The KInd Life Community Forum

Hi everyone,
I'm hoping to get some insight from all of you. My naturopath recently told me that my vegan diet could be contributing to the hormone imbalance issues that I'm having. She wants me to eat meat three times a day (organic grass-fed of course). Still, does this sound funky to anybody else? I haven't been able to find any info on the internet that would validate what she's said. Just curious if anybody has any experience with this. Thanks!

Meagan-

Before I tell you about my experience with hormone imbalance, I want to emphasize that everyone's hormone imbalance issues are from a unique cause or set of causes.

In my case, I had been taking birth control pills from age 14 (since I began menstruation) almost consistently until I was 19. This was a prescription from my family doctor because my first period just wouldn't end and it made me anemic. I had been omnivorous all my life, but became strictly vegan at 17 years old.

Now when I stopped taking the pill, I began experiencing what doctors call "normal" menstrual pains: debilitating movement, shivering bones, and numbing limbs for 2 hours on the first day of my period every month. Just because it's common doesn't mean it's normal.

Instead of getting back on the pill, I took herbal supplements. 2-4 vitex (chaste tree berry) capsules daily. That kept it all away, but when I let up from the herbs it would all come back. Throughout the last year I have realized that a combination of mental/spiritual health, some sort of daily exercise even if it's just stretching or walking, organic herbs like vitex and dong quai, and an unprocessed whole foods plant based diet are the ultimate solution. I haven't even used my vitex in a few months and I've been virtually cramp-free :-)

Now, what your Naturopath mentioned about having you eat meat at every meal: Here's the scoop on nutrition. Whatever a person eats -- plant, animal meat, or animal derived -- affects your hormones. Hormones are used to digest your food, tell you when you're full, etc. Naturally, our bodies' hormone levels do reflect the hormones and chemical compounds within the meat or plants we consume. So yes, eating organic free-range grass-fed meats are WAY better than conventional... However, only YOUR body can tell you if you should be eating meat at all.

Reach out if you have any questions or would like assistance in finding what your best solution for this is.

In health,

-Gabrielle

Hi Meagan,

Am studying to be a naturopath and the text books seem to lean towards a low carb organic meat diet, ughhh. I disagree. There are many reasons for hormonal issues.
SOY can cause massive hormonal disruptions. Half a glass a day can effect your cycle. Fermented soy is ok 1-2 times a week but soy milk and processed soy should be avoided.

What exactly where your symptoms for your period? I had heavy periods and cramping and would get depressed before my period but found that it dramatically improved doing the following:

I stopped drinking coffee and drank more water.
I increased my calcium using this product ( sorry couldn't find a better link) http://nadineleenutrition.com/1538/green-calcium-learn-more-win-some-for-yourself/ and paid attention to my iron levels.
I also started having 60g of rice protein ( so yummy) with my smoothie in the morning!

Milk thistle to cleanse the liver is also a good option.
Started taking primrose oil is also another option ( play with a few capsules a day until you see results).

I have also heard great things about vitex.

oh and check your iron levels! as that's normally the culprit in a vegan diet.

It can take up to 3- 6 months to see changes too.


IGNORE the meat suggestion!! it is not founded

goodluck