In the follicular phase, you’ll be eating foods that promote estrogen metabolism to prevent a buildup of the hormone in the gut, which plays such an important role in serotonin production. When estrogen peaks in the ovulatory phase, you’ll be focusing on consuming raw vegetables to flush the hormone from your body and calm anxiety. During the luteal phase, you’ll be eating slow-burning, complex carbohydrates (aka “mood foods”) that stabilize blood sugar levels and help boost the feel-good neurotransmitter serotonin, which acts as a natural appetite suppressant and mood stabilizer.
