Progesterone deficiency in the body can be corrected with the help of proper diet and nutrition. Know more on progesterone deficiency diet in this article.
Progesterone is an important female hormone in the body. It is also produced in small quantities in males. In women, progesterone is produced by ovaries during the luteal phase of cycle. For healthy functioning of the body, the levels of estrogen and progesterone should be balanced. However, due to certain behavioral or external factors, the levels of estrogen dominate that of progesterone. Eventually, progesterone levels drop down to an alarming level.
Progesterone deficiency leads to many physiological as well as fertility problems. These levels are naturally low in menopausal women. However, these days, owing to unhealthy modern lifestyle, even women in their twenties and thirties suffer from this deficiency. Here is how a healthy diet can help treat this condition.
Diet to Increase Progesterone Levels
As progesterone is required for proper ovulation and implantation of the fertilized egg, it is a must that levels of progesterone be brought within normal limits. Natural progesterone cream is often considered as one option of treating the deficiency. However, above all, one can benefit a great deal from a diet specifically formulated for overcoming deficiency of progesterone. Here are some highlights of such a diet.
- Eat foods rich in vitamin A, vitamin B6 and vitamin C that contribute to balancing the loss of progesterone in the body.
- Eat foods high in proteins. Make sure you get at least 70 to 100 gm proteins a day.
- Avoid combining protein with junk food. In fact, one must go off junk foods as far as possible.
- Eat fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, cereal, pulses etc.
- Stay away from sugary and starchy foods, simple carbohydrates, etc.
- Cut off your intake of caffeine beverages as well as alcohol.
- Dairy products should be consumed in moderation.
- Flaxseed oil has proved to be effective in overcoming this deficiency in menopausal women.
- Eat foods such as walnuts and soymilk, that are good sources of vitamin B6.
This deficiency can also be overcome by making positive changes to one’s lifestyle. Eliminating stress from your body helps a great deal in balancing your hormones. Also, performing moderate exercises everyday helps in maintaining proper ratio of estrogen-progesterone hormones.
Causes of Progesterone Deficiency
Progesterone deficiency is primarily caused due to over production of estrogen. Certain birth control pills cause the levels of estrogen in the body to increase drastically, thereby pushing progesterone levels down. Even progesterone supplements are not enough to bridge the gap between the levels of these two hormones. In fact, the synthetic progesterone or progestin is not similar to natural progesterone, hence, may do a lot harm to body than good.
Stress is another contributing factor to lower levels of progesterone in the body. Stress produces cortisol, a hormone which affects similar receptor cells as progesterone. Due to the competition between the two hormones, progesterone does not get properly absorbed in the body. Besides, certain environmental factors also contribute to increase in levels of estrogen.
False estrogen is present in many personal hygiene products as well as environmental pollutants. These chemicals may imitate the effects of estrogen in the body. Poor diet may also lead to the deficiency of progesterone due to increased levels of estrogen. Foods such as poultry, beef are fed estrogen for rapid development. This estrogen eventually enters your body causing the progesterone levels to drop.
Generally, a healthy diet and good lifestyle are a key to healthy living. Progesterone deficiency being a medical condition can be treated by making appropriate changes to your diet and lifestyle.
Disclaimer: This HerHaleness article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.
