5 Healing Plant-Based Foods Every Woman Should Eat in their Diet

Women’s health is an important issue. From birthing children to emotional wellbeing to menopause, women should prioritize their health so they can live a long, healthy and happy life.

Today, women are stressed with balancing work and home life. I seriously don’t know how modern-day moms do it. Throughout my training career I’ve heard everything under the sun, but most importantly, women are stressed. Stress affects our hormonal flow, which we all know women go through intense stages of fluctuating hormones.

Most people do not realize that food is medicine. In the US, we “see” food as a method to help us lose, gain or maintain weight. Once you shift your mindset to realize that food is medicine, you can appreciate and enjoy food that nature provides us.
 
Without further ado, these are five foods that every woman should include in their diet. WARNING: This will make you realize that nature is the wisest source on earth.
 
Pomegranate
Most people do not realize that both women and plants have a reproductive organ called the ovary. The only difference between pomegranates and women are that women disperse their “seed” internally where the plant releases its seed once consumed and then excreted by an animal. Why is this so important to women?
 
Research on pomegranate has skyrocketed over the years. Not only does the anatomical “open face” pomegranate and ovules look similar, but also the “bleeding” juice improves ovary and birth health.
 
In 2004, the Journal of Ethnopharmacology looked at rats whose ovaries were removed resulting in accelerated bone loss, lose of uterine weight and depression symptoms. All symptoms reversed when administered pomegranate extract.
 
Another study conducted the Washington University School of Medicine concluded “pomegranate juice reduces placental oxidative stress in vivo and in vitro while limiting stimulus-induced death of human trophoblasts in culture.
 
Walnuts
Brain health is essential in today’s chaos. Not only does the walnut look similar to the human brain, which is also encased in shell (like the human skull), the walnut provides adequate Omega-3 fatty acids that are beneficial to the brain. Walnuts also contain neuro-protective compounds including gallic acid, Vitamin E isomers, melatonin (needed for the circadian rhythm) and folate.

Studies have shown that walnut-rich diets also reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol.
 
Avocado
Isn’t it interesting that avocados take on a pear-shape that is well, similar to many women’s body type. Avocados are the “good” fat that many people promote as the ideal source of fat. Although it may seem that the old-school mentality that “fat makes you fat” is untrue.
 
In fact, research suggests that avocados support weight health. One avocado has the same nutrient and phytochemical density and availability as almonds, walnuts and pistachios with less than half of the calories. This is not to say to skip the nuts, but add avocado. Avocado research also suggests that those who eat these high-fat fruit have a higher HDL (good) cholesterol.
 
Flax Seed/Oil
Flax seed is used for reducing menopausal symptoms. Although beneficial, research suggests flax seed is beneficial to women with breast cancer. In 2013, the journal of Integrative Cancer Therapy printed observational data related to flax seed and breast cancer.

Women newly diagnosed with breast cancer who consumed flax seed experienced:
-Decreased hot flashes
-Increased cell death in tumors
-Decreased breast cancer proliferation
-Decreased HER2 expression
-Improved normalization of cells, mammography density and anti-invasive properties
-Improved mental health and a 32% chance of lower mortality

Broccoli
Broccoli is an all around versatile food that research proves to be beneficial for cancer health. Broccoli is a part of the cruciferous vegetables like kale, cabbage and cauliflower all of which contain glucoraphanin.
 
Research indicates that when animals eat glucoraphanin it transforms into “cancer-protective” compound, sulphoraphane, which activates enzymes and flushes it out the urine.
 
Want to hear more about broccoli and cancer health? This fantastic three-minute video talks about how broccoli can inhibit breast cancer stem cells. 

Broccoli is by far my favorite food so I am happy to share this insight from one of the best doctors out there! Isn't nature amazing? 

What other foods do you find beneficial for women's health? Please comment or contact us!
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