Tips for Healthy Living

We’ve partnered with Dr. Doug Husbands of Holistic Health Bay Area to bring you a new set of Tips for Healthy Living. Dr. Husbands is a functional medicine doctor, clinical nutritionist, anti-aging health practitioner and doctor of chiropractic. I appreciate that he encourages visiting the doctor to focus on staying healthy instead of only visiting when you’re sick. – Carmelo Sigona

Fruits & Vegetables: help balance your hormones

By Dr. Douglas Husbands

We all know fruits and vegetables are healthy for you, but did you know they help your hormones?  Below are some of the best helpers for balancing your hormones:

• Cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and kale, are all rich in indole-3-carbinol (I3C).  It is a naturally occurring substance that prevents the build-up of harmful estrogens and balances the production of protective estrogens. In addition, studies indicate that I3C, as well as its derivative, diindolylmethane (DIM), can be helpful for preventing development of prostate enlargement, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and influence estrogen metabolism to detoxify more harmful subfractions of estrogens.  Furthermore, I3C prevents the development of estrogen-enhanced cancers including breast, endometrial and cervical cancers according to many scientific studies, including a study published in the July 2003 issue of the Journal of Nutrition.

• Cherries, in particular the Montmorency and Balaton species, are high in the antioxidant hormone melatonin.  Both these species contain significant amounts of melatonin, but according to an article published in the October 2001 issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Montmorency cherries contain 6 times the amount of melatonin that Balanton cherries contain.  Research studies confirm that melatonin is readily absorbed by our body when taken by mouth.  Melatonin is not only an important powerful antioxidant for our brain, but it also regulates our being able to get restorative deep sleep.  It helps repair our brain during sleep.

Enjoy eating cherries and enjoying dishes with these cruciferous vegetables knowing they are also good for your hormones.

If you are interested in additional natural solutions to hormonal imbalance, check out my article featured in my newsletter this month.

About Dr. Doug:
Dr. Douglas Husbands is a Functional Medicine Doctor, Clinical Nutritionist, Anti-Aging Health Practitioner, and Doctor of Chiropractic.  As a health advocate and coach, he is dedicated to achieving optimal health through resolving the underlying disease processes through diet, nutrition and lifestyle modification.   To contact Dr. Doug, call 650-394-7470 or visit http://www.HolisticHealthBayArea.com

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