Updates from Leah Negrin

Feeling Tired, Bloated, and “Off”? Your Hormones May Be Trying to Tell You Something

Feeling Tired, Bloated, and “Off”? Your Hormones May Be Trying to Tell You Something
You know what’s exhausting?

Not just feeling tired, but constantly wondering "why you don’t feel like yourself."

You wake up exhausted even after a full night’s sleep. You’re eating “healthy,” but somehow you still end the day feeling bloated and uncomfortable. One week you’re motivated, productive, and ready to take on the world. The next, you’re crying in the parking lot wondering what the heck happened.

Eventually, you start wondering if you’re simply not trying hard enough.

But what if the problem isn’t a lack of willpower? What if you were just never taught how to understand your hormones?

Understanding Hormone Health for Women

Most women learn very little about hormone health and the menstrual cycle growing up. I know I didn’t.

Instead, we learn to push through exhaustion, PMS, cravings, mood changes, and uncomfortable periods. We reach for another coffee and keep moving because feeling terrible for part of the month has somehow become accepted as “just part of being a woman.”

But your body is constantly communicating with you.

Changes in your energy, mood, hunger, sleep, digestion, and menstrual cycle can all give you valuable information about what your body needs.

The problem? No one gave us the instruction manual.

Supporting Healthy Hormones Starts With the Foundations

Hormone health doesn’t have to begin with another restrictive diet, detox, complicated supplement routine, or quick fix.

Some of the most important foundations for supporting **healthy hormones in women** are surprisingly simple:

* Keeping blood sugar more stable
* Understanding the phases of your menstrual cycle
* Supporting your nervous system and managing stress
* Prioritizing sleep and recovery
* Eating enough nourishing food
* Creating sustainable daily habits

Imagine heading into your period understanding why your body is asking you to slow down.

Imagine feeling more connected to your cycle instead of frustrated by it.

More empowered. More energized. More like yourself.

Tofu Shawarma Wrap with Tahini Slaw

Tofu Shawarma Wrap with Tahini SlawAs we’ve discussed many times, I LOVE tahini, so this recipe just fits so beautifully with all of these flavors.

Shawarma spice is warm, earthy, savory, and just a little smoky. The blend typically includes cumin and coriander for that earthy, citrusy base, paprika for color and mild smokiness, turmeric for its gorgeous golden hue, garlic powder for savory depth, and warm spices like cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and allspice.

It is DELICIOUS and the good news is you can usually find a ready-made shawarma spice blend right at the grocery store.

You can also swap the shawarma seasoning for **za’atar**, which is another blend I absolutely love. Za’atar typically contains dried wild thyme, ground sumac, toasted sesame seeds, and salt. The sumac gives it this slightly bright, tangy flavor that is SO good with tahini.

And while you have the za’atar out, try it with cream cheese and cucumbers. Trust me. So simple and so freaking good.

You can find za’atar already blended at most grocery stores, too, which means no measuring out twelve different spices just to make dinner. We love that.

Ingredients:
  • 7 ozs Tofu (extra-firm, pressed, cubed)
  • 1/16 oz Avocado Oil Spray
  • 1/2 tsp Shawarma Spice Blend
  • 2 tsps Cornstarch
  • 2 tsps Water
  • 1 tsp Tahini
  • 1/2 tsp Lemon Juice
  • 3/4 cup Purple Cabbage (thinly sliced)
  • Sea Salt & Black Pepper (to taste)
  • 1/2 Cucumber (small, sliced)
  • 1 Brown Rice Tortilla (large)
Directions
  1. Preheat the oven to 400ºF (205ºC). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Add the tofu cubes to a bowl and gently toss with the oil and shawarma spice. Add the cornstarch and gently toss until the tofu is well coated. Arrange the tofu on the prepared baking sheet. Cook in the oven for 20 minutes until crispy.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the water, tahini, and lemon juice until smooth. Add the cabbage and toss to combine. Season with the salt and pepper.
  4. To assemble, top each tortilla with the cabbage, tofu, and cucumber. Roll tightly into a wrap. Enjoy!

1 serving

Why Blood Sugar Balance Matters for Women's Hormone Health

Why Blood Sugar Balance Matters for Women's Hormone Health
If you've been struggling with energy crashes, intense cravings, mood swings, or feeling hungry all the time, your hormones might not be the only thing asking for attention.

One of the biggest foundations of hormone health is something many women overlook: **blood sugar balance**.

When your blood sugar is constantly rising and falling throughout the day, your body has to work overtime to keep everything stable. Those frequent spikes and crashes can affect cortisol, insulin, and other hormones that influence your energy, metabolism, mood, and overall well-being.

The good news? Supporting healthy blood sugar doesn't require perfection or cutting out all of your favorite foods.

It starts with creating meals that help your body feel nourished and supported.

One of the easiest ways to do this is by building balanced meals that include:

* A quality source of protein
* Healthy fats
* Fiber-rich carbohydrates
* Plenty of colorful fruits and vegetables

This combination helps slow digestion, keeps you feeling fuller for longer, and provides a steadier release of energy throughout the day.

Skipping meals, surviving on coffee until lunch, or grabbing sugary snacks when you're exhausted can all lead to bigger blood sugar swings. While these habits are incredibly common—especially for busy women—they can leave you feeling tired, irritable, and constantly reaching for your next energy boost.

Instead of focusing on restriction, focus on consistency.

Aim to eat regular meals throughout the day, include protein with every meal, stay hydrated, and avoid going long periods without eating if possible. Small, sustainable habits often make a much bigger difference than extreme diets ever will.

It's also important to remember that stress plays a role here too. When your body is under constant stress, cortisol levels can rise, making it even harder to keep blood sugar stable. That's why supporting your nervous system through quality sleep, movement you enjoy, and moments of rest is just as important as what's on your plate.

Hormone health is never about finding one magic supplement or following the latest wellness trend.

It's about giving your body consistent signals that it's safe, nourished, and supported.

When you begin supporting your blood sugar with simple daily habits, many women notice steadier energy, fewer cravings, improved focus, and a more balanced relationship with food.

If you're ready to learn how to work with your hormones instead of against them, grab my free Cycle Syncing Guide. You'll discover simple ways to nourish your body throughout each phase of your cycle so you can feel your best—without restrictive rules or complicated routines.

Peanut Butter Cup Smoothie

Peanut Butter Cup Smoothie

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Smoothie 🍫🥜

I sometimes really like dessert. I didn’t used to, but then motherhood happened and apparently motherhood = I love chocolate. 🤣
So I decided to work on getting my smoothie game back on and figured, why not make some of them taste like dessert?

Enter: the Chocolate PB Cup Smoothie.
It has chocolate. It has peanut butter. It’s creamy, sweet and somehow also PACKED with spinach and cauliflower. And yes, it turns out very green despite the chocolate situation. 😂

Even better, pretty much everything we’re throwing in here brings something nutritionally to the table.

🍫 Chocolate PB Cup Smoothie

Blend together:
  • 1 cup spinach
  • 1 banana
  • 1 cup frozen cauliflower
  • 1½ tbsp organic peanut butter
  • 1 scoop chocolate protein powder
  • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • Cinnamon
  • Pinch of salt
Blend until completely smooth and creamy. Add a little more almond milk if you prefer a thinner smoothie.
So delicious. And SO green. 💚

But What Are We Actually Getting From It?

🥬 Spinach: Gives you folate, vitamin K, carotenoids and other micronutrients—and when you blend it with chocolate, peanut butter and banana, you barely notice it’s there.
🥦 Cauliflower: This is one of my favorite smoothie tricks. Frozen cauliflower adds creaminess without adding much sweetness, plus you’re getting fiber, vitamin C and compounds found in cruciferous vegetables.
🍌 Banana: Adds natural sweetness and that thick, creamy smoothie texture, while also providing potassium, vitamin B6 and carbohydrates.
🥜 Peanut Butter: Adds healthy fats and a little extra protein, which makes this smoothie more satisfying and, obviously, makes the chocolate situation approximately 1,000 times better.
🍫 Chocolate protein powder: Protein is what turns this from basically a chocolate milkshake with vegetables into something that can actually help keep you full and support steadier energy and blood sugar. The exact nutrition will depend on the protein powder you choose but this is the one I use sometimes. 
✨ Cinnamon: More than just flavor! Cinnamon contains antioxidant plant compounds, and research has looked at its potential role in supporting glucose metabolism.

Why I Love This One

For me, healthy eating doesn't mean pretending I don't want chocolate. I would MUCH rather find ways to make the foods I genuinely enjoy work for me.
This smoothie gives you protein + healthy fat + fiber + fruits and vegetables while still tasting like something you actually want to eat.
And if you’re trying to sneak more vegetables into your day without sitting down to yet another giant bowl of greens, this is a very easy place to start.
Chocolate + peanut butter + two whole cups of veggies?
I’ll take it. 🍫💚

Blended Chia & Oat Pudding with Tahini & Blueberries

Blended Chia & Oat Pudding with Tahini & Blueberries
 I love tahini - truly. It's one of my favorite things to use; whether that's in my breakfast, my salad, in my desserts and well you get the idea, it can be used in so many ways! 

This is one of those breakfasts (or snacks!) that packs a whole lot of nourishment into one bowl. The combination of protein powder, chia seeds, tahini, and oats gives you protein, healthy fats, and fiber to help keep you full and support steadier blood sugar and energy. Chia seeds are also a great plant-based source of omega-3s, while tahini provides minerals like calcium and magnesium. And those blueberries aren't just there because they're delicious, they're packed with antioxidants and vitamin C. It's balanced, satisfying, and a perfect example of how we can build meals that support our bodies without making nutrition ridiculously complicated.

Ingredients:
  • 1 1/2 cups Unsweetened Almond Milk
  • 3/4 cup Unsweetened Coconut Yogurt
  • 1 cup Oats
  • 1/2 cup Chia Seeds
  • 1 cup Vanilla Protein Powder
  • 3 tbsps Tahini
  • 1 1/3 cups Blueberries
Instructions:
  1. In a blender, combine the milk, yogurt, oats, chia seeds, and protein powder. Blend on high until smooth.
  2. Pour into a sealed container and refrigerate overnight or for at least eight hours.
  3. Divide the oats evenly between bowls or containers. Top with tahini and blueberries. Enjoy!
4 servings


Meet Leah Negrin

 
I am a bold, beautiful, sometimes timid, usually happy, essential oil, nutrition junkie. Although at 39 I feel as if I've had several careers over a lifetime (or at least sometimes when I look back at my resume that is what shines through). I've been a paralegal, an office manager, an administrative assistant, worked in commercial lending and have finally landed on nutrition.

My journey to nutrition started many years ago when my sister was diagnosed with celiac disease and food had to change for the family. From there, along my own health journey I’ve helped people not only figure out what to eat but how to do it so that it can work for them sustainably. For almost seven years I’ve been counseling people on their nutrition and weight loss journeys. 

Finally getting some sunshine in Southern California *Photo credit  Brittany Hassett 

I am knowledgeable about what purpose food serves your body and I focus on finding sustainable options when it comes to food; this also led to my love of essential oils. I had the opportunity to attend a workshop where a registered dietitian spoke about using essential oils in her practice to help her patients. I was floored. I knew that #plantsheal but I didn't realize that others in the 'conventional' medical community thought that as well!! Learning that it was possible to incorporate these magical little bottles gave me a huge sense of hope.


Alina, myself and Caitlin (oily bffs) *Photo credit Anne Negrin

 
As I learned more about these oils I was diagnosed with increased intestinal permeability or as many of us know it, leaky gut. Leaky gut has been around for quite awhile but many of us are just learning what this is or why this is even more common these days than ever before. Many issues can be related to leaky gut including autoimmune diseases. Receiving this diagnosis just led me down a path further to learn about nutrition and how to best serve my body and take care of myself.


Enjoying a vegan ice cream cone in Budapest! *Photo credit to Michelle Owen 

Since birthing our sweet baby boy at home earlier this year I’ve been incredibly passionate about helping other women too who are pregnant and new mothers with their nutrition. Eating healthy for your pregnant body and your postpartum self is a game changer for both mother and baby.

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