698. Are Carbs The Enemy? What Carbs Do To Your Hormones

Jan 29, 2025

Have you been told to ditch carbs? In the world of keto and low-carb trends, let me tell you: Carbs are not the enemy. In fact, they’re essential, especially for women’s hormone health. 

Carbs aren’t just about energy—they’re also about balance. 

1. Brain Food:
   Your brain thrives on glucose (a form of sugar that comes from carbs). When you’re under stress or tired, your brain craves carbs because that’s what it needs to function optimally. Restricting carbs? You might feel foggy, irritable, and more stressed.

2. Hormone Health:

   • Cortisol: If you’re low on carbs, your stress hormone (cortisol) stays elevated, making it harder to recover from stress and even disrupting your sleep.

   • Thyroid: Your thyroid, the gland responsible for your metabolism, relies on carbs to produce hormones effectively. Low-carb diets can slow your metabolism.

   • Insulin: Skipping carbs can lead to insulin resistance over time, which impacts your energy, weight, and even fertility.

3. Digestive Health:
   Your gut actually produces enzymes to break down carbs. Stop eating them, and your gut stops making those enzymes. When you reintroduce carbs, your digestion may struggle, leading to discomfort.

4. Growth & Repair:
   Growth hormone, which helps your body repair itself and maintain healthy tissues, is most active at night. But if your blood sugar isn’t stable during the day, this process can be disrupted, leaving you feeling less rejuvenated.

“Don’t carbs cause weight gain?”
Not when you eat them in balance. Excessive carbs without enough protein or fats can contribute to weight gain, but eliminating them altogether can wreak havoc on your metabolism.

“Isn’t sugar bad for hormones?”
It’s about quality, not elimination. Focus on whole, nutrient-dense carbs like fruits, veggies, and whole grains instead of processed sugars.

Think of your body like a house. If the foundation is crooked, everything else is off—no matter how much you try to “fix” the details. Nutrition is that foundation. When your carbs, protein, and fat are balanced, your body can self-regulate more effectively, improving hormone health, stress levels, and even sleep.

I’m hosting a FREE 5-Day Hormone Balance & Metabolism Jumpstart where we’ll dive deeper into this and more: https://dr-beth-westie.mykajabi.com/free-5-day-metabolism-boost-hormone-balance-reset