If you suffer from infertility or menstrual issues (e.g. menstrual irregularity, delayed or missed periods, extreme menstrual cramps), it is very likely that you actually have some form of imbalances in your sex hormones (e.g. estrogen and progesterone).

Many women today suffer from hormonal imbalances in one way or another. This phenomenon could be a result of exposure to large amounts of estrogen-like toxins, which could be found in plastics, pesticides and other chemicals in the environment. Ingestion of hormones found in meat and dairy products can also create havoc to one’s hormonal balance. The use of birth control pills, whether for contraception or for relieving menstrual or menopausal symptoms, can also cause your female hormones to go out of whack.

Below are some simple tips a herbalist-cum-PH.D-in-natural-health shared on rebalancing your hormones.

• Get enough sleep and daily exercise (in line with traditional wisdom).
• Eat a high fiber diet, since the fiber can keep unhealthy estrogen from accumulating in your body and creating imbalances.
• Consume organic foods that are free of pesticides and hormones as much as possible.
• Load up on cruciferous vegetables (eg. cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, bok choy) as they help the body detoxify, support healthy hormonal functions and prevent cancer.
• Include seaweed into your diet as it can help relief vaginal dryness and hot flashes, prevent osteoporosis, as well as protect your body from environmental disruptions to hormonal imbalances.
• Consume foods that are rich in phytoestrogens (eg. tumeric, thyme, sorrel, red clover), as these estrogen-like substances prevent excessive estrogens from accumulating in the body.
• Make use of wild yam internally and topically if you are low in progesterone, as it is a natural substitute for the hormone.

Read more about how you can correct your hormonal imbalance.

Cindy L. TJOL is trained in Psychology, Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. She has several years of experience writing on natural health on the internet. Follow her on her blog and read her other articles at Insights On Health.com.