Friday Feast: Chamomile and Maple Porridge

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 mum 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 I’d 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 ‘let’s 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 I’d been experiencing.

If you’ve 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, here are some recipes to get you back on track.

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.

Here we challenge you to think differently about your hormones and menstrual cycle. We no longer have to accept the hormonal hell that we’ve been told is just an inevitable part of being a woman. I believe these breakfast treats are the perfect start for you as you begin your journey towards achieving hormonal equilibrium.

Fluctuating hormone levels mean that our nutritional, exercise and health needs vary at different times of the month. A simple way to optimise our health is to work in tune with these natural rhythms by adapting our diet and exercise regime accordingly. This is called ‘cycle syncing’.

Should you want to try cycle syncing, the following recipe is flagged for the stage it best supports.

• Follicular Phase days 6-13
  
• Ovulatory Phase days 14-18
  
• Luteal Phase days 19-28
  
• Menstrual Phase days 1-5
  

Chamomile is known as the ultimate soother, often drunk in hot tea at bedtime. However, there are no rules stating it can’t be enjoyed at other times, and it is a lovely way of incorporating a bit of calm into your morning routine. Maple syrup has a deep and distinctive flavour, that works well against the muted floral taste of camomile. Top with flaked almonds and a spoonful of coconut butter for a sweet finish.

SERVES 1

Prep: 5 minutes

Cook: 10 minutes

• 50g rolled oats
  
• 100ml boiling water
  
• 230ml plant-based milk (I like to use cashew)
  
• 2 tsp dried camomile flowers (or an emptied camomile tea bag)
  

TO TOP

• 1 tbsp coconut butter
  
• 1 tsp maple syrup
  
• toasted flaked almonds
  
• 1 tbsp of flax seeds and/or chia seeds
  

1. Place the oats in a small saucepan over a low heat and pour in the boiling water and plant-based milk. Add the camomile flowers or tea leaves and mix until everything is combined. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring constantly.
   
2. You can fish out larger chunks of the flowers if you wish or leave them in. Simply serve with a spoonful of coconut butter on top, a drizzle of maple syrup, flaked almonds and a sprinkle of flax and chia seeds.
   

1. Eat whole, real foods, including lots of healthy fats, and avoid overly processed foods
   
2. Hydrate – aim for at least two litres of water (just over eight cups) a day
   
3. Load up on leafy greens and cruciferous veggies
   
4. Choose high-quality, organic vegetables wherever possible
   
5. Be mindful of caffeine and alcohol intake
   
6. Limit sugar (of any sort, including unrefined and high-carbohydrate fruits)
   
7. Limit/avoid refined carbohydrates, such as pasta, bread and pastries
   
8. Take time over each meal and eat with no distractions
   
9. Maintain a healthy gut with fermented foods, such as kimchi, sauerkraut and dairy-free coconut yogurt
   
10. Listen to your body: is gluten or dairy a trigger for you? If so, avoid or limit these in your diet. Everybody is different, so listen to your own unique needs rather than following trends.
    

More inspiration

READ The Happy Balance by Megan Hallett and Nicole Jardim (£20 White Lion Publishing)

LEARN Take Nicole’s course on hormone imbalances at nicolejardim.com