Have you ever been so hungry that you start getting moody and a little angry? Being hangry is one of the quickest ways to disrupt your hormones. (Hangry is a combination of hungry + angry!) and it’s actually real. This 2022 study shows what being hangry does to your hormones. Today I’m sharing why you feel hangry and what to do about it so you can balance your hormones naturally.
What Being Hangry Does To Your Hormones?
If you are not eating enough or are skipping meals entirely, the glucose in your blood starts to drop and then hormones cortisol and adrenaline start to pump out more to help rebalance your blood sugar.
Too much excess cortisol (your stress hormone) can create stress in our bodies which can make us feel moody or angry and the drop in blood sugar can make us feel tired and less focused.
When your blood sugar drops and your body starts pumping out excess cortisol and adrenaline you crave more sugar or caffeine, lose focus, feel tired and honestly more things start to aggravate you.
Over time this up and down roller coaster really starts to affect the quality of your sleep, your gut health and all of a sudden you have cramps, PMS, bloating, irregular periods and wonder how you ended up here, well it all started by not eating in a way that supports your hormones.
As we start this new year I really encourage you to take a closer look at your plate, are you eating enough! Most of the time we aren’t eating enough protein, fiber or healthy fats. Eating to support your hormones is the first step to balancing your hormones naturally.
Eat So You Don’t Become Hangry
Once you already feel hangry, just know that your blood sugar is already low, being hangry is just the body’s way of letting us know. Ideally we want to eat in a way every day that supports your hormones so you don’t get to the point where you feel hangry. You will have more energy, better quality sleep, improved stress response and way less cravings when you eat in a way to support your hormones.
I grew up in the 80’s and 90’s in New Hampshire when the low-fat, no-fat fad was at its all time high. I never saw an avocado until I went to college, plus I was a vegetarian living on carbs so my blood sugar was constantly out of whack.
Now that I’m trained in women’s health and hormones I eat every single day as a way to keep my blood sugar balanced. Eating to support your blood sugar is the first step you should take to support your hormones, food is the foundation for happy and healthy hormones.
How To Eat To Support Your Hormones
At every meal start with protein, at least 20-25 grams. This can include both plant and animal based protein, just make sure you are eating enough protein, it’s the building block of life you literally have protein in every cell of your body so don’t skimp on the protein. I suggest building your meals around protein.
Then you want to make sure you include lots of fiber, half of your plate should be fiber and carbs. Fruits and vegetables are carbohydrates. Include lots of veggies, beans, lentils, quinoa, nuts and seeds into your meals. Here is one of my favorite easy to make meals for either lunch or dinner.
After you have both protein and fiber on your plate, this is when you can add in some of your favorite healthy fats. Try to get a minimum of six tablespoons of healthy fat a day with my favorite avocado, or olive oil, salmon, avocado oil or ghee. There are a lot of different healthy fats and ways you can add in more healthy fats, but I love to roast or sauté veggies with ghee or olive oil and I always use olive oil as a salad dressing with fresh squeezed lemon.
If you feel the need for a snack, reach for protein. My favorite is hummus with veggies, trail mix or some of my protein balls. If you are craving something sweet, have some fruit, just always pair fruit with a protein to keep your blood sugar stable, like strawberries with cashews.
If you consistently eat every meal with a combination of protein, fiber/carbs, and healthy fats you will start to notice an increase in energy levels, less PMS including less mood swings and cramps and more regular periods. What I notice the most is the quality of my sleep, the more that my blood sugar is balanced throughout the day, the better quality sleep I have at night. I think this is a huge win-win, since I love to sleep and it took me years to train my body to get a solid night’s sleep and I will literally do anything it takes to get a solid night’s sleep! Just ask my hubby about my night routine and my sleep mask!
Next Steps
Need some additional support? I have an entire book of recipes to support your hormones for sale here for just $9.97. If you’d like some one-on-one support this year with your hormones, book a consultation call today via this link.
In the meantime, toss some nuts into your purse for those just in case moments when you feel your blood sugar drop before you get hangry!
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Medical Disclaimer
Information in this post and on this web site is provided for informational purposes only. The information is a result of practice experience and research by the author. This information is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. Do not use the information on this web site for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem.
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