But there’s something else that hasn’t been widely publicized: A properly executed ketogenic diet can help restore balance to out-of-whack female sex hormones. In my practice, I’ve also seen it mitigate weight gain, hot flashes, near-zero energy, low sex drive, bone loss, mood swings, and other troublesome symptoms associated with perimenopause, menopause, PMS, and post-menopause. Luckily, following a ketogenic diet makes your body more “insulin sensitive.” This means insulin is well-regulated, in balance, and used properly by your cells. A study published in 2005 in the Annals of Internal Medicine showed a ketogenic diet increased insulin sensitivity1 by 75 percent in obese people with diabetes. While studies have yet to be conducted on the general population, the results are still promising. When you’re insulin sensitive, all sorts of metabolic miracles happen. You stay slim and get fit more easily; you lower your risk of cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia; you tend to not have hot flashes or night sweats; and you rebuild your bone health so that you’re less at risk for frailty and osteoporosis. Cravings become a distant memory, and you feel and look healthy and energized. Another cause of estrogen dominance is exposure to estrogens in the environment. These are toxic forms of estrogen that not only worsen PMS symptoms, but they are through to increase the risk of breast cancer, endometriosis, fertility struggles, and autoimmune diseases. If you opt for a primarily plant-based keto diet, you’re encouraged to eat foods that detoxify these nasty estrogens like veggies such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and greens and delicious herbs and spices like oregano, thyme, rosemary, sage, and turmeric. To combat this, enjoy all those low-carbohydrate vegetables you typically eat on a ketogenic diet (plenty of green leafy vegetables, parsley, kale, beet greens, broccoli, cauliflower, and so forth). They may help normalize cortisol, support your adrenal glands, and improve your natural progesterone levels. The keto diet isn’t for everyone, but for a lot of women in my practice it’s been a game-changer for hormonal imbalance and hormone-related symptoms. If you’re suffering or just not feeling your best, the keto diet is definitely worth a try!
