Hormones affect both women's and men's bodies in numerous ways beyond sexual function. Progesterone in particular is important for women, not just for reproduction. It is often noted as a natural antidepressant, and you may be contending with negative symptoms from not having high enough levels of this hormone. Diet is one factor in progesterone levels, but not the only one. See your doctor if you think your progesterone might be low.
Identification
Progesterone is a hormone usually linked to women, although men also have small amounts of it, too. Certified nurse midwife Saundra Koke McKenna notes in her book, "The Phytogenic Hormone Solution," that progesterone is the most significant female reproductive hormone, because it both enables a fertilized egg to remain viable through fetal development and also causes women to bleed when levels drop at the end of a cycle. Once a women reaches menopause, she no longer produces progesterone. Beyond reproduction, progesterone is also connected to mood, the conversion of fat to energy, thyroid function and the stabilization of blood sugar levels.
Diet
According to Dr. Michael Aziz in his book, "The Perfect 10 Diet," progesterone levels, even before menopause, have suffered due to the modern diet. Mostly, this has to do with excess sugar intake, along with the elimination of good fats such as the ones found in fish and flaxseed, omega-3 fatty acids. He also recommends eating cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, kale and Brussels spouts to help with metabolizing estrogen that can impact progesterone levels. Other foods he notes help with balancing progesterone include eggs, butter, poultry and whole milk.
Herbs
Another dietary approach to increasing progesterone levels is using herbal remedies. Two herbs purported to increase progesterone are chasteberry and Mexican yam, notes Dr. Steven Bratman in his book, "Collins Alternative Health Guide." Unfortunately, scientific evidence does not yet support that these treatments increase progesterone. Before consuming herbs on a consistent basis, check with your doctor, since they may interfere with other medication or conditions.
Considerations
Low progesterone levels affect a variety of bodily functions and could be causing other seemingly unrelated symptoms. See your doctor if you think you may be low in progesterone. The risk of several cancers, including breast, increase significantly with low progesterone levels. Synthetic progesterone may be necessary to balance hormones. Also, if you are on birth control, it may not be safe to eat foods that raise progesterone levels.
References
- "The Phytogenic Hormone Solution"; Saundra Koke McKenna, CNM; 2002
- "The Perfect 10 Diet"; Michael Aziz, M.D.; 2010
- "Collins Alternative Health Guide"; Steven Bratman, M.D.; 2007
