If you follow FLO Living, you know I talk ALL THE TIME about how food is key to balanced hormones. And that’s true. What you eat—and when you eat it—is the critical first step in healing your hormones and resolving period problems.One of the key reasons food is so important for hormones is because of the essential micronutrients it delivers—micronutrients like magnesium, omega 3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and vitamin D—but the sad reality is that we often don’t get enough of these micronutrients in our food... even when we’re eating perfectly.That’s because many fruits and vegetables are grown in nutrient-depleted soil, so they don’t contain enough of the good stuff to support optimal health. It’s also because a lot of environmental factors— many beyond our control—collude to rob our bodies of precious micronutrients faster than we can take them in. It’s also because of the very real limits of our busy lives. Many of us simply don’t have the time to cook, let alone eat, 9 to 11 servings of vegetables a day.Food must come first when healing your hormones and trying to resolve things like acne, bloating, PMS, severe cramps, heavy or irregular periods, and other period problems. But sometimes a micronutrient-rich diet of hormonally-supportive foods isn’t enough to achieve optimal hormone health. Sometimes your body needs an extra boost.
What’s Your Deficiency Type?
As I said above, sometimes micronutrient deficiency just happens—even when you’re doing everything right.But there are some habits and practices that might seem healthy (or at least not harmful) but that, in fact, deplete essential micronutrients and make hormone imbalances worse. Here are a few ways you might be unintentionally speeding up micronutrient loss in your body: You drink caffeine. Caffeine leaches precious micronutrients from the body. You drink alcohol regularly. Regular alcohol consumption bleeds the body of micronutrients, too. You take the pill (or you have in the past). Same problem as caffeine. The pill causes your body to jettison micronutrients faster than you can replace them.You engage in extreme diets. Maybe you only eat one or two types of food. Whether healthy or not, these foods can’t possibly give you the wide breadth of micronutrients you need for optimal hormone health. Or maybe you don’t eat enough calories each day. If you’re not getting enough calories, you’re not getting enough micronutrients. You exercise too much. Over-exercise depletes the body of essential micronutrients faster than you can replace them.You use conventional health and body care products. These products are full of toxins that tax the endocrine system and prevent optimal micronutrient levels.You use conventional house-cleaning products. Same deal as using conventional health and body care products. You experience chronic, unremitting stress.Emotional stress taxes the body and works against optimal micronutrient levels.
The Micronutrients You Need for Hormone Health
In my nearly two decades of research, I’ve discovered the micronutrients that are absolutely essential when it comes to balancing hormones and resolving symptoms like PMS, weight-loss resistance, acne, mood swings, bloating, cramping, missing periods, and painful and heavy periods. The micronutrients you need more of when it comes to hormone balance are:Vitamin D3Vitamin KB vitaminsMagnesiumMicronutrients that support liver healthCompounds and nutrients that support gut healthThese micronutrients, in the right amounts, will help you get back on track hormonally and bring relief from your symptoms.
Why Supplements Matter for Hormone Balance
In the FLO Protocol, food comes first. After that, taking high-quality, targeted supplements is the single best way to help yourself recover lost nutrients and restore hormone balance. Supplements can help undo the havoc caused by caffeine, stress, hormonal birth control, and environmental toxins. And when you’re first starting the FLO Protocol, they will help you build a stable hormone base faster. The other beautiful thing about supplements is that they don’t just expedite healing; they help support long-term maintenance. Even the most hormonally-aware among us occasionally relapse into less-than-hormonally-ideal habits (coffee happens, I get it!). By continuing to supplement your (almost always) healthy diet and lifestyle with the right nutrients, you’ll be able to replenish your depleted stores quickly.It’s easy to feel protected by a virtuous diet. And if you’ve started using The Cycle Syncing MethodTM to eat in phases in accordance with your 28-day menstrual cycle, you might feel like you’ve already gone the extra mile.... and you have! You have taken the best first steps to healing your hormones. But don’t let factors beyond your control—like vegetables with fewer nutrients and ambient environmental toxins— rob you of the symptom relief you deserve. Use supplements to fill the gaps, protect your hormones, and feel your best!Always remember, that once you have the right information about how your body really works, you can start making health choices that finally start to work for you! You can do this – the science of your body is on your side!
BALANCE by FLO Living Hormone Supplement Kit
Because you've asked for hormone-friendly supplement recommendations, I created a solution that I am so thrilled to be able to offer to you on your hormonal balancing journey:Balance by FLO Living Supplements are a complete package that work together to keep your hormone levels healthy. They include a 2 month (2 cycle) supply of the following formulations so you’re never caught short in any phase of your cycle.When you take these 5 supplements daily, you’ll be giving your body excellent micronutrients to support healthier hormone levels. Which means that you’ll start to see your worst period symptoms get better... and even disappear after a while.Click here to learn more about the BALANCE Bio-Hacking Supplement Kit.
