Everything You Need to Know About the Hormone Diet

It is in your best interest to approach weight loss trends with a healthy dose of skepticism, particularly those that demand a significant adjustment to your typical eating habits and are stringent. Diets that force you to give up entire food groups or restrict the number of calories you consume are frequently counterproductive. In addition, your weight is not necessarily a reliable predictor of your health or the functioning of your hormones. A healthy lifestyle is comprised of a number of different components in addition to maintaining a healthy weight.

It is claimed that by making changes to your diet, the Hormone Diet can help reset your hormones, allowing you to become healthy while also assisting you in losing weight. But does it work, and can it be used without risk? In this article, we discuss the Hormones Diet and ask registered dietitians Mary Wirtz and Jana Mowrer for their thoughts on the program, including whether or not it is effective and the benefits and drawbacks associated with it.

Explain the Hormone Diet to Me Please.

A doctor of naturopathic medicine named Dr. Natasha Turner is responsible for writing the book that served as the inspiration for the hormone diet, which is a specific eating plan. The diet seeks to manage the variations in hormone levels that are common in women and can lead to weight gain in addition to other health problems.

The three-step diet plan is designed to be followed for a period of six weeks and claims to balance your hormones and correct changes in your hormone levels that can lead to negative health impacts. In addition to that, the plan provides directions for an exercise program, as well as detox procedures and supplement recommendations.

How Does the Hormone Diet Work to Help You Lose Weight?

The first phase of the program is a detox that lasts for two weeks and during which many food groups are avoided. Gluten, cow’s dairy, a variety of oils, peanuts, sugar, artificial sweeteners, red meat, citrus, alcohol, and caffeine are some of the foods that fall into this category. You are required to take supplements such as fish oil, anti-inflammatories, and probiotics during this part of the process.

In the second phase, you will gradually reintroduce some meals while keeping track of how your body reacts to each category of food. This phase is still very restrictive because it requires you to avoid meals that are considered to be “hormone inhibiting.” These foods include fish that may have high mercury levels, meat and coffee that are not organic, dried fruits like raisins and dates, peanuts, and high fructose corn syrup. Meat and coffee that are not organic may also be included in this category. During this time, you should avoid eating anything that has been processed, as well as meals that contain artificial sweeteners, nitrates, and refined grains.

The food from phase two is carried over into the third phase, which also includes increasing the amount of physical activity, particularly cardiovascular exercise and strength training.

Is It Safe to Follow the Hormone Diet?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests a rate of weight loss of one to two pounds per week, but they emphasize that this should come from a mix of adjustments in food and physical activity.

The Hormone Diet promises to lead to a weight loss of 12 pounds in the first two weeks of the program, which is an extremely rapid rate of weight loss in comparison to what is deemed healthy and sustainable. In addition, the weight reduction that occurs during phase one is solely attributable to the modifications made to the individual’s diet, as the activity component is not included until phase three.

It is highly likely that the majority of the weight loss experienced during the first phase is attributable to a reduction in water weight brought on by the elimination of grains and other meals. However, this is not a healthy or long-term method of weight loss, and you are likely to gain it all back after the initial phase is over or if you go back to your old eating habits.

“When an individual is aiming to accomplish (and maintain) long-term weight loss, this weight loss in two weeks can provide the foundation for unreasonable expectations of weight loss. In addition to this, it frequently plays a role in the cyclical nature of yo-yo dieting “warns Wirtz. Mowrer is in agreement: “The most discouraging aspect is the recommendation that you lose 12 pounds in two weeks. That is extremely severe and excessive. One to two pounds of weight loss every week is considered to be healthy weight decrease.”

The Advocates

“During the first six weeks of the program, there is an emphasis placed on foods that are whole and high in nutrients. It is in everyone’s best interest to get as far away as they can from foods that are highly processed, as well as refined sugars and high-fructose corn syrup “according to Mowrer.

“The “Hormone Diet” follows a pattern of eating that is similar to the Mediterranean Diet, which is high in fiber and low in saturated fat. The majority of the items that are included in this diet follow this pattern. This diet still incorporates foods such as beans and lentils, nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and unsaturated oils, all of which have been the subject of much research and are beneficial to one’s long-term health “says Wirtz

In addition, the Hormone Diet recommends that individuals abstain from consuming alcohol, fried foods, processed foods, artificial sweeteners, and high-saturated fat foods, all of which are typically associated with a lower likelihood of positive effects on one’s health. According to Wirtz, “as a dietitian, I recommend that most of my clients try to minimize the consumption of these items in order to get the greatest possible health outcomes.”

Mowrer suggests maintaining a ratio of 80:20, with 80% of one’s diet consisting of whole, nutrition-focused foods and 20% of one’s diet consisting of fun foods. “This program targets lifestyle issues that effect hormones such as sleep, hydration, stress, and other things. The majority of people have a lifestyle imbalance, and this program addresses those aspects. In addition to this, it promotes maintaining regular mealtimes. I think all of that is fantastic stuff, and it absolutely has an impact on the function of your hormones and your capacity to shed pounds “She continues.

The Detractors

“Unfortunately, there is no research-based data to back the claim that the Hormone Diet can improve sleep, provide an individual radiant skin, and healthy hair. This diet does have some worth, but only a very little amount. In addition, the program promises users would lose a total of 12 pounds in just two weeks, which is an unreasonable and unsustainable goal for the vast majority of people “Wirtz argues.

“Last but not least, adhering to the “Hormone Diet” can be a chore because it requires folks to prepare and cook the majority of their meals. This may not be a realistic goal for your way of life if you and your family consume a significant amount of pre-packaged and processed foods “says Wirtz.

On the other hand, if you have a genuine hormone imbalance, such as insulin, it will not be rectified within the span of six weeks that the Hormone Diet prescribes. “It takes at least three months for blood to cycle through the body. In addition, removing specific foods from the diet has not been proved to cure hormonal abnormalities. Instead, it’s the harmony of the foods you eat and the total amount of carbs you take in consistently. For instance, despite consuming a large quantity of nutritious fruits, a person can still have an insulin imbalance. On the other side, this diet does not allow citrus since it is said to help maintain hormonal balance, but I am not aware of any data to back that claim “explains Mowrer.

Another challenging aspect of this program is that participants are required to only consume organic meat and coffee. “Because of the high cost involved, many people do not have the financial resources necessary to fulfill this obligation. To what end? By eating traditional meats and maintaining a healthy diet, you can surely control hormone levels “says Mowrer.

The Key Point(s)

Before beginning a diet that promises to “correct” your hormones, you should first assess whether or not this could indeed be the root cause of your weight problem or other health concerns. According to Mowrer, the majority of people do not have a hormone imbalance; rather, they have an imbalance in their lifestyle. If you are concerned about an imbalance in your hormones, you should talk to your doctor about it rather than depending on fad diets, which can be harmful and restrict your diet in unhealthy ways. There is no need to cut out certain foods or adhere to elaborate diet programs; rather, for the greatest outcomes, consume a diet that is abundant in foods in their complete, unprocessed forms and engage in regular, sustained physical activity.