PMS, Painful Periods, PCOS?

Mood swings, anxiety, bloating, breast tenderness, heavy bleeding, cramps? Irregular cycles?

It’s common - but actually not normal - or necessary!

Hormonal Fluctuations: Natural, but Not Always Easy

Hormonal shifts throughout the menstrual cycle are completely natural—and they serve a purpose. They’re part of what makes the female body capable of ovulation, pregnancy, and so much more.

But these fluctuations also make women more sensitive to stress, energy deficits, and nutrient imbalances.

Why? Because hormone production demands significant cellular energy (ATP). If energy is low—or if key nutrients are missing—the body struggles to keep hormones balanced. This can lead to a cascade of symptoms that many women know all too well.

The Diet Dilemma

Here’s the catch: women are genetically more vulnerable to the negative effects of fasting and restrictive diets. And on top of that, many women tend to gravitate toward low-calorie, plant-based eating patterns that often lack the nutrients needed for healthy hormone function.

If nutrients are lacking, hormone production suffers. Specific nutrients are important for making progesterone, one of the body’s most protective hormones, and if levels are low, it comes with a variety of symptoms.

Why Progesterone Matters

Progesterone is like your hormonal best friend.

It calms the nervous system, stabilizes mood, supports metabolic health, and keeps inflammation in check. But without enough of the raw materials to make it, production drops—especially in the second half of the cycle.

The Estrogen Dilemma

Modern diets—high in grains, legumes, and seed oils—can tip the balance further by promoting estrogen. If the liver and gut aren't functioning well enough to break down and clear out excess estrogen, it builds up.

This becomes a problem when estrogen levels climb without enough progesterone to balance them out.

The result? Estrogen dominance. And it’s more than just an annoyance.

Signs Your Estrogen Is Out of Balance

• Irregular periods, PCOS symptoms

• Heavy bleeding

• Mood swings, anxiety

• Bloating

• Breast Tenderness

• Cramps (due to excess prostaglandins, which cause uterine contractions)

The Good News?

Your body wants balance—and it’s usually very responsive. When you start giving it bioavailable nutrients and enough energy to meet your hormonal demands, things can shift—often more quickly than you think.