3 favorite products to support our hormones and our menstrual cycle

While chatting with my partner recently, I shared with him the benefits of integrating foods from nature to soothe my menstrual cycle and ensure good hormonal health. I had the opportunity to integrate these 3 products into my wellness routine and I am delighted with the results!

Matcha

Matcha is a comforting beverage filled with catechins, one of the healthiest natural antioxidants. And slow-release caffeine for energy all day long! It also contains about half the caffeine of a coffee, which is not insignificant when trying to gently reduce it or wean yourself off. ⁣
⁣
Among its benefits are:⁣

• ⁣rather than exacerbating cortisol secretion, it balances it ⁣
• partially inhibits aromatase, an enzyme involved in the production of estrogen and estradiol (therefore helps to fight against the risk of hormone-dependent cancers and excess estrogen)⁣
• reduces insulin resistance ⁣
• stimulates the immune system⁣
• supports the thyroid ⁣
• raises FSH and promotes healthy testosterone secretion⁣
• boosts cognitive abilities, concentration and memory ⁣
• plays positively on the mood⁣
• increases energy by calming the mind and body⁣
• naturally detoxifies

⁣
It would seem that drinking matcha would also reduce inflammation, a condition too often caused by stress and at the origin of our hormonal storm.
⁣
So it's worth the joy of integrating it, perhaps once or twice a week, into your health routine, or even trying to replace the traditional and necessary morning coffee with a good matcha, isn't it?
⁣
For those who don't like to drink it in the form of tea, integrating it into smoothies, muffins, vegetable yogurt is a great idea! Here are some recipe ideas:

• Vegan Matcha and Coconut Oatmeal
• Matcha Green Tea and Coconut Cookies
• Matcha and Coconut Milk Smoothie with 5 Ingredients

 

Maca

This natural root offers a host of benefits: it fights fatigue, insomnia and depression, relieves stress and anxiety, promotes hormonal balance and adrenal functioning, supports physical and mental vitality, stimulates the immune system, boosts sexual energy, especially in women taking SSRI antidepressants⁣


Maca root is also an excellent source of phosphorus, potassium and calcium, minerals essential for general health and well-being, but particularly from the age of 35 when our progesterone levels can begin to drop. !

Now that we know all this, what do we do with this, maca? For my part, I like to slip it into muffins, chocolate-avocado mousse, smoothies, energy balls, hot chocolate, hot... or cold soup.

Here are some ideas:

• Gourmet Hot Chocolate with Maca
• Maca Cheesecake Bars
• Maca Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Superfood Vegan Cookie Dough

To be effective, it is better to consume 2 to 5 grams per day while starting with a very small dose that is increased as the positive effects are felt.

In women with hormonal disturbances, depression, anxiety and sexual dysfunction, 3.5g per day would be recommended over a few weeks to see a beneficial effect.

 

Estro Support

A 3rd favorite product, especially effective for people who experience discomfort related to premenstrual symptoms.

This vegan supplement:

 

• Promotes healthy estrogen balance
• Good source of antioxidants
• Helps maintain good physical and mental health
• Reduces the severity and duration of symptoms associated with recurrent breast pain
• Helps reduce cellulite
• May relieve menstrual pain

And why is it essential to maintain a good level of estrogen throughout our menstrual cycle?

Estrogen and progesterone help your brain function properly and stabilize your mood. Your circadian rhythm, the regulation of sleep, is handled by estrogen, but for women with very low estrogen levels, they will have trouble sleeping.

Bone density is also maintained by adequate estrogen levels, but if you have low estrogen levels, then you are more prone to osteoporosis, which weakens bones. Finally, estrogen protects against heart disease in women.

Estrogen contributes to cognitive health, bone health, functioning of the cardiovascular system, and other essential bodily processes. However, most people know it for its role alongside progesterone in women's sexual and reproductive health. The ovaries, adrenal glands and fatty tissue produce estrogen.

So, whether you want to relieve your menstrual symptoms or simply ensure that you are adequately supporting your hormones, matcha, maca and estrogen supplement are 3 products to add to your wellness routine!


By Marie-Pier Deschênes
Menstrual wellness educator, Certified IICT

 

Sources :

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/277177 

https://www.livescience.com/38324-what-is-estrogen.html