6 Tips for Managing Estrogen Dominance

Paula Gallagher on
woman experiencing a headache from menopause

From puberty to menopause, symptoms such as mood swings, bloating, headaches, hot flashes and insomnia are indicators of hormone imbalance. Often the underlying cause is estrogen dominance. This occurs when there is too much estrogen, or not enough progesterone to balance its effects.

Estrogen dominance can occur naturally as we age, however some of the most common hormone disruptors are environmental toxins and plastics.

Exposure to potent, environmental estrogens (xenoestrogens), found in plastics, pesticides, cleaners, detergents, beauty care products, meat and dairy products, along with stress, anovulation, poor diet, obesity, microbial imbalances, and synthetic hormones from birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy, can wreak havoc on hormones. Xenoestrogens mimic estrogen in the body and contribute to estrogen dominance. Xenoestrogens are difficult for us to break down, and they fool the body into thinking they’re estrogen.

Estrogen dominance in women is associated with many symptoms and conditions, including PMS, excess belly fat and difficulty losing weight. Women may also have a history of varicose veins, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, headaches/migraines before periods, sore breasts, or heavy and painful periods. Men with estrogen dominance will often experience fatigue, loss of muscle mass, depression, belly fat and sometimes sexual dysfunction.

Here are 5 tips for reducing estrogen dominance.

1. Eat Phytoestrogens

Phytoestrogens are plant-based chemicals that have weak estrogenic activity. They are considered hormone balancing because they have mild estrogen and antiestrogenic effects. They can compete with more potent natural estrogens as well as xenoestrogens, thereby blocking their effects. If your body does not have enough estrogen, phytoestrogens can provide mild estrogenic activity.

Phytoestrogens can be found in flaxseeds, legumes (soybeans, lentils, chickpeas), fennel, celery and parsley. They are also found in herbs such as alfalfa, hops, red clover, black cohosh and wild yam. Studies show that dietary intake of phytoestrogens is associated with a decreased cancer risk, specifically endometrial. Obese, post-menopausal women consuming low amounts of phytoestrogens have the highest endometrial cancer risk.

2. Support Your Digestion

Phytoestrogens are metabolized in the intestinal tract, where they are converted into their active form. Optimal digestion and bacterial balance are key for this conversion to take place. Estrogen is metabolized and conjugated in the liver. The liver produces glucuronic acid, which attaches to the hormone and helps to eliminate it from the body. A poor diet can disrupt this process by releasing an enzyme called beta-glucuronidase, which cleaves the bond between glucuronic acid and estrogen so that it doesn’t get eliminated and become recirculated, contributing to estrogen dominance.

3. Optimize Your Diet

A diet that focuses on high fiber (whole grains, nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, dark leafy greens and legumes), high-quality proteins, fermented foods, healthy fats, organic foods, cruciferous vegetables, filtered water, and is low in sugar, caffeine, processed foods and artificial foods, supports healthy hormone metabolism and promotes healthy weight management.

4. Practice Healthy Lifestyle Habits

Habits such as exercising, cleansing, supporting your stress levels, and using natural body care and natural cleaning products, can support optimal liver function and detoxification.

5. Clean Up the Toxins From Your House

Switch over to environmentally friendly household cleaners and detergents, choose organic beauty products and makeup, and minimize your exposure to plastics. Switch out all the plastic in your kitchen and dump the plastic zip lock bags and wrap. Wax paper is excellent for wrapping sandwiches, or better yet a stainless steel lunch container. Try to go plastic free!

6. Supplement With Helpful Nutrients

    Hormone Balancing Supplement: Pathway Women's Hormone Balancer is a comprehensive formula that helps support women's health. It includes calcium D-glucarate – a substance found in many fruits and vegetables, such as grapefruit, apples, oranges, broccoli and Brussels sprouts. Calcium D-glucarate increases the glucuronidation and elimination of estrogen. It also contains DIM (Diindolymethane) which helps promote metabolism of estrogen into the favorable and protective 2-hydroxyestrone (2-OHE) metabolite, versus production of 16-alpha-hydroxyestrone (16-alpha-OHE) metabolite. Assessment of 2:16-alpha-OHE ratio appears to be useful in evaluating breast health. The herb chaste tree is excellent for addressing a wide variety of menstrual irregularities.
        Probiotics: Healthy bacteria are associated with a lower incidence of estrogen sensitive cancers due to the reduced re-absorption of estrogen. Pathway Suprema Dophilus
            Progesterone cream: This helps to increase progesterone levels. Look for a cream that uses USP progesterone derived from a substance called diosgenin, which is extracted from wild yam or from soybeans. In the laboratory, diosgenin is chemically synthesized into human progesterone. Because progesterone is very fat-soluble, it is easily absorbed through the skin. Pathway Crème de Femme

              Are you interested in learning more about estrogen dominance? Check out our new Humanized Podcast and discover how personalized health is now a reality.

              Before you take any supplement, please consult with a natural healthcare practitioner. Contact Village Green Apothecary for advice and consulting on your best possible nutrition plan.

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