Last year I started learning about balancing hormones naturally with a healthy diet of traditional food and food supplements. I’ve put together my Top 5 Tips For Balancing Hormones Naturally.
Before I share my tips with you, please note that I’m not an expert in this area, nor am I a doctor and this post should not be construed as medical advice. However, I have learned some things over the past year or so that I want to share. I hope it will help some people out there.
This post is especially for women, since so many of us suffer from hormonal issues. These hormonal problems are more prevalent as we age, and particularly after pregnancy and childbirth. However, more and more women are experiencing hormonal problems in our youth — everything from missed periods, low sex drive, cysts in the breasts and ovaries, infertility, and breast cancer. There are many things we can do nutritionally to prevent and reverse these hormonal disorders.
My Experience with Balancing Hormones Naturally
Before we get to the tips, I want to give you a little background on my personal history. When I was 35, I started noticing patches of dark skin on my face. Melasma, also known as “the mask of pregnancy” or “age spots” is a result of hormonal imbalances which are largely due to nutritional deficiencies.
I knew I had been suffering from adrenal exhaustion for a long time — ever since I was diagnosed with it in my mid-twenties. Adrenal exhaustion, or adrenal fatigue, is a condition where your adrenal glands are wiped out by stress, too much caffeine, inadequate rest, and malnutrition. It manifests itself in many ways including the problems I experienced: chronic fatigue and melasma.
The thyroid gland works in tandem with the adrenal glands. So if your adrenal glands are shot, this can affect thyroid function. Thyroid disorders include hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and thyroid cancer. Your thyroid controls many bodily functions including metabolism — this is why people who have hypothyroidism can’t ever seem to lose weight.
I have learned how to balance my hormones in the past year by making various changes to my diet and taking nutritional supplements. My melasma is 80-90% gone and my chronic fatigue is completely eradicated.
Top 5 Tips For Balancing Hormones Naturally
1. Eat Plenty of Good Fats
Low-fat diets are probably the number one reason young and old women are having problems with their hormones. Hormones are made out of cholesterol. If you don’t eat enough cholesterol, your body can’t make hormones.
What are good fats? Traditional fats that have been around for centuries — the fats our great-grandmothers ate. These include: butter, cream, egg yolks, whole milk, coconut milk, lard, beef tallow, coconut oil, palm oil, and olive oil.
Bad fats that should be avoided include: canola oil, vegetable oil, soybean oil, cottonseed oil, and any hydrogenated oils.
2. Avoid Soy
I think one of the other big reasons we are seeing more hormonal problems today is due to the increase of soy in our diets. Soy is a goitrogen, which blocks iodine uptake in the body. In women, iodine is stored in the thyroid gland, the breasts and the ovaries.
Iodine deficiency causes thyroid disorders (including goiters, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer), cysts in the breasts and ovaries, and breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
You may think you’re not eating a lot of soy since you don’t drink soy milk or eat tofu. But these days, soy is in almost everything.
Most restaurants use soybean oil to cook with, and most packaged and processed foods contain soybean oil and/or soy lecithin. Most of the meat and dairy we consume is from animals fed soy. Most mayonnaise and salad dressings contain soybean oil.
It is okay to eat soy in small amounts, as a condiment, as long as it is naturally fermented (like naturally fermented soy sauce, miso, tempeh, or natto). It is best to avoid unfermented soy foods like soy milk and soy cheese. It is also best to avoid processed and packaged foods that contain soy.
3. Get Your Minerals On!
Most of us are depleted of minerals. Phytic acid in whole grains (like oats and whole wheat) deplete the body of minerals (unless these foods are properly soaked or sprouted — see my post on soaking grains.)
Minerals are vitally important to balancing hormones. For example, if you are low in zinc, which many of us are, you will not be able to produce enough testosterone (yes, even women need a certain amount of testosterone — this is vital to a healthy sex drive).
Iodine is a trace mineral most of us are deficient in. The Japanese have one of the lowest rates of breast cancer. I believe this is partly due to the fact that they consume large quantities of iodine, mainly in the form of fish broth and seaweed. (Not, as we often hear, due to soy. They eat very little soy compared to the amount of fish, fish broth and sewaweed).
Japanese people traditionally eat miso soup with all their meals — breakfast, lunch and dinner. Modern miso soup is often made with MSG powder — but traditionally prepared miso soup is made with bonito broth. Bonito broth is made with fish. The fish are small and they use the whole fish in the broth, including the heads.
The reason this is important is the head is where the thyroid gland is contained. The thyroid is where iodine is stored. So if you are making fish broth, you need to include the head to get the iodine. The soup also contains seaweed which is also rich in iodine.
Unless you are eating real bonito broth miso soup every day, I recommend taking a supplement to get the same amount of iodine. One Iodoral pill contains 12.5 mg of iodine (which is the same amount the Japanese consume). Another form of iodine is Lugol’s
I really recommend getting your iodine levels tested before you take it. You can order an iodine loading test online. I had mine tested by Dr. Jorge Flechas. If you have Hashimoto’s or hyperthyroidism, you should not take iodine.
UPDATE: I’m currently taking magnesium and zinc. I know I am low in both, as most Americans are. Read my post about magnesium deficiency: Are You Suffering from Magnesium Deficiency? I also take a multi-mineral supplement
4. Take Maca
I started taking maca last fall — for only about 6 weeks, just 1/2 tsp per day. The results I have experienced are nothing short of miraculous. My PMS and menstrual cramps have completely vanished. I also saw the fastest and most dramatic reduction in my melasma during the time I started on the maca.
I stopped taking maca for a few months (mainly because I ran out and I got out of the routine) but to my amazement, the benefits I listed above have stayed with me. The cramps have not come back and my melasma is still 80-90% gone. UPDATE: The cramps are back! I need to go back to my maca!
Maca is an adaptogenic herb which means it works to balance hormones. It’s not like taking a hormone. If you have low progestrone, maca will help you produce more. If you have high cortisol, maca will help to lower it. I really think maca is one of the very best supplements, if not the best, for balancing hormones.
You can buy maca on Amazon
UPDATE: I’m starting up with the maca again to help further balance my hormones, as I still have issues with estrogen dominance. I have increased my daily dose from 1/2 tsp to 1-3 TABLESPOONS. I’ll keep you posted on how I progress.
5. Avoid White Flour, Sugar and Cut Out Caffeine
White flour, sugar and caffeine are all really bad for you, and they are especially bad for your adrenal glands.
I eat sprouted bread instead of bread made with white flour (white flour is often bromated, which also blocks iodine uptake).
I use natural sweeteners including honey, molasses, rapadura, sucanat, maple syrup, palm sugar, and stevia instead of white sugar.
And I have cut down from 3-5 cups of coffee per day to just one cup. Update: I have not cut out coffee and caffeine COMPLETELY. This is one of the most important things I did on my quest to balance my hormones. Read my recent post from June 2010 that explains how to quit coffee.
I’m Still Working to Balance My Hormones
UPDATE Dec 10,2011: I’ve come a long way with my hormones. My adrenals are almost completely healed. My temperatures are averaging anywhere from 98.1 to 98.6 on most days, and they are MUCH more steady (more on this in a future post about how to take your temperature.)
However, it can take a long time to balance hormones. And while my diet has been good, I’ve been slacking on the supplements (look for future posts about my results with maca and progesterone cream). I am still suffering from estrogen dominance. I believe most women over 30 in America have symptoms of estrogen dominance. I will be writing a post about this soon. My symptoms are belly fat, insomnia (which I’ve pretty much eradicated — watch for an upcoming post)
Follow My Progress with Balancing My Hormones
I’m really into this topic and will be posting more about hormones in the future. If you want more, sign up for free email updates and get an email whenever I post:
More Of My Posts About Balancing Hormones
You can also read other posts on my site about balancing your hormones:
Is It Wheat Belly? Or Cortisol Belly?
How Intermittent Fasting Caused My Insomnia and Belly Fat
Lunaception: How the Moon Can Balance Your Hormones and Make You Fertile
Herbal Infusions for Fertility and Hormone Balancing
Read More About How to Balance Hormones Naturally on Other Sites
There are various sources online to learn about endocrine function and natural approaches to healing. I recommend the following sites to help you learn more:
Dr. Rind’s site on Metabolic Therapy
Dr. Wilson’s Adrenal Fatigue.org
Information about iodine on Breastcancerchoices.org
Food and Cholesterol: Beyond the Myths on Wellness Monitor Online
Cholesterol and Health by Chris Masterjohn
Natural PMS Relief by Stephen Byrnes
Phytoestrogens & Soy
This post is part of the Natural Cures Blog Carnival at Hartke Is Online!
Disclosure: cmp.ly/4 and cmp.ly/5
{ 92 comments… read them below or add one }
Is Maca good for estrogen dominance? That is my main problem and I have to be so careful what I eat and take in (supplements, etc).
Carla’s last blog post..Eco Fashion: Do it Yourself – Yarn
About #2 – what about edamame beans? Are these ok to eat or should they be avoided too?
Great Post! Gotta love that maca powder.
Kimi @ The Nourishing Gourmet’s last blog post..Japanese Style Avocado
Yes, maca helps because it helps to balance the whole system.
Estrogen dominance is an imbalance. You have to balance all the hormones to help fix estrogen dominance.
I found this quote that explains how maca works to balance the whole system and fix estrogen dominance:
“This root is reported to help the whole endocrine system including the thyroid and can rebalance the estrogen dominance that often accompanies hypothyroidism and overweight problems.”
http://www.soulcysters.net/maca-root-thyroid-estrogen-dominance-ir-more-really-interesting-stuff-89889/
I think what I have is estrogen dominance, too. Estrogen dominance goes hand in hand with stressed adrenals.
Read more here:
http://www.drrind.com/estrogen.asp#start
What a helpful post! I’ve never seen all this information in one handy little spot, so I really appreciate your doing this.
FoodRenegade’s last blog post..Real Food Goes Mainstream
as always…love your blog and the info you put out there in a simple, concise way.
Hi, Melanie,
I really don’t recommend eating any soy that’s not naturally fermented and even then, it should be eaten in small amounts.
Unless of course you are eating a lot of iodine, in which case you can eat more soy. But most of us do not get anywhere near enough iodine.
Thanks for the links Ann-Marie! This is all very helpful. I took Maca root for a bit two years ago then I got out of practice
Carla’s last blog post..Eco Fashion: Do it Yourself – Yarn
Ann-Marie, what do you think about kelp as opposed to Iodoral?
Great blog entry!
i am going to have to research maca, i have never heard of it but since my daughter was stillborn in December my hormones have been crazy. once we decide to start trying again I want to be able to feel like my hormones are just right and not on any chemical medicine.
courtney’s last blog post..Menu Planning for the Week
Ecala -
I’ve read a lot of what the leading iodine doctors say and they do not recommend kelp — simply because kelp varies in how much iodine it contains. Hard to know how much you are getting.
I think Iodoral is the best. I give my daughter Lugol’s. Lugol’s is basically Iodoral in a liquid form (or rather Iodoral is the pill form of Lugol’s). I just put a drop in her milk.
Courtney –
I am so sorry for your loss.
I have read that many women in South America use maca not only to increase fertility and get pregnant, but also to maintain pregnancies and carry their babies to term.
Lovely post!!!
One question though, how are/did you take your maca? I have the powder, but it seems to overpower whatever i try to add it in…maybe im adding too much? The half a tsp you mentioned is way less than i use, but if it still helped you , then i can try again using less maca at a time lol.
Ive also found that simply drinking raw milk regularly has completely eradicated my PMS symptoms. I dunno if raw milk fixes hormones or not, but for ME, its been a lifesaver in that way.
this was such a fabulous post!!! I am linking to it on my site, if that’s cool.
(and I’m going to look into “maca” b/c I have serious hormone issues! – the other stuff I already do, and it has helped for sure… but my hormones could use an extra kick in the pants, I tell ya)
Oh, thanks a bunch. I finally decided to take the plunge and spent more $$ at Amazon, lol. Maca and raw cocoa powder. I could use some energy, though.
Tamara, You can buy empty capsules and fill them with the Maca yourself. Costs far less then buying the capsule form, and you do not have to taste the stuff.
Paula Runyan’s last blog post..Healthy lunch/snack
Very good idea, Paula. I have been thinking of buying some capsules for my maca.
I have also found that adding a little maca (not more than 1/2 tsp per cup) to herbal coffee does not mar the flavor.
Hi!
I have recently started reading your blog, but I too loved this post!
I have serious thyroid issues and this Nov. started to change EVERYTHING that I ate to help it. I have read (and am doing) everything you listed above! Except for Maca. I haven’t heard of it before, so I am excited to look into that also!
I do have a question though…I realized that the “healthier” eggs I have been buying (no room to have my own hen house, although I would love that one day- God willing!) probably are from chickens that are fed at least some soy. Although it probably isn’t much, I have been trying to find eggs that come from chickens w/no soy in their feed. Any suggestions? The only think I can think of next is to find a local farmer who might be doing this.
Thanks,
Tarena
Tarena’s last blog post..
Tarena, where are you? I would check with your local WAPF chapter — they’ll have some ideas for you. That’s how I found eggs not fed soy here in LA.
Thanks for this post. I’ve been dealing with hormone imbalance for over 10 years, when I found out I was hypothyroid (at age 19!). I’d really like to start taking Iodoral but I don’t want to start while I’m breastfeeding since it can chelate heavy metals and I don’t want them to get into my milk. After I wean my daughter I will start taking Iodoral. Do you know how long I should wait to get pregnant again after I start the Iodoral? Does it depend on how much heavy metal junk one has to flush out?
About a year ago I completely quit eating sugar and grains (although recently I’ve added limited amounts of soaked whole grains back into my diet) and I lost 37 pounds very easily. I can never go back to eating sugar because I can’t get up in the morning when I do! It has transformed my life.
Kaylin -
I asked Dr. Flechas about taking Iodoral when nursing and he said he thinks it’s a good idea just go slow. If you are iodine deficient then your baby is not getting iodine from your milk. Which is why Dr. Flechas reco’s it. Iodine is critical for the baby’s intelligence.
If you are too worried about the heavy metals to take it, you may want to supplement your baby with Lugol’s. I started Kate on Lugol’s when she was about a year old.
And yes it depends on how toxic you are as to how long you should wait to get pregnant. I recommend working with Dr. Flechas to do a spot & loading test. He can tell you exactly how much Iodoral to take and for how long. He reco’d that I do 50 mg of Iodoral for one year.
I also did a heavy metals test w/ Dr. Flechas.
http://cypress.he.net/~bigmacnc/drflechas/index.htm
I also think it’s generally a good idea to wait 3 years between babies if you can. ESPECIALLY if you are iodine deficient. Flechas and the other docs say iodine deficiency (and babies too close together — depletion of iodine) can cause Down’s syndrome and mental retardation.
I’m probably going to wait until my daughter is at least 2.5 before we try for another.
I hate that soy is en everything. Every time I find a fancy chocolate bar wrapped up with fancy European packaging, I think “This!!” and then I turn it over and there’s soy in it. It’s in even the fanciest, most expensive ones that are pretending to be all quality and old-worldly. Soy, soy, soy. There is one gluten-free soy-free milk chocolate curry bar that I love, by 3401 Phinney.
Thinking about ordering from Askinoisie.
Thank you, that is very helpful! Can Dr. Flechas work over the phone? If I’m understanding correctly, if the baby gets heavy metals through my milk she can just flush them out if she is getting enough iodine with Lugol’s?
I have 3 children. The first 2 are 3 years 8 months apart, and the other 2 are 2 years and 9 months apart (almost 3 years!
. I agree that it isn’t good for the health of either mother or baby to space them too close together. My daughter is 13 months and I was planning to keep nursing her until at least 18 months and then wait however long I have to before getting pregnant again (a year maybe?). I really want more children, but not too soon. I’m anxious to see if Iodoral can allow me to cut back my Armour Thyroid dose.
Yes that is my understanding. Dr. Flechas does work over the phone. You should talk to him about this, see what he says.
Seems like your children are pretty well spaced!
Pregnancy & breastfeeding really depletes your body of iodine (and other nutrients). This is why they say to space the children — so your body has time to restore nutrients.
Iodoral can help you reduce your Armour dose from what I have read. This is because the main reason we take Armour is for the iodine. Iodine is stored in the thryoid, so if you consume the thyroid gland, you’re getting iodine.
Wow! UPS says my maca has been delivered! Now to get some capsules (thanks to Paula for the tip). I’m a whole lot more likely to take supps if they’re in my pill box.
Hi Ann Marie – I LOVE your blog. I have been reading Sally Fallon’s book and it is wonderful. Everything you wrote above is in sync with what she says. I have melasma and read it is related to copper. I am trying to cut out high copper foods like shellfish, nuts, wheat and chocolate. Trying to eat higher zinc foods like meats and fats and fruits and veggies. I am also taking a copper free multivitamin, zinc supplements, B-vitamins to help my adrenals.
I’m interested in what you wrote about Iodine and Maca helping with your melasma. Do you know if its ok to take those if I am taking the other vitamins I mentioned?
I love getting into real nutrition which is why I love your blog. I am convinced soy is TERRIBLE as well! Its all over. That and HFCS. Ugh! People are so ignorant to what is in their food!
Thanks for the great info. I ordered some Lugol’s drops and am wondering about the dosage. I’m guessing you give your daughter a drop everyday? According to the bottle, it says 1 drop every couple of days. I’ve never taken iodine before and don’t want to start out too fast, but do you know what the maintenance dose is for adults? Thanks!
Yay Betsy! Good for you!
Bay – From what I have read, that is true — adrenal exhaustion causes a buildup of copper. I don’t really avoid copper foods but I do try to get a lot more zinc. I try to eat oysters once a week to get extra zinc (oysters contain more zinc than any other food).
Maca is very nourishing for the adrenal glands. It is not a drug, but a food. It is full of vitamins and minerals. I don’t know what you’re taking and I’m not a doctor
— but I think maca is one of the best things you can take to nourish the adrenals. At least it has been for me!
Erin -
An adult maintenance dose of iodine is 12.5 mg. So a child’s dose would be half that.
I give Kate 2 drops per day of 2.2% Lugol’s — which is about 6.25 mg per day. Some days I miss (too busy/forget), but I’d say I do it about 5 times a week. If you want start slow and build up.
Ann Marie – thank you! Where do you get Maca? Do you order it online or can I grab it at Trader Joes and/or Whole Foods?
How long did it take for your melasma to go away once you started eating better/taking Maca? I noticed mine last May when I was at the beach…its on my upper lip the worst spot! I started researching copper and adrenal exhaustion and I think I have both because I have been through alot of stress the last few years. I was on an antibiotic while at the beach which I read raises copper and contributes to a sluggish liver – so that plus stress plus the sun was the perfect storm for it to emerge! I think everything in my body is just tired and drained from stress and also not eating enough good fats and eating sweets. That’s why I love the info on your blog!
By the way, you are adorable…you look just like Meg Ryan? I’m sure you’ve heard that before. And that one picture you have of Kate with butter at the store was hilarious. Thanks for the tips!
Bayleigh
Hi, Bay,
Thanks — you are so sweet!
Yes I have heard Meg Ryan before but haven’t heard it in a while and it’s so nice to hear it! What a great compliment.
I noticed the most dramatic lightening of the melasma after I was on the maca for a while. But I had been eating a traditional diet for over a year. So I don’t know.
Dr. Wilson (adrenal expert) says it depends on how bad your adrenals are shot. It can take a few years at the most, and at the very least a few months.
So be patient — it takes time to heal.
All the results on medline talks about maca being Lepidium meyenii, which is variously described as black maca, red maca, or just plain maca. Websites offer Lepidium peruvianum for sale, and I can’t find anything which indicates if that’s just a second name for it, or if they are different plants.
Studies in 2001, 2002 and 2003at Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia had men getting either 1.5 or 3.0 grams per day. A 2007 study at the University of North Carolina had rats getting 25 and 100 mg/kg per day. A 2008 study at Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia tried doses as high as 0.5 grams/kg of body weight on men.
Wow. At my weight, that would be about 68 grams a day. Using the “pint’s a pound” rule of thumb, a teaspoon would be about 5 grams. At $28/pound for maca powder, that’s $126/month for maca.
I can’t afford that. For those who can, though, a 2008 study at Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia showed that maca made rats more resistant to sunburn – UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C. I guess I’ll just have to stay indoors.
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Very interesting post! The maternal side of my family has had problems with melasma and age spots – while my paternal side never has. I always credited it to genetics (maternal side is much more Northern European while paternal is Native American and Welsh) but now I’m thinking it might have much more to do with nutrition (as I’ve never had melasma during either of my pregnancies, but my mom did – though I do take after my dad’s side in terms of coloring a bit more) . . . my maternal side tends to have more health problems, frankly, and they are constantly on low-fat, low-sodium diets while my paternal side always ate much more whole, full-fat foods. (Frankly, going to my paternal grandma’s was always more of a treat for dinner than going to my maternal grandma’s!
I hadn’t heard about the iodine side of things before, though I’ve been craving miso soup (the real stuff) and other salty foods so I think I’m going to add it back into my diet! Since I started using sea salt only, I don’t know how much natural iodine I’m eating so will focus on it a bit more. Thanks for the research!
Again, great post!
Best,
Sarah
Sarah’s last blog post..Little Chef
Thanks for this post, Annmarie. I’ve recently been having some fibrocystic breast trouble. My doctor said right away “you need to cut way back on the coffee”. So, I am down to one cup a day, enjoying Dandy Blend and tea for the rest of the day. I just ordered some iordoral and will look into getting some Maca.
Hi! I have read that if you have an autoimmune thyroid issue you should avoid iodine…? as it will make your thyroid worse? I had tried taking a iodine supplement before we researched it…and it really threw my thyroid levels off for the worse…and when I got off the supplement…it went back to the level it was before. Have you heard of that? I have a pretty bad autoimmune thyroid issue….we so healthy now and see NO improvements…and we avoid soy now….also, on the maca powder….I read it can be bad for the goiter on the thyroid…have you researched that? I got a goiter on my thryoid a few years ago…about 4 years after I started having this thyroid autoimmune issue when I was preg w my 3 rd child…..I think preg should between the Lord the family….not only our timing. Yes if you have medical issues that needs to be taken into account…but there should not just be a time frame in our heads….pray and let the Lord lead…each time frame my be a bit different depending on the need of mom…the Lord will direct what is best for each time if we ask Him.
Thanks….
I need to say….I do believe what you are saying….if there are health issues or iodine issues that yes your healing issues need to be helped & it is not best for you to get preg…get your health in order…I am just saying there may be moms out there that may not have health issues & the Lord may have it for them to get preg before the 3 years your Dr. is saying…that is all. I just did not want someone to read your blog & think if they got preg before the 3 years to be scared their child would have downs or something else. Each mom has different health needs and time frames….some may even be longer than the 3 years….some a bit shorter….we just need to each look at what is going on in our own bodies and seek the Lord for wisdom of what is best. It is not my heart to upset anyone at all….
I really apprecaite the info on your post…..Thank you…..
Hi! You can just delete my comments…….I don’t want to get in a debate w anyone….I was just trying to encourage if there are moms out there getting preg before 3 years…..if there are not health issues needing to be dealt with….w have many friends….that leave the spacing of children in the Lords hands…and the Lord has blessed them…. so I was afraid a woman like that may read your blog & worry…but if there are no health issues & the Lord has them get preg…then they need to trust that…..& rest in His will…that is all I was trying to say….but I do believe if there are health issues in mom it is good to really deal with those….
Hi,
I met your daughter at the WAP conference, I don’t think I met you. My daughter, Sasha, was in daycare with her some of the time. Your daughter is such a light and joy! Anyway, I had scribed to your blog long ago, but it must be going to my junk folder I just thought of you and was checking up and found this post most helpful. I had a incomplete miscarriage in the fall after two years of eating NT, but my daughter still nurses like a champ. So, I kept thinking it was something my body was missing from all the nursing. The doc’s said progesterone. Do you know of any foods/herbs that naturally contain progesterone? Does maca have that? Where did you here of that was it in wise traditions? I am going to start researching it tonight. Also, the doctor you mention is he with WAP? Just wondering where you heard of him too. Just wondering if he would have some natural ideas opposed to progesterone shots… Thank you so much for your time and response!
I am also interested in this, I have recently had two miscarriages and I have a strong feeling that I have low progesterone as well. I have been reading about maca, dong quai, and vitex (chaste tree). They don’t actually contain progesterone, but they have been know to help balance hormones and in turn increase progesterone levels. I am just not sure if they can be taken during pregnancy to replace progesterone naturally. I would like to know if there is a more natural way of supplementing with progesterone rather than taking shots of artificial hormones.
Cheeseslave,
What brand of Maca root did you buy? I’m searching ebay and there are so many, are all of them organic? Looking forward to a response. Thanks,
Tracey
Hello…
Thanks for sharing the info-I’ll try the maca out- the Raw food people like David Wolfe (US) and Shazzie (UK) also speak very highly of it.
Warmest wishes from a not -so- sunny UK!
This is such a great blog, thank you sooooo much Cheeseslave !!
Firstly, really pleased you’re managing to cure your melasma from the root, I firmly believe this is the way to go. I just stopped taking my combined bcp after 10 yrs on/off and know my hormones need balancing. Wil definitely try the MACA but what are your thoughts on addig falx seed to your diet? It has phytoestrogens…since I believe I’m estrogen dominent what would you reccomend?
Great post, there are so many reasons to include maca in the diet.
Thanks!
Melissa
This is a long-ago post, but I felt the need to get in that debate with Jessica. Yes, it’s great to pray and leave spacing to the Lord, but if we are really going to do it the “Lord’s Way” (aka, natural, God-given) we would need to follow a lot of other things which naturally lead to spacing of children about three years. Breastfeeding on demand day and night, and for an extended time, which some may or may not be able to do, is the age-old way and really should go with that praying.
.-= Lisa Z´s last blog ..Hazards of a Kitchen Remodel–Gaining Weight =-.
I breast fed on demand day and night for and extended period of time and my children were naturally spaced two years apart.
When supplemental iodine is ingested there is a possibility of iodine poisoning. Absorbing iodine transdermally eliminates this risk. Ingesting natural forms from food sources has no risk.
You can use drug store iodine to test whether you are in need of iodine. A patch the size of a half dollar should take 12 hours or more to absorb through the skin. Faster than this signals a severe deficiency.
Do you know if Maca is Gaps legal?
Pretty sure maca is not GAPS legal as it is in the potato family.
Thanks for a nice site. I have been reading a lot on Weston a Price for abt a year now. Came across this site when looking for traditional corn tortilla and found something interesting for my current menstrual problem. I am in a diff problem of no menstruation for about 50 days with pregnancy tests being negative. I don’t take any soy, caffeine….all but stress of the day to day job is what my gynec tells is the reason. She has asked me to wait for some more time before taking hormone pills. I do have quite some stress with a 3 year old kid and a full time job. It is juggling all through. What about maca for such a case? Where can I get/buy maca…I stay in Phx, AZ. Also, I need some help in trying to locate Raw Milk suppliers here in Phx.
@ Chinni
You can buy maca online or at health food stores.
Stress can be very hard on your hormones. You also need to make sure you are eating properly and getting enough sleep. Lots of good fats are very important. I would try increasing eggs, butter, and full-fat dairy products. I think eating enough good fat is one of the most important things you can do.
Here are listings for raw milk suppliers in your area:
http://www.realmilk.com/where1.html#az
Hi,
I am new to this site and its very informative. You have made some very interesting points with the correlation between adrenal glands functioning and hormonal imbalances. Is there also a relationship between the functioning of your adrenal glands and the occurrence of ovarian cyst and other female reproductive problems?
I know this is a really old post but I hope you’ll still see my comment
.
Has anyone ever experienced ‘flushes’ from iodine supplementation? By flushes I mean red, flushed cheeks, sort of a hot flash, ears burning, generally not feeling well for a spell?
I did the transdermal spot test and the iodine dissappeared well within 30 minutes. I was too timid to start taking the drops so I just kept putting a drop on my inner forearm once a day. It was around that time that I started getting evening flushes but I’m not sure if they are connected because after a while I stopped the transdermal iodine and I still get episodes with flushed cheeks/ears, etc.
Another note regarding hormone rebalancing: I have some female issues which I was able to diminish by taking therapeutic doses of cod liver oil (I’m trying to not be graphic, lol). I plateaued and after a few months cut back on the FCLO to a normal dose. The misery went back up in just a few months. I just started back on the therapeutic dose of FCLO.
Iodine or maca may be my missing link since Lyme Disease shot my adrenals (I almost lost them to Addison’s Disease) and although I take an herbal adrenal support I haven’t addressed it any other way. I’m obviously iodine dificient and my hormones are obviously out of whack.
Thanks so much for have so much info in one place. I appreciate your sharing your research.
@Natasha
I’m not sure but it’s possible/probable. Adrenal health affects your whole hormonal system.
From what I have read, ovarian cysts can be caused by iodine deficiency. The body stores iodine in the thyroid first and foremost, then the breasts and then the ovaries. From what I understand, cysts in the ovaries and the breasts are similar to the goiter in the thyroid — the body needs more iodine.
You can get tested for iodine deficiency.
Hi, Beth
Has anyone ever experienced ‘flushes’ from iodine supplementation? By flushes I mean red, flushed cheeks, sort of a hot flash, ears burning, generally not feeling well for a spell?
I have not heard of this but it could be that you are taking too much. What kind of iodine are you taking?
Another note regarding hormone rebalancing: I have some female issues which I was able to diminish by taking therapeutic doses of cod liver oil (I’m trying to not be graphic, lol). I plateaued and after a few months cut back on the FCLO to a normal dose. The misery went back up in just a few months. I just started back on the therapeutic dose of FCLO.
Interesting! How much do you consider to be a therapeutic dose? 1 TBS per day?
They used to use an iodine-based contrast dye when doing intravenous pyleograms. (The IVP is an X-ray of the kidneys used for diagnosing kidney stones, among other things.) When they would inject the dye into the bloodstream, such a reaction was pretty common. It’s my understanding that they use a different kind of contrast dye these days, which doesn’t cause that kind of reaction.
I have found the following while looking for suppliers of Maca:
Which is the best type to buy?
http://www.vitacost.com/productResults.aspx?Ntk=products&Ntt=Maca&csrc=PPCADW-maca&refcd=GO000000112722665s_Maca&tsacr=GO6378290411
According to Wikipedia, Maca is a brassica. Brassicas contain goitrogenic glucosinolates and are thus contraindicated for people with thyroid and adrenal problems. Yet, also according to Wiki, Maca – especially the dark-coloured varieties – is an excellent source of iodine, which is used to treat goiters. Go figure.
Re GAPS, “The average composition [of dried Maca root] is 60% carbohydrates, 10% protein, 8.5% dietary fiber, and 2.2% fats. Maca is rich in essential minerals, especially selenium, calcium, magnesium, and iron, and includes fatty acids including linolenic acid, palmitic acid, and oleic acids, and 19 amino acids, as well as polysaccharides.” I’d say no, but at the amounts being discussed would probably not cause a problem.
This is a really helpful list, Ann-Marie! Thanks.
In searching for the best prices on Maca root powder, I also came across an article on sea vegetables:
http://www.healthyhealing.com/InfoAndArticles/Detoxification/WhatAreSeaVegetables.aspx
Which I initially found while looking at this article:
http://www.sunfood.com/pages/top-10-foods-for-womens-health-by-dr-ariel-policano
Iodine:
Preventive measures may be taken against iodine deficiency problems or disease risk by adding just 2 tablespoons of chopped, dried sea greens to your daily diet.
Sea vegetables are yummy and tasty! Crush, chop or crumble any mix of dry sea greens you like into soups and sauces, pizzas or focaccias, casseroles, rice and salads. Roast them into anything you cook. If you add sea veggies, no other salt is needed, an advantage for a low salt diet. Sundried, they are convenient to buy, store, and use as needed. Store them in a moisture proof container and they keep indefinitely.
Hope this helps people with iodine deficiencies. I am a novice at this, just beginning to find out about maca through this blog.
My niece is the go-to person at a store in New Mexico that sells all of this type of product, so I will ask her about it, and get back to you with what she has to say.
I read your article on sour dough bread first, and then see you don’t eat white flour. White kind of flour is is sour dough bread?
I don’t say I *never* eat white flour. I eat white flour occasionally. I said “avoid white flour”. If I can get sourdough whole grain bread or sprouted bread, that is what I eat.
Sourdough bread can be made with either white flour or whole grain.
I am currently in the middle of figuring out my own hormone imbalances and have begun drinking Dandy Blend to cut down on my coffee consumption. I was on soy formula as an infant and was raised vegetarian until I switched about 3 years ago after reading a whole lot about traditional diets. Overall I feel MUCH better than when I was vegetarian. But I continue to have hormone issues: adult acne (worse than when I was a teen) and PMS mainly.
It is helpful to read what helps others. Thanks for this!
I am currently in the middle of figuring out my own hormone imbalances and have begun drinking Dandy Blend to cut down on my coffee consumption. I was on soy formula as an infant and was raised vegetarian until I switched about 3 years ago after reading a whole lot about traditional diets. Overall I feel MUCH better than when I was vegetarian. But I continue to have hormone issues: adult acne (worse than when I was a teen) and PMS mainly.
It is helpful to read what helps others. Thanks for this!
Dear Ann-Marie,
Thanks for the valuable post.
I am also suffering from melasma for more than 5 years. I have done a lot of thing to improve it, but no luck at all. It gets lightened, but never disappeared. I have always though it is an internal issue.
I think this melasma is connected with adrenal fatigue since from many years I was under stress.
How did you checked your adrenal fatigue? since I wanted to get it checked before starting these remedies. (just to make sure). Can I successfully check it at home?
I also want to know your views regarding licorice extract since I have read it in connection with the treatment of adrenal fatigue.
Please reply?
Please, also let me know the brand of Maca you have used and from where you have purchased. Update your progress regarding melasma too..
Hi,
Have you heard about http://www.amazon.com/Drugless-Guide-Balance-Female-Hormones/dp/0972890750/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1300342004&sr=8-3
Any opinions?
Thank you
Alina
Thank you for this tremendous service. Found out about your blog through Granny Good Food. Dulse is the seaweed for iodine. Has generally four times the iodine of kelp and hundreds times as much as most other foods. So much iodine it has a reddish-purple color. Delicious, too. Atlantic Mariculture harvests it from the Atlantic, considering the Japan problem. I prefer seaweed to a iodine supplement because the seaweed supplies all the other trace minerals our bodies and glands need. It also includes the alginates which help to remove heavy metals from the body. Be well.
Thank you so much for posting this! I have been suffering from extreme fatigue for a year now and doctor’s can’t figure it out. I’m only 20 years old, but I have been taking hormonal birth control for 3 years, and my moods and energy have been out of whack ever since. I finally got off of the pill, but I know my body will go through withdrawal. I want to help balance my hormones, and I hope I’ll see improvement just like you did!
HI
Sounds interesting. Hormone testing by regular MD’s showed low everything.
Am on SCD which has helped. One Dr did blood test for mercury and iodine. Said no mercury and very low iodine , so started taking what he recommended and got a rash. stopped and rash went away. Any ideas? (yes try calling the Dr and no return calls after several left messages.
Lynn D
Hi Ann Marie! I really learned a lot from your post. I have never spend so much time in reading post until I have encountered your post about hormonal imbalance. I actually spent 45 minutes to read and understand well your article. I even make notes so I can study it again. I have hormonal imbalance for 8 years now and I’m happy that I pass by at your post because I have learned a lot from it. Is Iodoral can be bought in drug stores even without prescriptions? Is maca in tablet form and it is available in drug stores? I’m glad that I have read your post. I also read all the comments of fellow bloggers and I guess everybody really benefited from your post. Keep on writing…Thank you so much.
You can buy Iodoral (or Lugol’s) online without a prescription. Just do an internet search for it.
Maca can be found at health food stores, but I don’t think in drug stores. You can also buy it online. You can buy it in capsule form.
very helpful post, thanks! I drink raspberry leaf tea too..
Hi there,
Love your articles! For your adrenal fatigue did you ever take any of dr wilsons products like the adrenal glandulars or did you just take the maca root only. What brand do you recommend buying for the maca. Also, I have read that candida overgrowth can prevent the thyroid and adrenals from working correctly – what is your take on this? I have also heard that if your adrenals are fatigued and you also have hypothyroidism – that you should start by working on your adrenals first and then your thyroid – what is your take on this. I’m really frustrated because I spent over $300 seeing a naturopath in Jan and she really did not help me so I refuse to see her anymore and waste my money! I definetly have adrenal fatigue In dr wilsons book test I tested at moderate adrenal fatigue. Also, an absence of hair on the back of your calves, heat intolerance and salt and sugar cravings are also due to adrenal fatigue. There are some really interesting symptoms you can have with adrenal fatigue. i think 90% of people on this planet are suffering some form of adrenal fatigue. Look at all the starbucks all over the place. The most sigificant symptom of adrenal fatigue is waking up tired (no matter how much sleep you get) and absolutely needing coffee to get going.
Looking forward to your feedback
I took adrenal glandulars.
There are a few different maca powders out there — I think Royal Maca from Whole World Botanicals and Maca Magic are good.
Yes candida overgrowth/gut dysbiosis can impact the hormonal system. All health begins in the gut. Are you drinking kefir every day? If not, I would start there. If you are allergic to milk, try coconut milk kefir.
I agree with you that most of us have adrenal fatigue! I got off coffee last year and it was the best thing I have ever done for my health.
Hello! I love your blog…just found it today while looking for hormone imbalance info. Well I have a huge problem I have been trying to fix for a long time now. Dairy makes my skin break out! not little bumps…i’m talking huge cystic bumps on my face, chest & back. I read that is is because of the huge amount of female sex hormones in milk. The people that don’t have acne do not have and imbalance but people like me do have one. I do not know exactly what hormones of mine is out of balance…all i know is i want them in balance!!! lol I haven’t consumed dairy for 3 years and i’m tired of it! I miss yogurt, Ice cream & CHEESE. I have replaced dairy w/ coconut milk…I drank soy for about a year until I found out it was unhealthy. I can get away w/ using butter & milk during cooking..but thats it..all else will break me out. I’m pregnant now (4 mos) so this may not be the best time for me to balance my hormones so i’ll probably wait. But I am so fed up!.. I have been craving icecream and cheese for 4 months now! lol idk if I can go another 6! If you know any information about this please let me know
Thnx so much =)
Ash
Were you drinking raw or pasteurized, homogenized milk? I switched to raw a while back and have been having no difficulties with it. We recently bought a milking goat and drink that when we don’t need it for the baby goats. You may be impressed with the research on raw milk, if you are not already familiar with it.
Yes i’m very familiar with it..I got my hands on raw milk from a friend In may…After reading a book called “Real Food for Mother and Baby” by Nina Planck… I knew I wanted to add it to my diet especailly while pregnant. I drank the whole bottle in a day lol. Unfortunately about two days later I had a ton of bumps. I remember being so upset because I thought raw milks & cheeses would finally be my answer..
It sounds like you might be allergic to dairy products. If you reacted to raw milk, then it may be the casein, not just the lactose you are reacting to.
Ghee should be fine — it has the milk sugars and proteins (lactose and casein) removed. You can make your own or buy it:
Sources of grass-fed, organic ghee are here: http://www.cheeseslave.com/resources/#fats
The reason you are breaking out is your body is trying to detoxify and it can’t because you don’t have enough good bacteria.
What you need to do is heal your gut. Once you heal the gut, you can reverse food allergies. I would look into doing the GAPS Diet — read Gut & Psychology Syndrome by Dr. Natasha Campbell McBride.
Also I am teaching an online class called Reversing Food Allergies — it’s an ongoing learn-at-your-own-pace class. Here’s the link to learn more: http://realfoodmedia.com/foodallergies/
Thanks for your info. I am drinking kefir (unsweetened) but I am now switching to raw milk cheese, raw milk kefir. I am also eating bubbies pickels and sauerkraut – it’s amazing the amount of good bacteria in their products! I am also going to take the bio kult you take. Oh, I am also drinking coconut water kefir from inner eco and I am also drinking kombucha tea from gt’s I get at whole foods. Luckily there is also a sprouts farmers maket store opening up and they sell raw milk. Whole foods does not carry raw milk anymore due to the liability issue. I am also working with dr flechas i found on your website and getting my iodine levels checked and then I will try to go back on naturethroid. I was on 2 grains a day but it caused headaches and did nothing for my energy levels and made me more irritated so I had to discontinue it. I love your blog – so much of what you say makes sense but goes against what “mainstream” people do and think but this is one of the reasons our country is so sick and tired!!!
I would also like to include this link by dr brownstein re: iodine and why you definetly need it! There’s no point in taking thyroid meds if you are not taking iodine as well. But you need to get your levels checked to see how much you need. There is always a danger when taking any supplement of taking too much or too little and neither is helpful. Even my naturopathic did not mention testing iodine levels. With all the bromine in flour and flouride in water, toothpaste, mouthwash, etc the vast majority of people are deficient in iodine. Luckily a simple and cheap 24 urine test will let you know how much iodine you are throwing off and how much you need. I spoke to paula at dr flechas lab and she said one patient was so deficient in iodine that he had to take 50 mg (and notice that is mg not mcg and in most multis you are only getting 150 mcg and that is waaaay too low!) 2 times a day for awhile to get his levels back up (obviously this needs to be done under a doctors supervision and guidance).
http://www.optimox.com/pics/Iodine/IOD-09/IOD_09.htm
Is Maca GAPS legal? Sounds like something that could help me.
Thought it was funny…I just started taking kelp powder for iodine and maca powder too…woohoo!
I have read on holistic healing sites that iodine (Lugol’s was one of the brands mentioned) can be quite bad for you if you have autoimmune thyroid issues. Anyone have any two cents on this? I have considered taking iodine, but seriously am afraid to upset the balance any worse when I have finally been feeling decent lately.
Hi Lisa,
There is an excellent book called “iodine why you need it why you can’t live without it.” In this book Dr David Brownstein goes into detail in a chapter titled, “iodine and the thyroid gland” that even auto immune conditions need iodine. If you’ll click on the link above (at my last post) you’ll see an article written by Dr Brownstein and in it he says that a lot of auto immune conditions are due to a deficiency of iodine. An autoimmune thyroid issue is your immune system running amuck and attacking the thyroid gland. If I were you I would contact a doctor that cheeslave has talked about – Dr Flechas and here is his website with phone # http://cypress.he.net/~bigmacnc/drflechas/iodine.htm
I would talk to him about your condition and do the iodine loading test to see how deficient you are (it’s not an expensive test and there’s no needles and dr flechas works with you even if you live in another state) and how much you need. He would know about autoimmune conditions and I’ll bet you he will recommend iodine.
Dr Brownstein in his book (I just recommended) says that. In order to formulate an effective, safe and inexpensive treatment for autoimmune thyroid problems, one must first seach for an underlying cause of the illness. As he discusses in his book “overcoming thyroid disorders 2nd edition, the underlying cause(s) of autoimmune thyroid disorders can be varied This can include infections, toxicities ( like mercury or flouride or bromine overload) food allergies (e.g., gluten intolerance) and nutritional imbalances. I believe an iodine deficiency may be an important factor in developing an autoimmune thyroid problem. Then he goes on to have some case studies of people with grave or hashimotos syndrome and how it was treated with iodine (and of course finding out any other underlying issues like the one mentioned above).
I think dr flechas is the best person to start with. I have hypothryroidism and I am getting
an iodine test done this week thru his office and I will post the results and what I need to take in a couple of weeks or so. The problem with only taking thyroid replacement hormone is that it is still not giving your thyroid the building blocks it needs to be healthy. The thyroid gland cannot function properly in an iodine deficient state (from dr brownsteins book).
In fact, he even goes on to say in his book -Iodine why you need it why you can’t live without it – that the next 3 chapters will expand on the concept that deficiency of iodine is one of the major causes of autoimmune thyroid disorders.
Also, keep in mind that some doctors are not on the cutting edge of things – even some holistic doctors, like my holistic doctor. All she did was test my thyroid and put me on thyroid meds and when they did not work (I had the reversal – headaches and irritability) not once did she mention getting my iodine levels checked! So you can’t always count on doctors to always be in the know. Felicia
i’ve actually been making my own dashi to use as a base for miso. i can testify to the benefits of it!!!
i’ve never heard of maca. i’m going to have to look that up now!
Your post is the first thing I read that clued me in to the fact that my unbalanced hormones are probably what has caused my melasma. I have had it now for almost two years. It hasn’t gotten much worse, thanks to my sunscreen use, but it is still a big problem for me. I started thinking back to what changed in my diet two years ago. I was under a lot of stress from moving, and I am almost certain I started to drink more wine, usually white. In fact, I don’t really remember drinking it much at all at my old house. I wonder if this is affecting my hormone levels, and thus causing the melasma. I have also been experiencing much more breast tenderness before my periods than I ever have before, for the last few years. And the final thing is, I seem to always have vaginal itching, like I am always having a slight yeast infection. Last year at my annual exam, the doctor said she could see yeast and prescribed me a pill that I now realize is pretty hard on the liver. I wonder if this is all related to my melasma.
I want to do some more research on maca, and I think you have inspired me to start taking my iodine again…
Has anyone experienced thinning hair along with melasma? After my second child I noticed my hair got very thin.
i need some tips about.
Macca made me even crazier and if I gave up chocolate I’d kill somebody.
I like Royal Maca by Whole World Botanicals, too. The maca is gelatinized, pre-cooked, sundried, etc. Peruvians apparenly never eat maca raw.
I’m 48 years old, and going through peri-menopause with various symptoms. I’ve read somewhere that some women take maca only for the first 14 days of their cycle. Does this make sense to anyone, and why do you think that is? My hair analysis indicates that I’m “progestrone dominant”. Anyone has any idea why the first 14 days? If I’m progestrone dominant, should I be taking maca during the last 14 days of my cycle instead?
Thank you for your generous sharing.
I think I will try the maca Miracle, for my adrenal fatigue.
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