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Pumpkin Coconut Curry | Luteal Phase Recipe


luteal phase recipes pumpkin recipes
Kiian Oksana/Shutterstock

It's pumpkin season! Look no further for a comforting luteal phase recipe that'll make you feel prepared for the month ahead.


Pumpkin is a well deserved fall favorite. It also has numerous benefits that'll make you fall even deeper in love like these four:


1. It Helps with Estrogen Dominance Symptoms


Pumpkin's high fiber content helps you naturally cleanse extra estrogen, which can cause you to feel bloated after ovulation and overstimulated.


Estrogen dominance is when your body has more estrogen in relation to its sister hormone, progesterone. Both are needed to give you a happy and healthy cycle. Many women experience higher estrogen levels due to foods like dairy and soy, chemicals in our cleaning products and make up (parabans act like fake estrogen in the body), plastics, and birth control.


Pumpkin can help balance these two sex hormones so you feel more emotionally balanced.


2. High in Antioxidants and Vitamin A


Eating foods high in antioxidants breaks down free radicals which you need to lower inflammation. Lowering inflammation can make you feel less stressed and experience less hormonal symptoms like acne, mood swings, and headaches.


Pumpkin also is high in beta-carotene, which your body needs to produce vitamin A. Vitamin A is good for your skin, reproduction, eye sight, and immune system. It's perfect for fighting colds as we transition into colder temps!


3. Increase Progesterone Production


Progesterone is the hormone that shines during your luteal phase. As it increases to prepare your body to either have a baby or your period, you may notice a greater sense of calm and wellbeing. If you don't typically feel this way right before your period, eating more pumpkin can help your body naturally produce more of this hormone. This is especially needed if you're looking to start a family.


Progesterone is your beauty hormone so you may notice eating more pumpkin makes your skin and hair more radiant 😊


4. Orange Foods Nourish Your Spleen


In Chinese medicine, eating different colored foods help with various aspects of your internal organs. Orange foods are really beneficial to your spleen which is directly connected to your liver and digestive process.


Orange foods are wonderful to support your reproduction organs as the color also relates to your sacral chakra. Your sacral chakra is the energy center by your ovaries, which will make you feel more connected to your divine feminine nature.


Filling up on pumpkin during your luteal and menstrual phases will make you feel grounded and supported. You may also notice within a meal or two your digestion has dramatically improved! Digestion can sometimes feel tough during your luteal phase as your liver works harder to detox excess hormones. Your body wants to clear everything out so you feel happy and can physically release old emotions and toxins.


Beyond these benefits that will make you feel great, pumpkin also tastes amazing!

 

Here's my easy and delicious Pumpkin Coconut Curry recipe to start eating in your luteal and menstrual phases



Ingredients:

  • 1 cup organic pumpkin (not puree)

  • 1 can full fat coconut milk

  • 3-4 chicken breasts

  • 1 chopped butternut squash

  • 1 head cauliflower

  • 4 chopped parsnips

  • 1/4 tsp. pumpkin spice

  • 1/4 tsp. turmeric

  • 1/4 tsp. curry powder

  • 1/4 tsp. garlic powder

  • 1/4 tsp. cumin


Directions:

1. In a crockpot stir together pumpkin, coconut milk, and spices until well blended.

2. Add chopped vegetables and stir until veggies are coated.

3. Add in chicken and stir as best as possible.

4. Set on low before going to bed to wake up for premade lunch, or set on high to be ready in 5 hours for dinner.

 

Want more pumpkin goodness? Whip up a batch of our Decadent Pumpkin Brownie Bites from the Balanced Bombshells Recipes Guide. They are fantastic for an after dinner treat or surprising your friends at football parties!



References

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/pumpkin#section1

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-a-benefits

https://www.healthline.com/health/natural-progesterone#other-ways

https://www.hwcmagazine.com/feed-your-spleen/

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