BINTO & Miso Coconut Roasted Cauliflower

FACT: I have yet to meet a woman who does not struggle with some kind of hormonal imbalance issue: irregular cycle, cramps, acne, weight gain/trouble losing weight, bloating, extreme "PMS", restless sleep or night sweats—you get the idea, and the list goes on and on. Even allergies can be related to hormonal issues! (1)

There are so many things that can disrupt our hormonal endocrine system—far more than birth control, which is certainly problematic. But STRESS is also a huge factor, as well as the countless phytoestrogens and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals that we encounter in our daily lives (2 & 3). (read: this isn't your fault, so no guilty feelings allowed please and thank you!).

Even more disturbing is how we ignore these red flags or assume they're normal. Much of the time, they're not! But because these symptoms of hormonal imbalance begin early and follow us through young adult, then adult life, we absorb them into our unchallenged routine. Also, if you're anything like me, you probably weren't educated about the long-term effects of hormonal birth control (again, read: this is not you fault!). It's only after years of compounded problems, and often when we are trying to conceive, that we recognize something needs to change.

Trust me, I've done the exact same thing in my life: brushing off warning signs that something was not quite right with my hormones because I was so used to them. But when I got my degree as a Certified Holistic Chef, I realized I had a responsibility to YOU to tackle anything that seemed amiss in my body and share my knowledge.

I did the research, ate all the healthy hormone-balancing foods, took natural supplements and tried to reduce my stress load as much as possible. But I'll be honest, my hormones have still been wacky in the last few years. For me, this has manifested in unpredictable mood swings, wonky sleep patterns and an irregular cycle.

So when the founder of BINTO reached out to me a few months ago, I figured I didn't have much to lose in trying their products. And Y'ALL! Since the time I started my BINTO package, I have seen a major leveling out of my hormones and increase cycle regularity*.

I loved the concept of BINTO from the beginning, which is personalized, curated natural product packages for reproductive health and hormonal balance (delivered right to your door!). The founder, Suzie, is also on a mission to increase the awareness about reproductive issues and conception, as well as helping to provide a solution. What a #girlboss, right?! BINTO is a subscription-based plan that offers a basic Women's Wellness Kit, as well as a Fertility Kit, both of which you then customize to fit your needs. The packages are put together by certified nurses and fertility specialists, so you can be assured that there is professional experience and research behind each product. From probiotics, to pre-natal vitamins, to fatty acids, antioxidants and enzymes, BINTO actually gets at the room of your hormonal imbalances to heal you from the inside out. I also love that they empower women to learn more about their reproductive health on this beautiful information page.

Suzie has generously offered a 20% discount to my readers for the first month of your BINTO subscription, using the code: BINTObalanced. If anything in this post rings true to you or gives you that gut feeling, you know the one, I highly recommend checking out BINTO and seeing if it's a good fit for you. Suzie is an absolute doll and would love to hear directly from you with any questions, comments or concerns!

All right, now onto the recipe! In keeping with today's theme, I'm sharing a hormone-regulating recipe that was my favorite Lazy Veggie Series recipe. One of the ways I keep my hormones on track is with high-fiber, nutrient dense cruciferous veggies like broccoli, brussels sprouts and cauliflower. The latter might be my favorite, because it takes on almost any flavor profile that is thrown its way. This Miso Coconut Roasted Cauliflower starts with some of my favorite Asian seasoning, which then caramelize in the oven, creating an umami-rich marinade. Adding toasted coconut provides healthy fat, which also helps balance hormones, as well as a lovely crunch. I hope you adore this easy and quick side dish as much as we have!

*During this time I've also been working with my homeopath, Marnie Reasor of Resplendent Healing, as well as my fantastic functional MD, David Haase. So I absolutely credit my newfound hormonal health to a combination of all of these things and recommend them highly as well.