Wrecking Hormones: 10 Foods You Should Avoid At All Costs

Hormone balance is crucial for normal body functions. But sometimes, our lifestyle choices can mess up the chemicals. Today, we’ll go over some BAD foods that cause hormonal imbalance.

Christmas is just around the corner. All you can think of right now are the warm punch and the mouthwatering candies, desserts, and holiday delicacies.

I get it. You’ve waited for a looooong time — and let’s be honest, YOU kinda deserve it this year. 

However, in the spirit of the holidays, don’t forget that by binge-eating your favorite treats, there can be some heavy health risks.

While it may seem like harmless fun, many foods internally wreak havoc on female hormone balance. They can seriously damage your endocrine system, and lead to weight gain or…. awkward mood swings.

Hence, to prevent these nightmares, it’s important to know the 411 on the most problematic foods for your hormone health.

What is Hormone Imbalance?

Before we dive into the foods that affect hormone growth in females, you should first know why it’s a huge problem.

Hormones are chemical messengers that keep your body working properly. You have different substances like these, circulating from organ to organ, ensuring everything’s A-okay. 👌

One of the most common hormones for balancing your blood sugar levels is insulin.

If you begin eating foods that are bad for insulin production, chances are you might become prediabetic or worse, notice symptoms of diabetes type 2.

Read More: 14 Shocking Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes in Women

Similarly, PCOS is a female hormone imbalance condition that affects reproductive wellbeing. You may notice irregular periods, excess facial hair, and even put on extra pounds without realizing it.

Another hormone problem is hypo- or hyperthyroidism. It’s caused by an imbalance of thyroid hormone and can have devastating effects on your body.

In short, to avoid chemical imbalance you should pay close attention to your diet, especially during holidays.

We can get lost in the jolly mood and eat awful stuff. But the truth is that consuming bad foods for hormones can have long-lasting consequences on your health.

Worst Foods that Cause Hormonal Imbalance

Here’s a list of 10 foods to avoid that cause hormonal chaos in women.

1. Refined Flour (White Flour)

If you have PCOS or diabetes, refined flour is a food that triggers hormone imbalance.

Research shows that refined flour can increase insulin hormone to dangerous levels, which is one of the main hormone imbalance issues in PCOS.

White flour is used in a variety of cuisines, including pastries, cakes, bread, and even pasta. It’s made by removing the edible, fiber-rich husk from the grain, and only processing the inner seed. So when compared to unrefined flour, white flour is 80% less rich in dietary fiber.

Naturally, you’d want to fill up more on such foods because only a few helpings aren’t enough to curb your appetite. 

And as a result, you’ll gain more weight, all thanks to the inevitable midnight snacking — while watching your favorite Christmas movies, of course!

💚 Health Tip

Instead, you might want to switch to processed chickpea flour products. They’re a much healthier option, particularly if you’re worried about weight gain. Chickpea/pulse flour is more nutritious and fulfilling for the appetite.

2. High-Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)

Another food that messes up female hormones is a sweet poison called corn syrup. It’s one of the main ingredients in sodas, juices, peanut butter, artificially sweetened yogurts, and even some sauces and salad dressings.

But why is it toxic to hormones?

HFCS is obtained from corn starch, a type of long-chain glucose. After processing and breaking this compound, you get corn syrup. 

According to a 2009 study, foods containing added fructose sugar create fat deposits around the liver and stomach and lead to severe obesity. It’s also known to disturb your insulin hormone levels.

Apart from that, HFCS is linked to low dopamine hormone, which causes binge-eating habits — otherwise known as eating disorders. 

Needless to say, if you’re worried about a spike in glucose levels, or have been warned against eating the sweet stuff, everything with HFCS counts as the worst foods that cause hormonal imbalance.

Hence, HFCS is one of the most important foods to avoid for hormonal imbalance.

3. Red Meat Burgers

Also among the worst foods for hormonal imbalance in women are red meat burgers. 

You might already know red meat is connected to an increased risk of diabetes, cancers, obesity, and heart diseases. 

But did you know it also contains loads of estrogen?

If your body has excess estrogen, you may experience severe headaches, moodiness, and low sex drive. 

Make sure you avoid greasy red meat burgers too often and curb your cravings through healthier options.

💚 Health Tip

One good way to consume red meat as food for hormone balance is by considering it as a side dish, rather than the main course meal. For example, bits and pieces in salads or pasta.

4. Candies & Gummy Treats

Can’t have an endocrine disruptor foods list without adding candies!

After a trip down memory lane, or having a stressful “discussion” with your fam, your heart might nudge you to load up on candies.

But it would be a BAD move for your body. 

Firstly, high amounts of sugar in candies increase estrogen and testosterone, the primary female and male hormones in your body. A spike in testosterone hormone can lead to irregular periods, coarse hair growth on the face, acne, and eventually cause weight gain.

On the other hand, high estrogen hormone levels are dangerous if you’re 40+ years. Menopausal women with increased estrogen are at risk of sleeplessness and breast cancer.

Read More: Best Foods to Boost Estrogen Levels

Besides being filled with refined sugar, gummy candies also contain gluten.

Gluten intolerance (Celiac disease) is currently one of the biggest women’s health problems affecting over 50% of the female population globally. If you have this condition, be wary of gummy candies or jellies. 

Binge-eating chocolate is also harmful to your skin and is a known cause of acne. So if you’re tired of pimples popping right up before your Christmas pics, make sure you avoid eating foods that cause hormonal imbalance or acne.

5. Alcohol

Well, it ain’t a holiday without drinking!

But since it’s among the worst foods that cause hormonal imbalance, you might want to be cautious about HOW much you’re drinking.

Studies show that heavy drinking is associated with depression and severe sleep problems in women.

Not to mention, alcohol leads to cortisol or stress hormone secretion. As “worry” increases, your insulin levels may shoot up and chaos ensues.

Hence, copious drinking is one of the root causes of hormonal imbalance in females.

6. French Fries

Yet another mouthwatering but terrible food that affects hormones is french fries. I know — breaks my heart just saying the name!

Do you often get real moody all of a sudden, without any prominent reason? Even when you’re nowhere near PMS?

Could be because of your favorite french fries snacking Every. Single. Day!

French fries are addicting, like a drug. The excess carbs raise the sugar levels which gives you the illusion of being happy and content.

But it’s all momentary. As soon as the sugar levels go back to normal, you feel irritated and super angry.

Additionally, greasy fried potatoes lead to fat deposits around the liver and adjacent organs and result in quick weight gain. This can be alarming, especially if you’re already fighting female hormone imbalances such as PCOS or menstrual issues.

💚 Health Tip

You can switch from oily to baked or boiled potatoes. They’re a much healthier and more fulfilling option.

7. Processed Meat

Meat is a vital food source of Vitamin B12, proteins, and many fats. If you’re physically active or involved in manual labor, you might want to add more meat to your diet. 

Health experts also recommend eating various kinds of meat to beat iron deficiency anemia.

So can it be among the bad foods that cause hormonal imbalance? 

Science shows that processed meat can have adverse effects on women’s health.

For example, Harvard researchers found a 19% higher risk of type 2 diabetes in people who eat processed meat often. In other words, this food causes insulin hormone imbalance.

Additionally, processed meat is also bad for the female reproductive hormone balance ecosystem. 

A 2014 study found links between processed meat consumption, irregular menstrual cycles, dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, and infertility.

If you’ve been trying to get pregnant naturally but suspect infertility issues, avoid eating such foods for hormone balance.

8. Dairy Products

Most delicious holiday cuisines contain dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt. And although there are certain benefits to having dairy, eating a lot of these foods can lead to excess female hormone growth.

The problem starts with packaged milk. Research shows that besides having cancer-causing compounds, processed cow or goat milk contains various hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. 

So if you start having products made of dairy or cow-milk in huge amounts, you might get a CRAZY high level of sex hormones in your body. 

Because of it, you might become too moody, experience acne, become prone to diabetes, and even have irregular menstrual cycles or fertility problems. 

In short, you might want to pay attention to your dairy product intake, as it’s one of the riskiest foods for hormone balance.

Read More: Must-Follow Tips to Prevent Cancer

9. Coffee

We can’t complete this list of foods that cause hormonal imbalance without considering coffee!

Yes, you might NEED it to stay awake and keep functioning like a “sane” person. But overdosing on coffee is like ingesting poison.

Women who are addicted to caffeine and have more than 3 cups per day, experience miscarriages, and have trouble conceiving.

It’s also known to increase the stress hormone called cortisol, which makes you irritated and frustrated, and disrupts your sleep-wake cycle. 

Additionally, drinking high amounts of coffee will also decrease your body’s ability to absorb essential nutrients from foods. This results in serious nutritional deficiencies.

So when you’re craving for an extra cup or two during the holiday season, remember that coffee can be a dreadful food for improper hormone growth.

Read More: How Much Protein Do Women Really Need Daily?

10. Green Vegetables

Seems unlikely, right?

But it’s true. While beautiful fresh green veggies should always be at the top of your daily food list, they can also result in a serious female hormone imbalance.

If you have iodine deficiency but consume many cruciferous vegetables like kale, spinach, etc. you might experience thyroid imbalances.

Plus, too many leafy greens can mess up your digestive juices and cause bloating or inflammation.

So keep in mind — moderation is the key!

The Bottomline

There you have it. A complete list of the top 10 worst foods that cause hormonal imbalance in women.

Best to avoid these foods during and after holidays, if you’re going through menopause, have infertility issues, or have been diagnosed with a hormone imbalance disorder.

What do you think? Have I missed any food that should definitely go on this list? What foods have you ditched to keep your hormones balanced?

Share your thoughts with us in the comments.

References:

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6209887/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3046043/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4345758/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6947726/
• https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/27/9/2108