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Writer's pictureJahanara Monaf

Progesterone



With so much talk in modern society about oestrogen, we forget about progesterone, which is a female sex hormone. It’s produced mainly in the ovaries following ovulation each month. It’s a crucial part of the menstrual cycle and maintenance of pregnancy. Progesterone helps to regulate your cycle. But its main job is to get your uterus ready for pregnancy. After you ovulate each month, progesterone helps thicken the lining of the uterus to prepare for a fertilised egg. If there is no fertilised egg, progesterone levels drop and menstruation begins.


Low progesterone will cause abnormal uterine bleeding in women who are not pregnant. Irregular or absent periods will indicate poorly functioning ovaries and low progesterone.

If you are pregnant and your progesterone levels are too low, your uterus may not be able to carry the baby to term. During pregnancy, symptoms of low progesterone include spotting and miscarriage.


Symptoms of low progesterone are:

Headaches or migraines

mood changes, including anxiety or depression

Irregularities in your menstrual cycle

Weight gain

Decreased sex drive, mood swings, and depression

PMS, irregular menstrual cycle, heavy bleeding

Breast tenderness, fibrocystic breasts

Fibroids

Gallbladder problems


As progesterone is incredibly important for women of child bearing age, without it women cannot get through a safe and healthy pregnancy. There can be many difficulties getting and staying pregnant.


If you are low in progesterone, there are some natural ways to increase it as follows:


Almonds, brazil nuts, and cashews are particularly good sources of magnesium at around 82mg per ounce. Eat them as a snack or add them to your smoothies or salads for a healthy boost. Nuts are also a great source of fibre.


Dark chocolate to improve your magnesium levels. Make sure it’s real dark chocolate and not something with needlessly added sugar or other sweeteners. It also provides you with a nice dose of anti-oxidants to help you fight off disease.


Avocados to benefit from the 58 mg of magnesium gained from one medium avocado. They’re also a good way of getting a nice dose of B vitamins, potassium, and mono-unsaturated fats helpful to the heart.


Legumes are a variety of plant-based foods, from lentils to peas to your favourite beans. Serve them in soup or include them as a side with your lunch or dinner. It’s possible to get 120mg of magnesium from one serving of steamed black beans.


Try crunching on a slightly steamed carrots as a snack instead of something high in sugar and calories. You get as much as you would from drinking a glass of milk no matter how you prepare them.


Six ounces of salmon provides you with 1.6 mg of Vitamin B6, 94% of the amount recommended each day. Other fish high in concentrations of B6 include tuna, snapper, and mahi-mahi.

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