ESTROGEN DOMINANCE
Could you be at risk?
The body is constantly seeking balance. The most common imbalance for women is estrogen dominance.
Most common contributing factors include:
1) Excess estrogen due to the hormones in food, estrogen-mimicking chemicals (think beauty products and cleaning supplies), birth control pills, excess body fat, and high-glycemic diet
2) Inability to detoxify/excrete estrogen due to low B vitamins, low-nutrient diet, fatty liver, constipation, caffeine intake
3) Insufficient progesterone due to high or ongoing stress (cortisol), luteal insufficiency, natural reduction from age 35-50, menopause, toxic exposure, and/or stress causing anovulation (recent or much earlier in life)
Estrogen dominance manifests in common modern hormone syndromes, diseases, and illnesses like Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), Premenopausal Syndrome (PS), highly-symptomatic perimenopausal and/or menopausal experience, Endometriosis, Fibrocystic Breast Disease (FBD), Breast/Uterine cancer
Other symptoms can include:
Anxiety // Depression
Migraines
Fatigue
Insomnia
Irritability // Anger
Irregular menses and heavy bleeding
Low libido
Weight gain, specially in your hips, thighs and mid-section
Fibroids
Endometriosis
Fibrocystic Breasts and Gynecomastia in men
Infertility
PCOS
GOOD NEWS: The actions that can support estrogen dominance can also support other functions in the body: immune health, detox pathways, metabolism, and mood because the body’s systems are interconnected.
Recommendations:
Low glycemic, nutrient-dense diet, choose organic :) because they aren’t sprayed with pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides that may disrupt your hormones
Avoid plastic containers and bottles: they contain xenoestrogens – natural or synthetic compounds that imitate estrogen, which causes toxicity and overload
Add fresh ground flax seeds, which can help support “healthy” estrogens in your body
Lose body fat: body fat contains toxins + excess hormones, mainly estrogen
Reduce/eliminate caffeine
Eliminate dairy products and all conventionally-raised meat products
Clean up personal/household products (Check out EWG)
Those xenoestrogens are also commonly found in many cosmetics, hair, skin care and hygiene products. There isn’t any federal regulation on these items, which means you have to do your own research! I have some basic recommendations here.
Stress reduction: yoga, breathing techniques, optimal sleep, therapy. Sneak this quick technique in 1x/day and watch the changes unfold.
Eliminate constipation: bowel movements should be daily and easy to pass
Estrogen detoxification support
Iodine: try adding kelp sprinkles to your diet
Limit alcohol consumption