Megan Hallett - The Happy Balance: The Original Plant-Based Approach for Hormone Health - 60 Recipes to Nourish Body and Mind

This book is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as recommending or promoting any specific lifestyle practice or method of treatment. It is not intended to diagnose, treat or prevent any illness or condition and is not a substitute for advice from a health care professional.

You should consult your medical practitioner before starting any diet, nutritional or supplementation programme and before making any major lifestyle changes. You should not use the information in this book as a substitute for medication or other treatment prescribed by your medical practitioner. There is the possibility of allergic or other adverse reactions from the use of any product or recipe mentioned in this book. In particular, those with medical conditions or allergies, the young, the old and pregnant women should seek further advice from their medical practitioner before making any lifestyle or nutritional changes to their diet.

The authors, editors and publisher make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy, completeness, fitness for a particular purpose or currency of the contents of this book and exclude all liability to the extent permitted by law for any errors or omissions and for any loss damage or expense (whether direct or indirect) suffered by anyone relying on any information contained in this book.

THE ORIGINAL PLANT-BASED APPROACH FOR HORMONE HEALTH

MEGAN HALLETT & NICOLE JARDIM

As a young woman struggling with hormonal imbalance and period problems, I spent years suffering in silence because I thought my experience was just a normal part of life. My mom and most of my friends had suffered terrible teenage periods, which meant I never questioned my own agonisingly painful and heavy cycles.

At 19 my period disappeared for three months, so I made an appointment with my gynaecologist. She immediately prescribed the pill to regulate my cycle. In the first few months of using it I thought Id found my fix. I spent five years on the pill, and while my periods became lighter and less painful, I started developing a whole host of other serious symptoms including chronic urinary tract and yeast infections, hair loss, joint pain, gut problems and a waning sex drive.

My quest to reclaim my health took me on a multi-year journey that involved countless doctor and specialist visits, often resulting in shrugged shoulders and lets wait and see how you feel in six months, endless testing and multiple unnecessary procedures that came back normal or inconclusive.

I was finally referred to an acupuncturist who immediately pointed out that the pill was likely the culprit behind so many of the seemingly unrelated symptoms that I was experiencing. Intuitively, I knew that I was on the right path. Under his care I ditched the pill and overhauled my diet, exercise regimen and lifestyle, which eventually reversed many of the major health problems Id been experiencing.

The book you are holding in your hands is the life line I was searching for all those years ago. It is exactly what you need if youve been wrestling with the frustrating symptoms of hijacked hormones period problems, skin issues, weight gain and low energy and sex drive, to name a few.

Megan is uniquely qualified to understand the suffering women experience at the hands of their hormones. She was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), and like me, had to figure out through trial and error how to naturally fix her own frustrating symptoms.

After experiencing the wellbeing that occurs from having balanced hormones, she felt compelled to train professionally so she could help women in a similar situation to her own. She knew there was a better way than simply taking birth control or medications that only mask the underlying problem.

In The Happy Balance, we challenge you to think differently about your hormones and menstrual cycle. Megan takes a multi-faceted approach that includes unbelievably delicious seasonal recipes, addressing sleep, gut and liver health, exercise, low-toxin living and managing our ever-present psychological stress.

We no longer have to accept the hormonal hell that weve been told is just an inevitable part of being a woman. I believe this book is the perfect resource for you as you begin your journey towards achieving hormonal equilibrium.

Nicole Jardim

From a young age, were taught to believe that the aches, pains and annoyances of being a woman, are not only completely normal, but expected. Whether youve snapped at your boyfriend for leaving the toilet seat up, or uncontrollably scoffed your way through another giant chocolate bar, were quick to blame the perplexity we consider our hormones to be.

But what if we took a step back for a moment and had a good think about all of this. It seems that these things have become so accepted as part of what it means to be a woman that we never stop to question this monthly rollercoaster. Yes, sometimes your significant other may just truly wind you up, but how about we stop blaming our hormones for a moment and try to understand these chemical messengers a bit better.

Im a big believer in taking matters into your own hands and working proactively to balance hormones. In todays world, with the stress and toxins present in everyday life, it is rare youll find a woman without hormonal issues. Even if you dont know it yet, your body might be giving off help signals that something is not quite right. This could be anything from stubborn weight to acne, anxiety to awful PMS symptoms.

When I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), it seemed odd that I was given no information on how to treat this condition naturally, just handed pills to mask the symptoms. Unfortunately, this isnt an uncommon occurrence.

Today, Ive managed to soothe my symptoms by nurturing my body through nutrition and lifestyle changes, from stress management to opting for real, whole foods. Through these natural measures, Ive cleared up my skin, cured my anxiety, and grown a thick mane after years of my hair thinning. While I am by no means perfect, and my journey is still filled with hiccups, I have become a little hormone obsessed in the process. Ive done the research and committed to educating myself on the topic.

This book is the result of my mission to empower women to reclaim their health and get back in tune with Mother Nature. It is designed to get you thinking of your body as an orchestra, perfectly in sync. You are the front woman, the conductor, keeping everyone, from your adrenals to your detox pathways, playing in time. If the conductor starts to panic, the rest of the orchestra becomes jumbled and messy. But when the conductor is calm and collected, harmony is maintained. A good conductor requires practice, so it may take some time to find what works for you. But you will get there, and your music will be beautiful.

Megan Hallett