As a registered nutritionist, hormone specialist and founder of The Positive Method, I’ve met and helped hundreds of women feeling discomfort, overwhelm, infertility, frustration, helplessness and just longing to feel like themselves again.
I’ve also personally struggled with both PCOS & endometriosis. But I sit here now symptom-free, and in my clinic I help others to work with their hormones, not against them, to lose weight, boost energy, improve sleep and feel happier.
There are lots of ways to support your hormone health, but there’s one in particular that I swear by and have stuck to for over a decade now: vinegar.
Huh? Why vinegar?
Vinegar contains acetic acid, a molecule that can help with blood glucose regulation as it creates more storage space in your muscles for glucose and slows the breaking down of starch into glucose.
What’s blood sugar got to do with it?
Blood sugar regulation plays a huge role in our health – from everyday things like brain fog, energy, sweet cravings and fatigue to more troublesome issues such as weight gain, hormonal imbalance and risk of major disease.
Insulin helps you regulate your blood sugar, but over time, repeated glucose spikes can lead to a decreased sensitivity to that hormone, or insulin resistance. This condition is often accompanied by increased inflammation, which can disrupt the transportation system for your sex hormones, negatively affecting their balance and function. But the great news is, it’s highly responsive to diet and lifestyle changes.
Does it work at all ages?
The three principles of improving insulin resistance, inflammation and stress levels are the key to creating an environment where your hormones can flourish, at any age. So whether it’s your first period or you’re experiencing menopausal hot flushes, blood sugar regulation is key.
Okay, I’m sold. How much should I swallow?
I wouldn’t advise having more than a tablespoon at a time! Too much can cause damage to the oesophagus, so don’t overdo it.
Making homemade dressings with white wine vinegar (this vinegar has the highest acetic acid levels) or diluting a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with water right before a meal is a great trick to have up your sleeve.
Hannah’s debut book, Everything I Know About Hormones: Six Steps To Optimal Health & Happiness, is out on 1 May.
