The Hormone Reset Diet by Sara Gottfried Read Free Book Online

a small amount of frozen berries is a great alternative to soda or sugary juices.
    Unsweetened almond, coconut, or hemp milk. Use these milks for smoothies.
    Hot water with lemon and cayenne. You’ll be drinking hot water with cayenne daily, first thing in the morning, during your Hormone Reset. It will alkalinize your body, and you may be surprised to find that this morning ritual is enough to replace your usual morning cup o’ joe (or tea).
    Hydrosols. I love to drink hydrosols that combine small amounts of plant extract, at low concentrations, in sparkling water. I make my own by adding a few drops of essential oil, such as lavender, mint, or rose, to my water.
    Coconut kefir. Buy it online or make it yourself (see Resources). Coconut kefir is a nondairy combination of coconut water, a small amount of sugar (to feed the cultures), and a “starter” kit to inoculate with healthy bacteria.
    Herbal teas. Some of my favorites are ayurvedic teas. Choose from the large selection of herbal teas that help you with balancing your hormones or sleep. I love licorice tea. Aveda’s Comforting Tea is my preferred iced tea. I brew it double strength and serve it over ice. Hands down, my favorite hot tea is organic chocolate herbal tea. Search online or go to your local health food store. I like Tisano and Republic of Tea brands.

Final Word
    It’s easy to rush into things, but rushing doesn’t usually lead to changes that stick. It’s a more advanced practice to take things slowly and tethered to your intention. That’s what prep is all about. It’s about honoring your choice to create your personal Hormone Reset and making sure that you are preparing yourself for success. Now that you know how the Hormone Reset works—what to measure, what to buy, what to eat and not eat, what to do and not do—you’re prepared for the first reset. Remember, this is not a restrictive diet. We are going to address the root causes of why you can’t lose weight by correcting your hormonal misfires. It’s an innovative way to totally transform your body from the inside out. Let’s fix your broken metabolism and burn fat so you can get lean and healthy again, starting with Meatless, the three-day reset for estrogen!

PART TWO

The Seven Hormonal Resets

CHAPTER 3
Meatless
    ESTROGEN RESET: Days 1 to 3

    M y husband loves meat. He knows the ethical, environmental, and health arguments against it, but he adores red meat washed down with red wine. He’s not alone: according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, meat consumption is at an all-time high. In 2000, we ate 195 pounds per person, and that’s 57 pounds more than in the 1950s. 1 Even though I think of meat eaters as being mainly men—I imagine cavemen circling a wild animal they just hunted and caught—it’s fascinating to me how modern meat is the food that disturbs estrogen balance the most. Since women have far more estrogen than men, that means we’re more vulnerable to the effects of meat (and alcohol), which raises estrogen. Even if you’re not a meat eater, start with this reset so you can get your estrogen back into balance.
    Estrogen is the hormone primarily responsible for making us uniquely women, with breasts, hips, curves, and glossy locks; that is, we’re not simply small men. Yet there’s something freaky that happens when you’re female and you eat grain-fed, hormone-injected, superbug-infected meat: it slows down your digestion and may make you bloated or constipated (or both!); it raises your body’s estrogen levels; and it messes with your microbiome, the collective DNA ofthe microbes that live in your gut and elsewhere in your body. Here is the biological principle: while it’s true that meat has a higher fat content than other sources of protein, the bigger problem is
what’s hidden in the fat of most meats
you find at your grocery store. You are anciently hardwired by your own DNA and microbiome to eat mostly vegetables, nuts, seeds, the occasional