What are the benefits of eating cyclically?
Being a woman we truly have the power to achieve so much on our terms. When we decide to tap into the innate wisdom of the female body- our hormonal superpowers. Have you ever wondered why we wake up feeling differently daily maybe weekly throughout your cycle? By the way this is a pretty real experience, for me included. So how does that work Michelle? What are the benefits of eating cyclically? Well hear me out my friend. Your hormone levels rise and fall throughout the month, I like to call it the monthly hormonal dance. Meaning no day is ever the same really. If we really think about this for a minute.. Do you think now it kinda makes sense to support our bodies throughout each phase with nutrients from food to support those shifts?
How do I eat to balance hormones for weight loss?
If we think about the 4 phases, what is happening, what do you we need to support? Perhaps we want to help balance oestrogen and progesterone out during the middle of our cycle when hormones are their highest? One thing we may do is add lots of fermented and high fibre foods to ensure our gut and liver is detoxifying and eliminating old hormones. Include foods high in zinc and B6 to support progesterone production. Did you know we can get oestrogen from food but we cannot get progesterone from food. Bottom line is we need to include key nutrients to help and support progesterone. Addressing some stressors in our life may be necessary as may be negatively impacting our hormones.
The result of balanced hormones
To be honest this shows up very differently for women. You are as individual and unique as your cycle so those breadcrumbs may show up very differently in your sister or best friend. What are the benefits of eating cyclically? A few common symptoms of unbalanced hormones.
- Maybe you experience sore breast around ovulation or menstrual cycle.
- Ever experienced a strange early or late periods.
- You notice Belly fat that increases the more exercise you do.
- Don’t get me started on hip and back fat increasing.
- Problems getting pregnant.
- My own experience of recurrent miscarriages.
- Feeling low moods or depression.
- Monthly bloating & fluid retention.
Which phase would benefit most from this recipe?
This weeks recipe can be adapted to any stage of your cycle by swapping some ingredients around. I love to add this recipe in mid cycle during the follicular and ovulatory phase. Lamb is a great source of lean protein and zinc, which we need for progesterone production during the second half of your cycle. Cauliflower, a cruciferous vegetable supports the liver and supports detoxifying old hormones such as oestrogen. This ensures we have balanced levels of progesterone and oestrogen. Pomegranate can help boost fertility in women by increasing blood flow to the uterus and thickening the uterine lining. It is also a rich source of Vitamin C, B6 needed for progesterone production( Chickpeas are also a great source) and magnesium(Natures tranquiliser).
Magnificent creatures
So ladies we are truly moving on from the days of starving ourselves for weight loss and hormones balancing goals. Focusing on Nourishment not deprivation. Focusing on what you can add to your daily meals and not about what you have to give up.
Roast Lamb with rose harissa chickpeas & spiced pomegranate cauliflower.
Ingredients
- Medium size rump of Lamb.
- Half a head of Cauliflower.
- A small pomegranate.
- Handful of cherry tomatoes.
- Half a tin of chickpeas
- 2 tablespoons of rose harissa paste.
- Half teaspoon of cumin seeds & ground cumin.
- 1 teaspoon of cinnamon.
- Sprinkle of black sesame seeds.
- 1 tbl spoon of coconut oil.
- Table spoon of olive oil.
- Couple of sprigs of rosemary.
- Pinch of salt pepper.
Method
- Scour the lamb skin.
- Season well with a little oil, salt and pepper.
- Seal in the pan skin side down on a high heat.
- Place in oven for 30mins for medium rare-medium(If using a bigger cut increase the time)
- Next move onto the cauliflower.
- Cut into small chunks and place in a bowl.
- Mix all the spices, harissa paste and coconut oil and rub well together.
- In an oven tray place in oven for about 15 mins.
- Remove the cauliflower mix and add the chopped tomatoes and half tin of chickpeas.
- Back in oven for another 10 minutes until chickpeas and tomatoes are roasted down.
- Remove the lamb and leave to rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
- Serve up the cauliflower mix on the side of the lamb.
- Sprinkle the pomegranate & black sesame seeds over the dish.
Looking for a bit of science behind the menstrual cycle?
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-32647-0
I hope you enjoy Ladies and Happy international Women’s day for tomorrow.
xx Michelle