[EllaC]

Hormones, yes, but also the nutrients required for growth and development.  There are a bunch of healthy foods in my sig thread.  Mostly they're found in whole grain foods to provide the tools required, but EFA's and collagen are important construction materials too.  So we got the foreman hormones, the worker/tool nutrients, and the fat/EFA/collagen materials.  You need all 3 to make it happen.

surferjoe,  I eat paleo (no grains) with additional avoidance of dairy and eggs from a gut issue that's being addressed. I do include nuts, veggies, fruits, coconut oil and organic meats as well as collagen daily. Do you have any suggestions for grain-free alternatives for the "tools" aspect of NBE? The only things I'm doing now are spearmint tea 2x day and a small amount of PC during my luteal phase.. I'm not doing a full NBE program until my gut health is optimal,  but I'm hoping it won't be many more months before that's taken care of. What types of fats would you suggest when I embark on a program? I'm trying to tentatively put some ideas together while I work on the gut.

Im off grains too for celiac. When im motivated i brought this book. Id briefed through it when i got it from the library and its ALL about gut and subsequent autoimmune diseases etc its a huge book too! Very heavy very thick
https://www.amazon.com/Paleo-Approach-Reverse-Autoimmune-Disease/dp/1936608391/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499368814&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=sarah+ballentine+paleo

Ella, so you're in a similar boat as me then. I'm sure there have to be other foods besides grains that we can eat to get the nutrient requirements for NBE, although I think you've already achieved your goal, right? 

This does look like a very comprehensive book! I've read some of her articles online as well. I'm hoping that I'm on the right road to healing my gut once and for all now. It can't happen soon enough!!

I brought this book also. Has some amazing recipes in it! Yes ive read you shouldnt cut grains if your not 100% celiac. Surfer here has some good nutrition suggestions. Il adhere to those thanks Surferjoe.
I had some wonderful gains (to me anyway) until i got hit with my gut disorder that made me loose several kg's along with the additional breast tissue i gained. I do know the gut can cause hormone inbalances. Heal the gut heal the hormones. Depends which happened first ya know. Learnt soo much re the gut in the past couple of years its mind blowing. The gut holds the key to health, that i have no doubt. So yeh we gotta heal those guts