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Priya, a 45 year old working woman, had always been proactive about her health. But over the past few months, she found herself struggling with unexplained mood swings, weight gain, and irregular periods. No matter how much she exercised or ‘ate right,’ the symptoms persisted. Frustrated, she sought answers from healthcare professionals, which lead her to discover the culprit – Estrogen dominance!
Estrogen is a hormone vital for regulating the female reproductive system. Additionally, it has an impact on mood regulation, and metabolism. However, it must remain balanced for overall well-being. If there is more Estrogen than needed in your body, its effects can be physically and emotionally draining. Understanding how to detox the body and balance hormones is crucial to restoring your vitality.
In this blog, we share with you, what you should know about Estrogen, how it can spin out of balance, and what you should do in order to restore balance.
What is Estrogen, and Why is Balance Important?
Estrogen not only regulates the female reproductive system, but also has metabolic effects on other systems of our body such as energy balance, body fat distribution, blood glucose regulation, and lipid metabolism.
The forms of Estrogen in each stage – puberty, menopause, and post-menopause – are different.
Estradiol (E2) is the strongest Estrogen and is dominant during a woman’s reproductive years. Estrone (E1) is present in menopausal women. Meanwhile, Estriol (E3) is a milder Estrogen that is primarily produced during pregnancy.
These hormones regulate the menstrual cycle, support bone health, and influence cholesterol and brain function.
Estrogen levels also fluctuate in the course of a woman’s menstrual cycle.
There are three phases in this cycle as follows:
Why Imbalances Occur and Their Impact
Estrogen and Progesterone work in tandem to regulate menstrual cycles and prevent the uterine lining from thickening. However, in a PCOS patient, there is less Progesterone in the body. So, when an ovulation cycle occurs and boosts Estrogen levels, it leads to Estrogen dominance. This Estrogen dominance can result in cell overgrowths and conditions such as endometrial hyperplasia, endometriosis, and an increased risk of developing Estrogen related cancers (of the uterus, ovary or breast).
Other internal sources of Estrogen are fat tissue (in cases of obesity), insulin resistance, adrenal tumours, and fibroids. High stress levels lead to cortisol secretion, which depletes the body’s ability to produce progesterone – leading to Estrogen dominance.
Gut dysbiosis, liver dysfunction, excess consumption of alcohol, and slow COMT (Catechol-O-methylatransferase), can hinder the body’s ability to break down excess Estrogen.
Certain medications such as Oral Contraceptive Pills and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are an exogenous source of Estrogen.
Synthetic xenoestrogens in the cosmetics, plastics, pesticides, household cleaning products, and Poly Chlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) used in insulating fluids and coolants, can also contribute to excess Estrogen levels in the body.
Xenoestrogens are chemicals that act like Estrogen in the body and can disrupt the nervous system. They are linked to hormone-related cancers and can make it harder to maintain a healthy weight, even with a good diet. These endocrine disruptors, also known as obesogens, can contribute to weight gain by interfering with the body’s natural balance.
Symptoms of High Estrogen
The prominent symptoms of Estrogen dominance are irregular periods and mood swings. It could also cause dense breast tissue, and can lead to lower sex drive. It can cause gynecomastia (enlarged breasts), infertility, and erectile dysfunction in men.
Estrogen also causes increased fat deposition around the hips and thighs. When this deposition is overwhelmed, it could lead to insulin resistance. Due to this reason, it is difficult to lose weight when you have Estrogen dominance. It is much easier to do so when there is a balance between Estrogen and progesterone. Thus, you cannot achieve the desired weight loss results by focusing on controlling calories intake and exercising, if there is a hormonal issue. The underlying pathology must also be addressed.
It is noteworthy here, that if Estrogen dominance is unaddressed for a long duration, it can increase the risk of conditions such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, PCOS, blood clots and stroke, thyroid dysfunction etc.
Dietary Changes to Support Estrogen Detox
The first step to reducing Estrogen in the body, is to eliminate ultra-processed foods such as excessive sugars, refined oils and refined carbs. Also avoid dairy products such as milk and curd as they could be a potential source of exogenous Estrogen.
Consume complex carbs, as it prevents sugar and insulin spikes. Use healthy fats like A2 ghee, butter and coconut oil or monounsaturated fats like sesame oil as a cooking medium. Fermented dairy products like buttermilk should also be preferred.
Include fiber in your diet. Fiber helps in the slow absorption of sugars, thereby avoiding sugar and insulin spikes. Fiber also ensures smooth bowel movement. If you are constipated, excess Estrogen gets reabsorbed by the body. A study has found that women who eat a high fibre diet excreted 3x more Estrogen in their poop, and had 15-20% lower Estrogen levels in their body.
Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, bok choy, cauliflower, cabbage, collard greens, kale, and radishes can support healthy Estrogen metabolism.
Liver Support and Efficient Estrogen Detoxification
If the liver is sluggish, estrogen detoxification is sluggish. Your liver processes and removes excess Estrogen through a two-step detox system:
Supporting your liver doesn’t have to be complicated. A clean diet, reduced alcohol intake, and a simple morning routine can make a significant difference. Start your day with warm water infused with lemon and ginger to kickstart digestion and detoxification, followed by a glass of fresh celery juice for added liver support. Incorporating bitter leafy greens like arugula and dandelion can further enhance liver function. Additionally, powerful herbs such as Milk Thistle, Dandelion, Globe Artichoke, and Schisandra are known to aid in detoxification and promote overall liver health.
Certain supplements can support liver detox. For instance; Indol-3-carbinol supports phase 1 detox, Calcium-D-glucarate enhances Estrogen secretion, and N-acetylcyteine (NAC) promotes liver function and glutathione production.
Magnesium and B vitamins play a key role in processes called methylation cycles, which help your body break down substances like Estrogen and stress hormones. These processes rely on COMT. If your body doesn’t have enough magnesium or B vitamins, COMT slows down, leading to poor Estrogen metabolism and potentially causing Estrogen levels to become too high.
Iodine and Wild Yam Cream can help address Estrogen dominance without any side effects that come with some progesterone medications.
Omega-3 fatty acids found in foods like fish, flaxseeds, and walnuts, contain lignans – a weaker form of Estrogen that is found in breast tissue. So, apart from lowering inflammation, improving insulin sensitivity and overall metabolism, Omega 3s also block the body’s natural stronger Estrogen.
Apart from the above, clinically prepared detox programs can also go a long way in improving liver health.
Lifestyle Adjustments to Reduce Estrogen Load
Avoiding Xenoestrogens in Daily Life
Xenoestrogens are synthetic compounds found in plastics, cosmetics, and pesticides that mimic Estrogen in the body and disrupt the natural hormone balance. They can also affect the nervous system, potentially promoting hormone-related cancers. Such endocrine disruptors also function as obesogens – that is, they promote weight gain despite following a healthy diet. Therefore, it is advisable to reduce exposure to Xenoestrogens.
Use glass or stainless steel containers instead of plastic, choose organic and hormone-free foods, and Switch to non-toxic beauty products and natural cleaning solutions.
For more personalized guidance on how you can minimize your exposure to Xenoestrogens and adopt sustainable lifestyle habits, feel free to contact our team of experts at Wellfinity.
Monitoring Progress and Personalized Support from Wellfinity
Tracking your hormone levels is essential to monitor progress and make necessary adjustments. Blood tests can measure key hormones like Estrogen, Progesterone, Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Luteinizing hormones (LH), Testosterone/DHEA and Thyroid hormones.
Based on the test results, our team of functional medicine experts can develop a customized plan to address the root causes of Estrogen dominance in your body, and thereby help you achieve sustainable hormonal balance.
Balancing your hormones is about more than addressing symptoms – it is about improving your overall quality of life. From dietary adjustments and liver support to stress management and lifestyle changes, there are many natural ways to lower Estrogen levels in females fast.
At Wellfinity, we have a team of experts who are adept in assessing your symptoms and designing a personalized and customized program to help you take control of your hormone imbalances, and thereby your health. Contact us now!
