Replace Hormonal Contraceptives With Natural Ones
In case you are on the pill, you could be adding to the problem. The pill contains estrogen in an unnatural state.
In your body, estrogen normally works in tandem with progesterone. Therefore, when you take it separately, it is easy for it to go out of balance.
Furthermore, because it is synthetic, it does not react well with your body.
Estrogen dominance in women can thus be reversed if you stop taking the pill. But this is only if it was causing the problem in the first place.
Some alternatives to hormonal contraception include safe days or condoms. Learn how to use these natural or non-hormonal methods safely.
Reduce Exposure To Environmental Estrogens
Environmental contributors to estrogen dominance include xenoestrogens and endocrine disrupting chemicals . To reduce your exposure to these toxins and naturally lower your estrogen levels, consider these simple tips:
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Prioritise organic fruit and vegetables – these products do not contain pesticides and growth agents which contribute to the toxic load in your body. If buying all organic is unaffordable, follow the Environmental Working Groups Clean 15 and Dirty Dozen list
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Use glass containers for storing and reheating food, instead of plastic
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Use stainless steel water bottles instead of plastic
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Choose organic meat and dairy where possible. If this is not possible, avoid eating the fatty parts of meats of conventionally raised animals as this is where most toxins are stored
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Consider an inexpensive water filter
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Slowly swap out regular personal care products with low-tox, natural alternatives.
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Avoid using cling-wrap and other soft, flexible plastics – opt for natural beeswax wraps or paper bags as an alternative for storing and wrapping foods
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Minimise consumption of foods from tin cans, and choose BPA-free labelled cans where possible
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Slowly swap out regular cleaning products in your home with low-tox, natural alternatives
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Consider ditching the birth control pill or other hormone replacement therapy after consultation with your primary care provider. Speak to a holistic practitioner about natural alternatives to hormonal birth control and HRT
Foods That Make Estrogen Dominance Worse
You should avoid foods that slow down estrogen detox in the gut or in the liver, which are generally the components that make up the Standard American Diet, like:
- Ultra-processed foods
- Non-organic soy, meats, and dairy
Estrogen-like chemicals are also found in some plastics, so avoid using plastic containers for food or water storage.
Read:How to Detoxify Your Home in 8 Steps
Read Also: Foods That Cause Hormonal Imbalance
Major Symptoms Of Estrogen Dominance:
Women
Now, to dump estrogen from your body naturally, lets first understand how its broken down, your liver and your gallbladder, they break down estrogen into your body and your digestive system it dumps it from your body. So, liver gallbladder breaks it, your digestive system dumps it.
Is Stress a basis for an increase in estrogen dominance? If you start having symptoms of estrogen dominance, you should check your stress levels before anything else. It is the chronic stress which causes problems with your hormones.
Dietary Patterns To Manage Estrogen Dominance
Men and women with estrogen dominance can manage their condition through diet. Various foods help manage this problem.
Instead of focusing on specific foods, you may want to consider changing your dietary pattern altogether.
The most important dietary patterns for the management of estrogen dominance include:
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Nutrients To Support Estrogen Clearance
Its a scientific fact that exogenous estrogen decreases systemic stores of vitamin B6, zinc and magnesium, and also tend to alter thyroid function.
Optimize vitamin D levels, magnesium, zinc, iodine, omega-3s, healthy flora , folate, vitamin B12 and vitamin B6
Consider natural bio-identical topical progesterone cream or oral progesterone at bedtime for a short period of time if progesterone deficiency is the cause of high estrogen. However, if you have a high level of xenoestrogens in your body, progesterone cream may temporarily make some of the problems caused by estrogen dominance worse! This is because long-term xenoestrogen exposure causes estrogen receptors to become less sensitive.
Consider DIM Detox, Indole-3-Carbinol, NAC, milk thistle and Calcium D-Glucarate to support the bodys natural elimination of excess estrogen, target beta-glucoronidase enzyme activity, deactivate toxic substances and excess hormones, encouraging their elimination from the body. DIM helps to restore healthy hormone balance by adjusting the balance of estrogens and blocking aromatase, which converts testosterone to estrogen.
If you are using hormone therapy out of medical necessity, it is important to support the detoxification of the estrogens via physical activity, an abundance of organic colorful plants and cruciferous veggies, healthy liver function, proper nutritional supplementation and the other suggestions listed above. This would help reduce any estrogen build up.
Estrogen And Its Effects On The Body
Estrogen is an important hormone for male and female health and sexual development.
Estrogen regulates cholesterol levels, maintains bone health, and affects mood. In females, this hormone also influences puberty, the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause.
There are three main types of estrogen:
- Estradiol: This is the most potent form of estrogen, and its concentration is highest in females of childbearing age. Doctors use this form of estrogen as a marker for ovary health.
- Estrone: This is the primary type of estrogen in males. It is also the primary form of estrogen in females after menopause. The ovaries, placenta, testicles, and fat tissue produce estrone from androstenedione or androgens.
- Estriol: The placenta produces this type of estrogen, which reaches peak levels during pregnancy. The amount of estriol increases as the fetus grows.
When estrogen levels rise or fall, this can affect many areas of the body, including the reproductive system, skin, hair, bones, muscles, brain, and breast tissue. Fluctuations can also have these effects in males, as everyone has some breast tissue.
There are several reasons why estrogen levels can become high. They may rise as a result of:
- an overproduction of estrogen
- changes in how the body breaks estrogen down
- changes in how the body excretes estrogen
Many factors may contribute to estrogen dominance, including:
- hypocalcemia, which is low calcium
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Change Your Sunscreen Deodorant And Other Topical Products
It is freeing not to use so many products like I once did. I have become a minimalist in many ways, including my bathroom pantry. I only have a few make-up items and lotions and they last me a long time! Click HERE to find the products I love and are happy to use on my children who have VERY sensitive skin!
Supplements For Estrogen Dominance
It’s important to determine why you have estrogen dominance to begin with and address that. But, that can take time. In the meantime, leveraging high-quality supplements is a great way to provide your liver with nutrients to process estrogen and could help some women create more favorable estrogen metabolites.
In addition, probiotics and nutrients that help your body’s stress system may help address some of the other factors that can lead to estrogen dominance.
This is why we designed the Period Problems Kit to provide adrenal, gut, and sex hormone support.
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What Are Estrogen Normal Levels
The reference values for estrogen varies for men, pregnant women, women who hit menopause, women during their reproductive years, and others.
The normal blood levels of estradiol in women are :
- Children and adolescents up to 350pg/mL
- Adults 15-350pg/mL
- After menopause less than 10pg/mL
The normal blood levels of estradiol in men are :
- Children and adolescents up to 40pg/mL
- Adults 10-40pg/mL
The normal blood levels of estrone in women are :
- Children and adolescents up to 200pg/mL
- Adults 17-200pg/mL
The normal blood levels of estrone in men are :
- Children and adolescents up to 60pg/mL
- Adults 10-60pg/mL
To find out whether you need to and how to measure the levels of estrogen in your blood, please, consult with a doctor.
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How To Correct Estrogen Dominance In 7 Simple Steps
If youre a woman of any age, estrogen dominance should be on your radar.
This hormone imbalance is incredibly common, usually undiagnosed, and comes with frustrating symptoms and serious risks.
Although genetics can influence estrogen dominance, environmental factors are more often to blame. Fortunately, there are many simple dietary and lifestyle changes that can dramatically reduce your risks.
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Common Symptoms Of Estrogen Dominance
- Irregular or heavy periods
- Painful periods
- PMS is often caused by too much estrogen
Estrogen dominance can impact sugar metabolism, fat build up and break down, energy level, and neurotransmitter production leading to anxiety and depression. It can also put you at higher risk of thyroid dysfunction, breast cancer, uterine fibroids, and autoimmune disease.
If this resonates with you, request a free 20-minute consultation to see if Functional Medicine might be right for you.
Tips On How To Reverse Estrogen Dominance In Women
If you suspect you have estrogen dominance, this article will show you how to reverse estrogen dominance in women.
If you have an unexplained spike in weight or cannot lose weight despite adopting healthy lifestyle habits, the problem could be estrogen dominance.
Estrogen is a vital hormone in womens reproductive lives. It regulates the menstrual cycle, leads to breast growth and intermittent swelling during different times of the month. It controls your mood and regulates bone growth.
If this hormone goes out of whack then all of the above signs will intensify.
Estrogen dominance in women leads to weight gain or obesity, according to research.
This condition causes formation of lumps around your uterus and breasts and irregular or heavy periods.
Furthermore, your mood swings become so intense that you may constantly be fatigued or could develop depression.
All of these unwanted effects can disappear if you reverse estrogen dominance. You dont have to use complex methods. Sometimes, the simpler an intervention is the more effective it is.
Before we dive in, if you have a partner or friend with estrogen imbalance, forward them this guide on how to reverse estrogen dominance in men.
Also Check: How To Test For Estrogen Dominance
What Is A Hormone Imbalance
Are you irritable, moody, and exhausted all the time, yet have trouble sleeping? Gaining weight despite diet and exercise? You are not alone. Up to 75% of women report suffering from symptoms that could be attributed to a hormone imbalance!
Hormones are important chemical messengers in our bodies such as Estrogen, Testosterone, Progesterone, Cortisol, Thyroid, DHEA, and Vitamin D. They are produced in one type of tissue and then move through the bloodstream to other parts of the body delivering messages for that part of the body to do something specific. When the messages get disrupted, it can have significant downstream implications.
Estrogen dominance is one of the most common hormone imbalance problems for women and that is a big deal because it has literally hundreds of functions in a womans body. It is a common condition that can develop from a variety of causes such as excess body fat, environmental estrogens , poor digestion, chronic stress, and adrenal issues.
How To Treat Estrogen Dominance
To fix estrogen dominance, youll want to focus on: balancing your overall hormones, making sure excess estrogen can leave your body, and supporting healthy progesterone production.
You can do this by
Fixing your gut This allows your body to absorb nutrients needed for hormone production, and helps get rid of excess estrogen through bowel movements.
Supporting detox Your liver is your most important detox organ, and is responsible for making sure your body metabolizes estrogen you no longer need.
Stressing less and sleeping more Stress reduces progesterone production, which you need to balance estrogen.
Testing your hormones Work with a functional womens health doctor to determine your hormone levels and how you can get back into balance. This is especially important if youre trying to get pregnant, or if you have PCOS or endometriosis.
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What Is Estrogen Dominance
Estrogen and progesterone work well together to prevent the lining of your uterus from getting too thick. Some peoples bodies dont make enough progesterone, leading to whats called unopposed estrogen. Unopposed estrogen is called estrogen dominance in some medical literature. Without progesterones balancing influence, estrogen can work overtime in your body and cause cell overgrowths, like tumors in your uterine lining.
Reduce Estrogen Dominance Naturally And Make Pms Disappear
Estrogen dominance causes PMS symptoms. We can naturally reduce estrogen dominance with simple interventions and reduce the symptoms of PMS!
Do you remember a time when you learned a fact that blew your mind? For me, the ones that stick out are:
- Santa isnt real
- Oktoberfest isnt celebrated in October
- PMS isnt a necessary part of being a woman
PMS isnt necessary! I always thought you either lucked out and didnt have bad symptoms, or youre a woman who gets PMS. Balancing our hormones can give us a PMS-free cycle. We dont need to cover up our symptoms with drugs and the birth control pill. We have other options!
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Reducing Aromatase Enzyme Activity
We have already discussed a couple of ways to reduce aromatase enzyme activity like decreasing body fat, reducing insulin resistance, and increasing the intake of phytoestrogens.
Another way to reduce the aromatase enzyme is by supplementing with the following nutrients:
Zinc is the number one inhibitor and commonly a nutrient that is deficient in men and women. It is recommended to take 20 – 50 mg of zinc a day, depending on the person.
In order to prevent any possible side effects, it is better to consult a functional medicine doctor or naturopath regarding the dosage of selenium, magnesium, and zinc per day.
Stop Taking Birth Control Pills
Birth control has a negative impact and causes hormone imbalance. Heavy bleeding is one of the results of estrogen dominance. Prescription of the pill to treat can cause excess estrogen. The second reason is that birth control releases synthetic progesterone. The synthetic progesterone represses the natural progesterone production.
Recommended Reading: Side Effects Of Estrogen Pill
Diets & Foods That Reduce Estrogen Dominance
Choosing the right diet to reduce estrogen dominance may be an easy fix and might have other benefits for your health. Studies show promising results concerning healthy foods, especially plant-based, and Mediterranean-type diets. Fiber-rich diets that support a good digestion process can also help maintain a healthy level of estrogen and other hormones.
How Your Gut Health Can Cause Estrogen Dominance
Oh and you know those rockstar gut bugs that your body depends on to function? If they are out of balance and making too much beta-glucuronidase, you can also find yourself with estrogen excess.
Calcium d-glucarate can help with this, which is why you’ll find it in Balance Women’s Hormone Supplement. This supplement also contains B vitamins, DIM, and broccoli seed extract to support the liver’s role in breaking down estrogen.
Do you notice constipation around period time? How does your skin look? How is your mood? Are your breasts more tender? Have you had hot flashes or difficulty sleeping?
In my naturopathic medical practice, these are the kinds of things I ask my patients to monitor. Many of my patients are able to begin making the connection between their gut health and how their gut functions with how this impacts their hormones. I’d encourage you to do the same.
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Switch To A More Liver
One of the key roles of the liver is to aid in digestion. So its no surprise that an improper diet is a major contributor to a tired and overloaded liver.
Here are a few suggestions on how to make your diet more liver-friendly:
Reduce alcohol and caffeine
Alcohol raises estrogen levels and disrupts the function of the liver. So does overconsumption of caffeine.
I dont believe either is bad when consumed in moderation. The key is to find a happy medium that works for you.
If you have severe signs of estrogen dominance, you may want to cut out the consumption of alcohol and caffeine entirely. On the other hand, if youre overall healthy, its okay to enjoy them in moderation.
Eat organic when possible
Foreign hormones and toxins can sneak into our body without our knowledge. Grains, fruits and vegetables sprayed with lots of pesticides, and animal products packed with antibiotics and growth hormones, are good examples.
Luckily, there are many healthier options available today, e.g., grass-fed, organic, non-GMO, etc. And theyre usually clearly labeled.
So, by paying a little more attention you can greatly reduce the risks of bringing harmful toxins into your body.
Include an anti-inflammatory diet
Certain foods cause inflammation and congest the liver, such as processed foods, junk foods, soda, etc.
On the other hand, eating clean and anti-inflammatory foods are kind to the liver. Consider adding these top 10 anti-inflammatory foods to your diet.
How Your Diet Can Affect Estrogen Levels
Estrogen dominance is a condition in which people have high levels of the sex hormone estrogen.
This condition has been linked to a variety of health issues, including certain types of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and polycystic ovary syndrome .
Research shows that some dietary patterns are associated with higher levels of estrogen in the body, while other dietary patterns and specific foods may help decrease estrogen levels .
This article explains how the foods you eat affect your estrogen levels, including what foods are associated with higher levels, and what foods and health habits may encourage optimal estrogen levels.
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