic herbal teas include Ashwagandha, which is a really great herb, Rhodiola, Licorice Root Tea, Ginseng. Maca is also a good herbal tea, really great in a smoothie. Do not forget different mushrooms like Lion’s Mane, Chaga, Reishi, etc. Mushrooms boost the immune system, reduce fatigue, and improve sleep.

4. Liver

Don’t be afraid of eating the liver; it’s rich in fat-soluble Vitamins A and C, which are great for the skin. It’s also full of minerals such as magnesium, iron, calcium, and Zinc, which is a vital nutrient for the immune system, hormonal balance, skin, hemoglobin formation, and brain function.

The best sources of the liver include beef, chicken, duck, and goose. And if you dislike eating the liver, there are ways to make it tolerable. You could ground it, then add it to your meat sauce, or go for the fancy option such as liver pate or foie gras. You could also just pop some liver tablets if the meat organ scares you – no judgments!

5. Take a lot of fruits

Now obviously, there are a plethora of healthy fruits that you should be incorporating in your diet if you want to see healthy skin and overall healthy bodies. But here is a look at the fruit recipes that are particularly good for the skin.

Cantaloupe – Cantaloupe is particularly good for the skin because it’s full of vitamins A and C.  Vitamin A is good for skin regeneration, and Vitamin C promotes collagen production. So, eat cantaloupe often. You can cut it up and eat it with some egg whites in the morning. This is a perfect breakfast for healthy glowy skin.

Strawberries- These goddamn delicious and beautiful fruits that are perfect for dessert. Strawberries have tones of vitamin C, which helps fight free radicals. Studies have shown that people who take lots of vitamin C have fewer wrinkles and less age-related dry skin than those who do not. So, for a smoother, more hydrated skin, apply strawberries topically, or eat them.

Blueberry Chia Smoothie – Peel and freeze some ripe bananas for sweetness; then get blueberries; these are rich in antioxidants and vitamins too. Finally, add chia seeds, these have more 8 times more omega-3 than salmon, 25% more fiber than flax seeds, and 30 percent more antioxidants than blueberries. Add coconut water for some potassium then a tiny bit of orange juice for a tangy kick and blend the whole thing for a healthy, good-on-the-skin shake.

6. Fish

Oily fish are good for the skin because they hydrate the skin from within. Eat fish that are rich in omega-3. These include salmon, albacore tuna, and mackerel. These not only keep skin moisturized but are also anti-inflammatory.

There are various recipes to prepare delicious salmon. You can get the recipes from various food videos. For example, to prepare Lemony Salmon, you need four salmon fillets, lemon, butter, garlic powder, and salt.  Begin by massaging a mix of garlic powder and salt onto the salmon fillets. Next, melt ¼ a stick of butter and cook the salmon in it till brown (about 5 minutes per side). Melt another ¼ stick of butter on the cooked salmon fillets and serve each piece with a lemon wedge.

7. Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate is made from cocoa, which a superfood because it contains antioxidants that are known to promote blood flow. So, swap your favorite processed fat and sugar-rich milk and white chocolate for the high-quality dark chocolate variety.

Dark chocolate contains 70 percent cocoa and has several beauty benefits, such as keeping the skin moisturized, protecting from UV damage. It’s also sweet and induces a happy high, which is essential for preventing the breakdown of collagen – a protein responsible for keeping the skin elastic.

So, eating dark chocolate supplies the body with vitamins A, C, D, E, and B1, which not only leaves you glowing inside but out too. It’s also rich in iron, calcium, and manganese, which is vital for nutrients absorption and the production of sex hormones. Who knew?

Ta-dah! There you go, ladies. There are several types of foods good for the immune, neural, and endocrine systems. The above-mentioned samples are only but a few. Also, if you can’t prepare the food at home, you can always get prepared (just cooked, stir-fried, but not breaded) from the grocery store. Always check that it has no additives or extra sugar. Remember, what is great for your immune system is great for your skin as well, so eat and drink your way to glowing skin with the above tips then, won’t you?