8 HORMONE BALANCING DRINKS | herbs and foods to balance hormones and support liver health!

Hey y'all, welcome back to my channel. If you are new here, my name is Kayla and welcome. So today I'm sharing some of my favorite hormone balancing drink recipes that I keep on repeat and I've consumed these over the years to help balance and support my overall endocrine system. And if you're not familiar with my personal health journey, you can go read the full story on my blog, but essentially about 15 or so years ago in my early 20s, I had a slew of health issues and part of that was hormonal imbalances. Of course, over the years, I adopted more of a holistic natural lifestyle and part of that was including certain herbs and drinks and foods into my diet that support your endocrine system and help to naturally balance your hormones. So these are drinks, like I said, that I've consumed over the years and that worked for me. And many of today's drink recipes are also anti-inflammatory and great for your liver health, which is super important because the health of your liver is directly connected to your hormone health. So you wanna make sure that your liver is functioning at its best as well. Now, keep in mind, the endocrine system is very complex and it consists of multiple organs and glands, including your adrenals, thyroid, pituitary, ovaries, et cetera. So there's no one-size-fits-all approach or miracle drink that's just gonna make you better overnight. Balancing your hormones definitely requires a lifestyle change and a multifaceted approach and most times it's different for each individual. However, there are certain foods and herbs that you can start to include that have been shown to help bring balance to and support your overall endocrine system. Of course, I have more information about the health benefits of each drink recipe listed over on the blog post and I've also linked all the studies over there as well in case you wanna dig a little bit more into the research. And as always, you can find all of today's hormone balancing drink recipes over on the blog post where you can save them and print them off. I'm gonna have that linked for y'all in the description box below. But let's jump right in with the first drink recipe, which is green tea or matcha. Matcha has a slew of health benefits thanks to its high antioxidant content, but you wanna make sure that you're using a high-quality matcha, which is why I'm excited to be partnering with Peak for this portion of the video. Their organic, ceremonial-grade Sun Goddess Matcha is quadruple-screened for toxins and it's one of the highest-quality matcha powders I've personally ever tried and I feel like I've tried a lot of different brands at this point. And you can actually see the difference in quality when you put it next to other matcha powders. Just look how much deeper and more vibrant the color is. And that's because it's richer in chlorophyll, which has so many health benefits for your hormones, skin, immune system, and it may help to reduce inflammation and aid in overall detox of the body. And I would've considered the other matcha powder high-quality before because it's organic and it's from another reputable brand, but you can clearly tell the difference when you put them side-by-side, and not just the look of it, but the taste as well. With the Peak matcha, it's so smooth and it has no grassy taste. But in terms of hormone balance, when it comes to green tea and matcha, some studies have shown that it may help to improve insulin sensitivity and blood sugar levels, and it may also help to lower testosterone levels in women with PCOS. Of course, like I said earlier, I'm gonna have all the studies linked on the blog post in case you wanna dig a little bit more into the research. With Peak's matcha, it comes in individual single-serve packets or loose powder. And to whip up a quick matcha latte, it's as simple as adding the matcha to a glass along with six ounces of hot water. Now, of course, you can mix it up the traditional way, but I find the quickest and easiest way to do it is just to mix it up with a frother, then transfer it to a mug, then top it off with some warm milk or creamer. I'm gonna use almond milk today, but any type of milk or creamer works just fine. And if you wanna add sweetener to it, like raw honey, you can do that as well. And in just a few minutes, you'll have yourself the most delicious and smoothest matcha latte you'll ever try. You can also make an iced matcha latte. Just add a packet of the Peak matcha, which is about one teaspoon's worth, to six ounces of room-temperature water. Blend it with a frother until it's fully combined. Pour it over some ice with your favorite type of milk. And just like that, it's ready to go. Now, the biggest reason I love matcha when it comes to balancing hormones is because it's a great alternative to coffee if you're trying to reduce your overall caffeine intake. We know that too much caffeine over time, especially when combined with a highly stressful lifestyle, it can eventually weaken and wear out the adrenal glands, leading to adrenal fatigue or HPA axis dysfunction. And while matcha does contain some caffeine, it also contains the amino acid L-theanine, which promotes calmness and relaxation. So it doesn't trigger the nervous system as much as coffee and energy drinks do. So if you're experiencing imbalanced cortisol levels or showing signs of weakened, imbalanced adrenal glands, try eliminating coffee and other caffeinated drinks for at least a month to give your adrenal glands a break. And if you feel like you do need that extra energy boost, opt for a matcha latte or a green tea instead. And Peak is actually offering all of my subscribers a really good bundle deal right now. For a limited time, you'll get 15% off their super popular Sun Goddess Matcha, as well as their other most popular drink, which is the BT Fountain. This is their Electrolyte Beauty Drink that contains clinically proven ceramides, which may help to improve your skin's elasticity. And it also contains hyaluronic acid to promote hydration on a cellular level to help you achieve that glowing, gorgeous, hydrated skin. I've been adding these little packets to my water every morning for the past, probably month or so, and I can definitely tell a difference with how hydrated and plump my skin feels. So in this special bundle deal, not only will you get a month's supply of their popular Sun Goddess Matcha, as well as their popular BT Fountain drink, you will also get two free bonus gifts. And like I said, this is just for my subscribers for a limited time, but you will get the glass beaker and you will get a rechargeable frother. I love this thing. So be sure to click the link in the description box below, and it's gonna take you to a private page where you can access this special deal. All right, moving on to my next hormone balancing drink recipe. It's what I call my Adrenal Support Smoothie. And I love drinking this one after a workout or if I need an afternoon boost. So starting out, we're gonna add one orange, and this is gonna ensure that we get in plenty of vitamin C. Vitamin C is essential for the health of your adrenal glands and this is because it's used in the production of adrenal hormones, specifically cortisol, your stress hormone. Now your adrenals do store vitamin C, but because we face stressors pretty much every day of our lives, it's important that you're constantly replenishing those vitamin C stores, so that way your adrenals can function at their best. Next, I'm adding in one frozen banana to make the smoothie extra creamy. If you find that the banana makes you feel worse because of the potassium or maybe you just don't like bananas, feel free to swap it out with frozen mango. Now one very important part of balancing your hormones and improving cortisol levels, which will ultimately support the health of your adrenals, is to maintain steady blood sugar levels. And one of the best ways to do that is to make sure you're including lots of healthy fats, protein, and fiber. So I'm adding in two tablespoons of ground flax seeds, as well as two tablespoons of hemp seeds. And since inflammation usually goes hand-in-hand with adrenal imbalances, I like to add about an inch of turmeric to get in all those anti-inflammatory properties. Plus, it's just an all-around superfood to help boost immunity and overall wellness. Don't forget to add in a pinch of black pepper to help maximize the absorption of the turmeric. I'm also adding half a teaspoon of ashwagandha powder. This adaptogenic herb can be very beneficial when it comes to normalizing cortisol levels. Many people also find that ashwagandha gives them a boost in energy levels and lessens their brain fog. Now if you're not a fan of ashwagandha, there are other adaptogens that can be very beneficial for your adrenals, including rhodiola, holy basil, and schisandra. To boost the protein content in this smoothie, I'm adding in some collagen protein powder, but any type of high-quality protein powder will work. Half a teaspoon of vanilla extract for flavor, a pinch of Celtic sea salt for the minerals and electrolytes, which are super important for your adrenal health. And this is optional, but I'm also gonna add in one packet of the Peak BT Fountain for extra electrolytes and the anti-aging benefits. Add in your favorite type of milk. I'm using unsweetened almond milk, and just blend it until it's extra smooth. But like I said earlier, I love having this smoothie if I need an extra boost of energy in the afternoon, but I don't want anything caffeinated. And you can actually prep this smoothie up to two to three days in advance. This next hormone-balancing drink is my Red Raspberry Leaf Iced Tea Refresher. And I must say, this one's probably my favorite in terms of flavor and the fact that you can prep a whole week's worth in advance. But red raspberry leaves are loaded with nutrients, antioxidants, and other beneficial compounds, and it's been used throughout history specifically for women's reproductive health. Now, most of the evidence is anecdotal and more studies definitely need to be done. You can read more about the benefits over on the blog post, but many women have reported that it's helped to regulate their monthly cycle, reduce PMS symptoms, and even improve their fertility. So to make it, I just add four cups of water to a saucepan over medium-high heat. And while I'm waiting for that to come to a light boil, I'm gonna go ahead and add half a cup of dried red raspberry leaves to a large glass bowl. And once the water is almost to the boiling point, pour it over the leaves and let it steep for about five to 15 minutes, depending on how bold you want the flavor to be. I usually steep it for about 12 minutes. While that's steeping, I'm gonna add a cup and a half of fresh raspberries to a large glass pitcher and gently muddle those to release the juice. But it's believed that red raspberry leaves contain a compound called fragrin, which can help to tone the uterus and strengthen the pelvic muscles. And this, in turn, may help to reduce overall PMS symptoms. Now, I do wanna point out that some pregnant women swear by drinking this tea the last few weeks of pregnancy to help strengthen the uterus, but you definitely don't wanna drink it in your first and second trimester. Some experts say not to drink it before 32 weeks, and some say not to drink it before 37 weeks. So of course, it's always important to consult with your doctor first if you're thinking about drinking this tea in your last trimester. Okay, once the tea is done steeping, strain the liquid into a pitcher, then add in half a cup of raw honey, or really any type of sweetener works, and a quarter cup of lemon juice. Give that a good stir until the honey is fully dissolved, and then top it off with four more cups of room temperature or cold water. I like to let it marinate in the fridge for at least an hour, and when you're ready to serve it, just pour it over some ice, and that's it. It is so tasty and refreshing, and I just love knowing that it's nourishing and benefiting all my lady parts. Another tea I love sipping on is spearmint tea. Not only is it delicious, but some studies have shown that spearmint may have antiandrogen effects, and help to lower elevated levels of free testosterone in women with PCOS. And even if you don't have PCOS, it's still very beneficial because it's high in antioxidants and very soothing to the digestive tract. To make it, just add one teaspoon of dried spearmint leaves to a mug or a tea press, along with eight ounces of hot water, and let it steep for about five to seven minutes. Once it's done, you can drink it as it is, but I like to add one teaspoon of raw honey, as well as some fresh lemon slices. But I love sipping on this tea after dinner. This next one is what I call my estrogen detox smoothie. If you're dealing with elevated estrogen levels or showing signs of estrogen dominance, this smoothie will be a great addition to your weekly routine. Now, this one is very fibrous, which is what we want, because fiber binds to estrogen after it's been metabolized by the liver and helps to move it to the intestinal tract to be eliminated from the body. So I'm starting out with one apple, and I'm leaving the skin on to get in that extra fiber. Ideally, you should be having a bowel movement at least one to two times per day, and this high-fiber smoothie will definitely help to get things moving. I'm also adding in one beet, and you do wanna remove the skin from the beet. But in addition to being high in fiber, beets are a superfood in their own right. They have so many health benefits, one of them being that it supports liver health, and since estrogen is metabolized by the liver, it's very important to support the overall health of your liver so that it can function at its best. To boost the anti-inflammatory properties, I'm gonna add about an inch of fresh ginger root. Ginger's also great for digestion, so it's gonna help to maximize the absorption of all the nutrients in this drink. I'm adding the juice from half of a lemon to boost the vitamin C content. And last, but definitely not least, I'm adding in three carrots. And I'm gonna keep the skin on because it contains extra fiber to help eliminate any excess estrogen. Add some water and ice, and then blend that until it's extra smooth. And again, it is very fibrous, but the flavor is delicious. You can also thin out the consistency by adding more liquid, and this one can also be prepped up to two to three days in advance. Another tea option that's great for your overall hormone health is roasted dandelion root tea. Dandelion root has been used for centuries in ancient medicine, primarily for its liver-benefiting properties. And as I said earlier, the health of your liver is directly connected to your hormone health because that's where a lot of your hormones are metabolized, including estrogen. So I'm just steeping one teabag with eight ounces of hot water, and I'm gonna steep it for about five to 10 minutes. But this tea is also high in antioxidants, and the polysaccharides found in dandelion root may be the reason it's so beneficial for your liver. Additionally, the bitter compounds found in this tea may help to increase bowel flow, and as a result, improve digestion. And one of my favorite ways to include dandelion root tea is in this cinnamon vanilla dandelion root latte. Y'all, this is hands down one of my all-time favorite caffeine-free coffee alternatives and it's super easy to make. In a saucepan over medium-high heat, add in one cup of water, half a teaspoon of maca powder. And maca is also an adaptogenic herb that may help to manage your body's stress response, similar to ashwagandha, and many also notice that it helps to improve their focus and energy levels. One fourth teaspoon of vanilla extract, one eighth teaspoon of cardamom, and one cinnamon stick. Whisk that together as it continues to heat through. And just as it begins to break into a light boil, turn off the heat and then add in one roasted dandelion root teabag. Cover it with a lid and let it steep for about 10 to 15 minutes. Once it's done, remove the teabag, turn up the heat, and let it heat back up to your desired temperature. And it is ready to serve. Just add your favorite creamer, and you can froth it up as well. But anytime I'm doing a caffeine detox to give my adrenals a break, this is my go-to morning beverage. The last hormone balancing drink is my liver support smoothie. And I know I've said it several times already, but it's so important to understand that your liver plays a big role when it comes to overall hormone balance. A fatty or sluggish liver is not gonna be able to function optimally. And as I stated earlier, part of the liver's job is to metabolize hormones. So we wanna make sure we're eating lots of foods that support liver health. First, I'm adding in half of an avocado for the healthy fats and fiber and to give the smoothie a creamier texture. Then add in half of an apple, as well as half of a frozen banana. One handful of spinach or kale. One third cup of fresh parsley. And parsley is packed with flavonoids, vitamin K, and vitamin C. One tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil, which is rich in vitamin E and antioxidants, two things that your liver loves. The juice from half of a lemon for the extra vitamin C. A dash of cinnamon for flavor. And these ingredients are optional, but I'm also adding in one inch of fresh ginger root to get in those anti-inflammatory properties. A scoop of protein powder. And one packet of the peak matcha powder for extra antioxidants and an energy boost. Add water to taste and blend it until it's extra smooth. The combination of healthy fats, fiber, and antioxidants in this smoothie are not only gonna nourish and support the liver, but with 13 grams of fiber in this drink, it's also gonna keep you regular and support your colon health. Well, all right, y'all, that is it for today's video. Hormone balancing drink recipes I keep on repeat to help support my endocrine system. Of course, don't forget, you can print off all of today's drink recipes over on the blog post. I'm gonna have that linked for y'all in the description box below. And don't forget to take advantage of this limited time bundle deal with Peak, just for my subscribers, like I said, where you get a month's supply of their popular matcha, as well as their BT Fountain, and the two free bonus gifts, which is this glass beaker and their rechargeable frother. So I'll have that special link listed for y'all below as well. Of course, if you enjoyed today's video and you want me to make more like it, be sure to give this video a thumbs up to let me know, and comment below if you give any of the drink recipes a try. Let me know how you like them. Y'all know I love to hear your feedback. And of course, you can always tag me over on Instagram in your food photos and your meal prep photos, and I will reshare those on my stories. But that's it for today, and I'll see y'all in the next video. Bye.