FIND THE BALANCE

When it comes to looking after your hormone health, the right food choices can make all the difference

- KATE LOCKETT

Hormones have a far-reaching effect on our health, with chemical messengers such as oestrogen and progesterone able to affect our physical and mental well-being, while imbalances can lead to insulin resistance, depression and anxiety.

However, there are ways you can counter this, says nutritionist Pauline Cox (above), the founder of health food shop Sow & Arrow. "Blood sugar level spikes disrupt our hormones," she tells HELLO!. "The food choices you make on a daily basis have a huge impact."

On a mission to educate and empower women about the essential nutrients that can support their health, Pauline has written Hungry Woman: Eating for Good Health, Happiness and Hormones, a guide to hormones and the consequences of food choices. It features energy-boosting recipes, as well as addressing misinformation around superfoods and supplements.

Here, Pauline discusses how to get a handle on your hormones and help to future-proof your well-being.

Pauline, who is Hungry Woman aimed at?

"Women - but men understanding women's hormones is just as important. It's geared at girls as soon as they start to experience periods, through to post-menopausal women who are looking to protect their health, particularly from chronic diseases that can start to affect us more as we lose oestrogen."

How can we identify a hormonal imbalance?