Estrogen & Progesterone

Let’s talk hormones 〰️✨

The menstrual cycle begins with the first day of the period and ends when the next period begins. For women, the leading hormones driving a healthy cycle are estrogen & progesterone. There are others as well, such as testosterone! 💪

Predominantly, estrogen drives the first part of our cycle and rises once the period ends up through ovulation time, which happens on about day 14. This is an important hormone in this part of the cycle— the first half AKA the follicular phase. This is when our body prepares & releases an egg that is ready to be fertilized, if conditions are right! (Again, this happens on about day 14) estrogen helps all of this run smoothly in the preparation of releasing an egg. FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) & LH (luteinizing hormone) also play a role to help ovulation along.

Once we pass ovulation, estrogen drops and we need progesterone to kick in! It helps build up your uterine lining to begin to nourish a potential fertilized egg. The second part of the cycle is called the luteal phase. 🌙

Now, estrogen does spike again during this phase, but progesterone really is the main player here. If there is no fertilized egg to nourish, progesterone drops and signals for menses to begin 〰️✨

Foods to support estrogen (first half of cycle!): flax, broccoli, sesame, cruciferous veggies & dried fruit

Foods to support progesterone (second half of cycle!): spinach, broccoli (again!), cauliflower, whole grain, beans