The Hormone-Balancing Breakfast This Integrative Doctor Swears By

Now, you may be rolling your eyes thinking about another smoothie plug, but my smoothie is a well thought out combination of fiber-rich fruit and seeds, detoxifying greens, and gut-balancing protein. Even better, it’s easy to prep and loaded with accessible ingredients—no obscure foods you haven’t heard of—each of which are selected with intention and purpose for hormone balance. 

Blended together, the following foods make one delicious hormone-balancing breakfast that I can't live without. In fact, when I’m traveling and don’t get to have it on a regular basis, I notice the change in my digestion and energy levels very quickly. After longer trips, my cycle can even be different—heavier, longer, or just erratic. Let’s take a look at the functional significance of each ingredient.

Dairy can be difficult to digest and can promote the growth of candida, the type of yeast that lives in our digestive tract, so I love using almond milk as a dairy alternative. I’ve found candida to be directly linked to many cases of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal disorder that has become an epidemic among young women today and which can negatively impact fertility. Additionally, cow’s milk contains a variety of hormones, which may throw off the balance of our body’s own hormones, so I try to avoid it. 

Why the focus on fiber? Hormones need fiber to be metabolized appropriately or they convert to forms that the body has trouble processing, leading to many hormone imbalances, including estrogen dominance, excessive androgens, high insulin, or thyroid instability. To achieve hormonal balance, we also need a high intake of antioxidant-rich foods, including berries (rich in vitamin C and resveratrol), which optimize phase 1 and phase 2 detoxification of hormones in the liver.

I always add a cup of fiber- and antioxidant-packed leafy greens to my morning smoothie, which support the liver and help with detoxification of hormones and management of estrogen dominance. I like to play with different greens (kale, spinach, arugula, and Swiss chard are some of my favorites) since they each have unique nutritional properties.

A great source of soluble fiber, ground flax seeds help manage imbalances in estrogen and testosterone. A tablespoon in my smoothie increases the fiber content while adding in some anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats as well. It also helps make this smoothie nice and thick.

Bottom line: Food does balance our hormones, and combining the right foods can be a prescription for energy, happiness, and feeling, well, super-powered. 

Serves 1

Combine all ingredients and blend until smooth.