Estrogen dominance can occur due to a combo of one or more of the following:
- Poor gut health/leaky gut/gut dysbiosis or infection
- Chronic stress
- The need for liver support
- Environmental toxins
- Lack of. ovulation or low progesterone during the luteal phase
- Carrying excess weight/body fat
Stress & Estrogen Dominace
Cortisol is an important hormone that is produced in response to stress and while this can be thought of as a bad thing, this hormone is immensely important and is what keeps us going. When we run through our cortisol stash, the body begins to steal sex hormones, a precursor to cortisol, to meet the demand. The targeted sex hormone to take is progesterone, thus creating an imbalance in estrogen and progesterone, which creates another stress on the body.
Liver Support/Gut Health
Your liver is responsible for metabolizing estrogen and it needs certain vitamins & minerals and enzymes to do this effectively. If your liver is stress from perhaps moving blood sugars, processed foods, alcohol, toxins, or genetic SNPs (MTFHR), a routine detox would be ideal.
If someone has an abundance of food sensitivities (it’s projected 75% of us have food sensitivities, especially individuals with an autoimmune disease), dysbiosis or an imbalance of gut flora an abundance of beta-glucuronidase can present, an enzyme that can lead to higher levels of estrogen in the body.
The liver is only 1 step in excreting excess estrogen. It is up to your gut to move it out! If you are experiencing constipation, there is a good chance your estrogen isn’t making its way out, but instead, going back into circulation in the body.
Supporting the liver is an important pillar of health and hormone balance as is Identifying and treating the underlying cause of your digestive issues is crucial in creating optimal hormonal health.
Environmental Toxins
In the US there are over 800 million pounds of herbicides used per year, over 80,000 chemicals registered, and on average 167 industrial chemicals found in adults with no employment-related exposure; and all of this data is from 2018 or older!
Low Progesterone
Prolonged stress can contribute to “stealing” from our progesterone to make more stress hormones.
Carrying Extra Body Weight
High insulin levels in women lead to increased testosterone which throws estrogen out of balance. Increased insulin also leads to increased adrenaline and cortisol levels, which will cause the body to deplete progesterone, leaving your body estrogen dominant.
Furthermore, fat cells can act as a stand-in organ and produce estrogen.
Symptoms of Estrogen Dominance:
- PMS
- Weight gain (particularly in hips, midsection, thighs)
- Fibrocystic breasts
- Fibroids
- Endometriosis
- Abnormal menstruation
- Fatigue
- Reduced sex drive
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Bloating
- Breast tenderness
- Mood swings
- Brain fog
- Insomnia
Steps for Better Balanced Hormones
- Eat a whole food diet with an emphasis on quality. Being mindful of pesticides on produce and toxins present in the conventional protein. Opt for wild, grass-fed, and organic as much as your budget allows.
- Follow a 3-part meal formula to build meals for optimal blood sugar control
- Get adequate sleep
- Do a food-based detox program with an experienced professional
- Sweat regularly
- Above all, find joy and happiness and unique methods that help you process stress.
- Set boundaries so you can further protect what’s on your plate and asked of you.
Summary
No doubt, we need estrogen, it gives us our hips, breasts, and thighs and is very important for bone health, blood sugar control, and your mood. Estrogen can decrease blood pressure, be a powerful anti-inflammatory, improve memory, diabetes management and cognitive function, and plays a crucial role in neurotransmitter production for good mental health.
Although estrogen dominance can make you feel miserable, it is reversible! By implementing the steps outlined above, you can begin to improve your estrogen/progesterone balance and heal your hormones so you can get back to feeling amazing!
