Hormones, Women and Diet

I’ve been exploring the relationship between hormones and diet for a long time.

Most recently, after developing a stress induced hypothyroid condition.  (Don’t underestimate the impact of stress folks!).

I love cooking and food as medicine is one of my hobbies. I am always experimenting with different foods and researching the benefits of particular foods and herbs for medicinal benefits.  Chinese Medicine has a rich source of information about the beneficial flavours and nature of specific foods.

With balancing hormones at the forefront of my mind, I came across this informative video by Dr Mao Shing Ni which I hope you will enjoy.

http://www.empowher.com/diet-amp-nutrition/content/which-healing-foods-help-balance-womans-hormones-dr-mao-video

I’ve added a little recipe which uses mung bean sprouts, one of my very favourite vegetables, full of nutritious goodness, and pumpkin, one of the best foods to nourish the spleen and digestive system. I hope you get the time to try it! 

Warm Pumpkin, Sesame and Sprout salad

Ingredients

1 small butternut pumpkin

1 red onion cut into quarters

1tblspn toasted sesame seeds

2 cups mung bean sprouts washed well

1 cup spinach

Dressing

1 tsp soya sauce or tamari

1 tsp grated ginger

1 tsp lemon

1tsp sesame oil

1. Remove the seeds from the pumpkin
2. Lay the seeds out on a oven bake sheet, drizzle with tamarin or soya sauce
3. Put in the oven on lower shelf and roast until lightly brown and dry.
4. Cut the pumpkin into 2 cm2 pieces and roast in the oven with the onion until soft.
5. Leave to cool for a few minutes
6. Mix the dressing ingredients, adjust to taste
7. Mix together the spinach and mung bean sprouts and place on a large plate
8. Break up the onion pieces and scatter over the top of the salad
9. Scatter the pumpkin over the salad
10. Pour over the dressing
11. Scatter the sesame seeds and the pumpkin seeds over the salad and its ready to serve.