Oestrogen, progesterone and progesterone work together to maintain hormonal balance within the body.
These hormones are usually balanced and help keep women healthy, strong and fertile.
This balance is constantly being thrown out of whack by poor diet choices and increased exposure to toxic chemicals in foods, cosmetics, and medications.
This imbalance can lead to permanent excess estrogen in certain women (estrogen dominance)
Estrogen dominance is possible at any age. However, it is most common immediately before and after menopause. This is because ovulation becomes irregular in the perimenopausal years, which causes a decrease in progesterone levels and unopposed estrogen.
Menopause is when there is less progesterone and half the amount of premenopausal estrogen. Post-menopausal women are more likely to develop breast cancer.
Oestrogen Dominance
Unopposed estrogen can cause various conditions, including PMS, endometriosis and infertility, PCOS and uterine fibroids. These conditions include cancer of the breast, fibrocystic breast diseases, cancer of the breast, PMS, endometriosis and infertility, PCOS and uterine fibroids.
What Causes Oestrogen Dominance in Women?
- A diet that is low in fiber and high in saturated oil from non-organic sources
- Being overweight or obese
- Exposition to estrogen-like toxic substances (pesticides and herbicides in cattle, dairy, BPA in hard plastics, BPA within soft plastics), oral contraceptives. Conventional cleaning products. Hair dyes. Chlorinated swimming pool. Tap water.
- Low liver function
- Predisposition to genetic factors
- Exercise is not enough.
- Menopause
How To Lower Excess Oestrogen Naturally
Diet
- Consume high-fiber foods as estrogen is excreted through bowel movements. Constipation can increase estrogen reabsorption within the large intestine. Consume 4-5 cups of fresh vegetables each day. This can be achieved by eating raw vegetable sticks as snacks, mixed salads, vegetable soups, or adding vegetables to stews, casseroles, or stir-fries for dinner.
- Brightly colored vegetables and leafy greens are better for your liver.
- Consume one serving of cruciferous vegetables per day (broccoli and cauliflower, bok Choi, kale, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, kale): These contain indole-3carbinol, which increases liver clearance of estrogen.
- Apples are a great source of calcium-gluconate. This has been proven to reduce estrogen absorption.
- It would help if you ate beans and lentils several times per week and flaxseeds every day. They are rich in weak phytoestrogens, which help to reduce estrogen levels in the body.
- As much as possible, include onions, leek and garlic as these will stimulate liver detoxification of estrogen.
- High-fiber whole foods such as oats and brown rice are good choices (but avoid fiber supplements like bran). They also contain a lot of minerals and vitamins, which are essential for liver detoxification.
- Get a glass of fresh juice every day (celery or beetroot, carrots, ginger, and apple).
- Deep sea fish, such as mackerel and cod, salmon, tuna, ocean trout, and anchovies, should be consumed three times per week. They have the lowest levels of mercury contamination and the highest amounts of essential fatty acids. These essential fatty acids are vital for hormonal balance.
- A low GI diet that favors good quality protein (chickens, eggs, red meat from pastured or organic animals) is recommended. This will lower your blood sugar, insulin, and leptin levels. High levels have been associated with estrogen-dominating conditions.
- Prebiotic fibers can be eaten daily: garlic, onions and lentils, beans, cooked and chilled potatoes, Jerusalem Artichokes and chicory. Prebiotic fiber promotes the production of short-chain fatty acids such as butyrate and feeds beneficial bacteria in your gut. These compounds are linked to lower inflammation, decreased levels of LPS toxins in the circulation, better blood sugar balance, reduced risk for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and lower levels of the estrogen-increasing beta-glucuronidase enzyme.
Foods to Avoid
- Saturated fat high
- Non-organic animal products – we also strive to have many vegetarian days each week.
- You should avoid buying store-bought pastries, cakes, and vegetable spreads/margarine. They contain high levels of trans-fats and rancid vegetable oils and can be made into scones and cakes. These fats can have estrogen-like effects on the body.
- Alcohol: The levels of circulating estrogens increase when there is alcohol intake.
- Dairy is consumed in large quantities.
- Grilled, charcoaled and barbecued foods. These toxic compounds are also processed by liver enzymes, which detoxify estrogen and other sex hormones.
Optimize Your Weight
Obesity can increase your risk of developing estrogen dominance. This is because fat cells convert androgens, male hormones, into estrogen.
Reduce your Exposure to Xenoestrogens
- Switch to organic, grass-fed meats and dairy. Dairy cows and farm animals raised in intensively managed dairy farms are given a variety of antiparasitic and growth stimulants. When you consume non-organic meat and dairy, the toxic residues from these drugs are passed directly on to you.
- Organic fruit and vegetables are better than conventionally grown. Even after washing, the average apple has between 20-30 artificial poisons.
- Mineral make-up and natural hair dyes are better than conventional. Conventional make-up contains titanium dioxide, while hair dyes contain dangerously high levels of ammonia or ethanolamines. Both of these substances can cause cancer.
- Make sure you have a high-quality filter. Tap water is fluoridated and chlorinated, increasing your estrogen and disrupting thyroid function by competing for iodine. Clinical studies have shown that breast cancer has been linked to low levels of iodine.
- Keep food in glass Tupperware. Don’t let the new “BPA-free” labels fool you. These containers also contain a new plasticizer that has estrogen-like effects. Wrap dairy and animal products with cling film or soft plastics. Phthalates and BPA easily leach into fatty food.
- You can avoid the harmful effects of xenoestrogens by eating plenty of iodine-rich foods, such as seafood, eggs from pastures, and fish roe. I like Yarra Valley organic salmon roe.
Address Mental Health & Heavy Metals
- I recommend you have your urine tested for urinary ketopyrroles if you are prone to anxiety, depression, or poor stress resilience. You are more likely to have low vitamin B6, molybdenum, zinc, and copper levels. This condition is also estrogenic. Stress and chronic anxiety can also lead to elevated estrogen levels. This is because cortisol levels are higher, which then depletes progesterone levels. You will be in a state of relative estrogen dominance.
Exercise
- Regular exercise is a good idea: Women who exercise at least 30 minutes five days a week have lower estrogen levels.
- On most days, aim to exercise for at least an hour. Membership in a gym is not necessary. Walk outside every day and enjoy the fresh air. This simple and inexpensive suggestion will make a huge difference in your health.
- You can start walking, swimming, or dancing outdoors. It doesn’t matter what you do; if you find something you love, stick with it.