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3 Flavorful Drink Recipes To Help Balance Thyroid, Adrenal & Reproductive Hormone Function

Author:

William Cole, IFMCP, DNM, D.C.

March 26, 2020

Functional Medicine Practitioner

By William Cole, IFMCP, DNM, D.C.

Functional Medicine Practitioner

Will Cole, IFMCP, DNM, D.C., is a leading functional medicine practitioner with a certification in natural medicine and a doctor of chiropractic degree.

Photo by Stocksy

March 26, 2020

As a functional medicine practitioner with clients from around the world, hormone problems are some of the most common things that I see. When there is hormone imbalance, problems occur, to say the least. Your mood, energy, digestion, and brain can all struggle when you have hormonal imbalances. (Be sure to check out our full guide to hormones and how you can balance them naturally)

The good news? Using food as medicine, you can help keep your hormones in check. Here are three of my favorite drinks to use for hormone imbalances: one for thyroid, adrenal, and reproductive hormone health. Drink up!

For your thyroid.

Weight gain, digestive problems, losing your hair (including, strangely, the outer third of your eyebrows), brain fog, and depression are some of the common symptoms that I see in people suffering from underlying thyroid problems.

Here's a yummy smoothie I designed for to help with thyroid health:

Thyroid Health Smoothie

Ingredients:

1 cup full-fat coconut milk
1 scoop collagen protein
1 tablespoon extra-virgin coconut oil
1 cup mixed greens
2 Brazil nuts
1 avocado
1 stick celery
2 tablespoons dulse flakes
1 tablespoon maca powder
1 cup organic frozen berries

Preparation: Blend all ingredients in blender.

What can it do for me?

To make healthy hormones you need healthy fats, so bring on the coconut milk, oil, and avocados. Green leafy vegetables are beneficial for healthy methylation, which is also needed for healthy hormones!

Brazil nuts are jam-packed with selenium, which your body uses to make the enzyme (5' deiodinase) to convert your inactive thyroid hormone T4 into the active T3 1. Seaweeds like dulse flakes are rich in iodine, which has been shown help thyroid disorders 2. Maca powder can stabilize your hormone levels, and celery is a great for supporting your gut, which is also needed for optimal thyroid levels.

For your reproductive hormones.

If you have a low sex drive, struggle with depression, anxiety, and weight gain, you shouldn't rule out a reproductive hormone imbalance. The delicate balance of the estrogen isomers (E1, E2, E3) and their balance with progesterone and testosterone 3 is needed for you to feel and look your best.

Here is a warm elixir that can help balance those hormones:

Reproductive Hormone Health Drink

Ingredients

2 cups full-fat coconut milk
1 teaspoon cacao powder
1 teaspoon shilajit powder
1 teaspoon mucuna pruriens powder
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon raw honey

Preparation: Blend ingredients well in a blender. Pour into saucepan and heat for 3 to 5 minutes over medium heat until warm.

What can it do for me?

In addition to the hormone-building healthy fats of coconut milk, cacao, shilajit, and mucuna pruriens have all been traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine to balance sex hormones and serve as potent aphrodisiacs 4. Enjoy!

For your adrenals.

If you are exhausted and irritable, if you get an afternoon slump in energy but often get a "second wind" at night and sleep poorly, you might want to check the state of your brain and adrenal connection (HPA axis). Although adrenal fatigue is not medically diagnosed, many doctors and healthcare providers routinely treat the symptoms.

When your brain and adrenal glands aren't communicating well, your cortisol levels might be either too high, too low, or acting like a roller coaster throughout the day.

If this feels familiar, try this herbal iced tea that can help you feel more zen (after speaking with a doctor to help mitigate your symptoms, of course).

Refreshing Adrenal Herbal Iced Tea

Ingredients

1 teaspoon ashwagandha powder
1 teaspoon rhodiola powder
1 teaspoon holy basil powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Preparation: Pour 1 to 2 cups of hot water over herbs. Let steep for 15 minutes. Pour over ice.

What can it do for me?

Cinnamon has anti-inflammatory properties, which can be beneficial for your adrenals (as chronic inflammation is thought to contribute to adrenal fatigue). Ashwagandha, rhodiola, and holy basil are also adaptogens routinely used in Ayurvedic medicine to help balance cortisol and support your brain-adrenal (HPA) axis.

How to make the most of these superfood drinks.

You can give your body the best foods in the world, but if your day is filled with stress, you can sabotage all your efforts at hormone health. Amplify these three drinks by creating a ritual of serenity around drinking them. Find a quiet time in your day, maybe before your day starts in the morning or in the evening when you get home. Create a silent space while you sip on these nourishing beverages.

By bringing mindfulness into this ritual, you can better nourish your soul as well as your body. As always, it's best to consult a physician if you're experiencing symptoms from hormone imbalance, and let them know before you attempt any holistic remedies. That said, try all three of these drinks and see how they work for your body.

William Cole, IFMCP, DNM, D.C.

Will Cole, IFMCP, DNM, D.C., is a leading functional medicine expert who consults people around the globe, starting one of the first functional medicine telehealth centers in the world. Named one of the top 50 functional and integrative doctors in the nation, Dr. Will Cole provides a functional medicine approach for thyroid issues, autoimmune conditions, hormonal imbalances, digestive disorders, and brain problems. He is the host of the popular The Art Of Being Well podcast and the New York Times bestselling author of Intuitive Fasting, Ketotarian,The Inflammation Spectrum, and Gut Feelings.