Plants have the power to help restore your health—as long as you know how to use them! And thankfully, my friend Dr. Alan Christianson is back on the podcast to tell us exactly how to take advantage of nature’s wisdom to help restore hormonal balance.  We kick off the episode by busting the myth that plants are a food to fear. On the contrary, Dr. Alan posits that thanks to a “full on arms race” in the plant kingdom, your body simply can’t operate at its full capacity without them. And in his new book, The Hormone Healing Cookbook, you’re going to learn exactly how to foster that connection. I chat with Dr. Alan about how he scoured the latest research to find ways that plants can promote hormone balance naturally, helping with symptoms ranging from insomnia to hot flashes to weight gain. As a lazy chef myself, I’m thrilled to report that he uncovered the ways humble, easy-to-use ingredients like oats, onions, figs, and beets can improve your health. (I’ll admit there’s one recipe that wouldn’t be my personal fave, but tune in to see if it’s your new go-to!)  He also shares a carb rule of thumb that will make it easier for you to make smart diet choices, and a totally free quiz that highlights the hormonal imbalances his recipes may help minimize. No matter the topic, Dr. Alan always has fascinating yet accessible info to provide—and this episode is no exception.  Full show notes: jjvirgin.com/foodquiz  Learn more about Dr. Alan Christianson here: https://www.drchristianson.com The Hormone Healing Cookbook: https://amzn.to/3qieVeY Episode 219: How to Lose Weight With Thyroid Disease With Dr. Alan Christianson: https://jjvirgin.com/main-podcast/thyroid-disease-dr-christianson-219/  Episode 242: What About Iodine and Breast Health? With Dr. Alan Christianson: https://jjvirgin.com/main-podcast/what-about-iodine-and-breast-health-ep-242/ Study: Rosemary’s positive impact on cognitive function: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21877951/ Study: Beets improve aerobic function: https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5295087/ Study: Effect of Oat β-Glucan on Affective and Physical Feeling States in Healthy Adults: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34062937/ Study: The effect of onions on visceral fat: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31905615/ Study: Eating umami flavors to curb appetite: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6098010/ Dr. Alan Christianson talks about developing every single recipe in his book–and he delivers the apron picture he promised here: https://jjv.s3.amazonaws.com/Podcast/Dr+Alan+Christianson.jpg  Get Dr. Alan’s Free Hormone Symptom Quiz - Learn which hormones likely cause symptoms and which foods can help : https://jjv.s3.amazonaws.com/Podcast/Dr+Alan+Christianson+Hormone+Healing+Cookbook+Quiz.pdf