Supplements And Vitamins For Estrogen Dominance
If you have tried all of the natural solutions covered in this article, and are still dealing with signs of estrogen dominance, consider adding one or two of the following supplements to your regime to support your body to lower estrogen levels and efficiently clear excess estrogen naturally. Always visit a health care practitioner before beginning any new supplement or vitamin to make sure it is an appropriate choice for you.
Vitamin B6
B6 supports progesterone production, which is often low in estrogen dominance. Improving the ratio of estrogen to progesterone can be helpful in reducing symptoms of estrogen dominance.
Diindolylmethane
DIM is a concentrated compound derived from indole-3-carbinol . This compound is only to be used when working with a practitioner and when estrogen excess has been confirmed, as it is a powerful way of lowering high estrogen levels. In conditions where estrogen levels are not high, DIM can do more harm than good by significantly lowering estrogen, so do not use this supplement without professional guidance.
A high quality magnesium and B-complex
These nutrients are needed to support optimal liver function
Broccoli sprout extract
Broccoli sprout is a gentler form of indole-3-carbinol which supports the breakdown of estrogen in the liver. It is less powerful than DIM so may be an appropriate choice if you have milder symptoms or high estrogen levels have not been confirmed through functional testing.
Calcium D-glucarate
How Dim Combats Estrogen Dominance
While it`s important to make lifestyle changes that reduce your exposure to environmental estrogens and help your body dispose of excess estrogen throughout the body, the supplement DIM can serve to accelerate the process of reversing estrogen dominance. DIM is short for Diindolylmethane. It`s a phytonutrient that occurs naturally in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cabbage. DIM actually helps metabolize and breakdown estrogen in the body, which promotes balanced hormone levels.
Dr. Thomas Stearns Lee says, “Supplementing our diets with DIM can shift the production of estrogen metabolites away from dangerous 16-hydroxy in favor of beneficial 2-hydroxy metabolites.” Most of the problems associated with estrogen are related to the 16-hydroxy metabolite of estrogen. Those with conditions related to estrogen dominance are said to have too little of the 2-hydroxy metabolite and too much 16-hydroxy.
While it can help to eat more cruciferous vegetables to increase your intake of DIM, the truth is that you`d have to consume them by the pound to see a significant benefit. That is why DIM supplements are generally recommended. The effects of DIM are quite profound and generally noticeable to someone supplementing with a high enough dosage. The standard recommended dosage for women is 100-200 mg of DIM daily. Men typically need a higher dose than women, such as 200-400 mg per day.
How The Liver Impacts Your Hormones
Your liver functions in your body in much the same way a pool filter functions in a pool. Just as a pool filter cleans a pool by catching the dead leaves, dirt and insects, the liver detoxifies our bodies from harmful chemicals and toxins found in food and our environment. This is done in two phases and requires certain vitamins and minerals to do it effectively.
Too much booze, drugs , pesticides in foods, refined sugar, chemicals and environmental pollution , and too little nutrients can cause your lovely liver to get really bogged down. It ends up working all day long to remove these excess toxins that were exposed to, instead of doing its main jobs in the body.
One of the most important functions of the liver is to break down and remove excess hormones from your body. One hormone in particular is estrogen. As you know, estrogen is a big player in our menstrual health it helps build the uterine lining, it keeps our vaginas lubricated and even helps keep our mood elevated!
There are two phases of liver detoxification. Fortunately for many of us, our phase 1 detox works really great so things get moved through pretty fast. Where we run into problems is phase 2 it tends to be much slower. This creates a bit of a bottleneck and eventually a lot of the not-quite-broken-down toxins spill back into our system because the liver cant accommodate them anymore because of the backlog.
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Testing Blood Estrogen Levels
A blood test will usually measure estradiol levels which is the stronger version of estrogen but some labs will also measure serum estrone and serum estriol levels.
A blood test is accurate for measuring estrogen and progesterone levels but it will not measure the estrogen metabolites and methylation of estrogen.
A blood test will show whether you have high oestrogen levels but it will not show why the levels are high like the DUTCH test.
Estrogen Dominance During Menopause And Peri
But, another common scenario by which woman develop estrogen dominance occurs during peri menopause and menopause. During these times in a womans life, you may find yourself with either low or low normal levels of estrogen levels but even lower levels of progesterone-
So, in this scenario, while your estrogen levels may be normal or low normal, your progesterone levels are even LOWER and they cant counter balance the levels of estrogen.
This still leaves you in a state of relative state of estrogen dominance.
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Choose Organic Meat And Dairy
Conventionally raised cows, pigs, and chickens are given growth hormones to make them grow larger and to increase dairy production. Studies show that these hormones make their way into our bodies where they can disrupt the delicate balance of our doctrine system.
Choose organic, grass-fed, and free-range meats when possible. Many people feel best when avoiding dairy altogether, but if you tolerate it well or want to know if you do, check out this article for tips on the safest and healthiest forms of dairy to try.
Medicine For Estrogen Dominance
Speak to a qualified health professional about your options about hormone replacement and contraception. While HRT and oral contraceptives are one option, its important to note that other hormone-free alternatives also exist. Working with a qualified professional will empower you to make the best decision for yourself on contraception and hormone replacement.
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Learn More With Overcoming Estrogen Dominance
The body has an amazing ability to heal. We just need to give it the right resources.
In Overcoming Estrogen Dominance, my goal is to empower and give you the tools to take control of your hormones and health.
More than 70% of women experience estrogen dominance. The symptoms range from lumpy and fibrocystic breasts to thyroid nodules, hot flashes, fibroids, uterine polyps, painful, heavy or irregular periods to infertility and miscarriages, from mood swings to insomnia, weight gain to fatigue.
So many women have experienced the pain and frustration that comes when they feel their symptoms and complaints are dismissed or minimized. This is particularly true for women who are experiencing the symptoms of hormone imbalance. Even when doctors do offer treatment, its typically in the form of prescription medication or invasive surgical procedures.
In Overcoming Estrogen Dominance, I hope to show that those extreme interventions are often unnecessary, and to give women a roadmap to reverse estrogen dominance using food, herbs, supplements and natural protocols to rebalance hormones.
To get your copy of Overcoming Estrogen Dominance, go here.
Disclaimer
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Improve Phase 3 Estrogen Detoxification
While there is Phase 1, 2, and 3 with liver detoxification I always make sure that Phase 3 is working first, because if this is not working then you will simply reabsorb toxins and hormones processed in Phases 1 and 2.
If you experience constipation then you have an issue with Phase 3 detoxification and clearance of estrogen. It is essential that you are having at least one healthy bowel motion every day.
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Normal Estrogen Levels In Men
These levels do not fluctuate throughout the month like they do for women, so the timing of the testing does not matter.
If you measure with the DUTCH hormone test you want to be in the range of 0.50 and 2.0, any higher than this means you have estrogen dominance.
The DUTCH test will help you identify if it is an issue with increased aromatase levels that is converting your testosterone to estrogen OR if it is an estrogen detox issue.
With blood testing, you want to make sure that your estrogen is below 35 pg/ml or 100 pmol/L and the units that the lab uses for testing will depend on which country you are in.
Natural Supplements For Estrogen Dominance
Diet is critical to overcoming estrogen dominance. Once youve implemented those changes, nutritional supplementation can then only serve to amplify the positive effects of these changes. So which supplements dampen estrogen dominance? Heres the short list:
- Probiotics-support gut health
- Adaptogens -modulate our stress response
- Vitamin B6-enhances progesterone production, which in turn, counteracts excess estrogen
- Chaste Tree Berry -also supports the production of progesterone.
- Diindolylmethane -boosts estrogen detoxification processes in the liver
- Broccoli Seed Extract -also boosts estrogen detoxification processes in the liver
- Calcium D-Glucarate-inhibits beta-glucuronidase activity in the gut, which in turn, allows for more estrogen to be excreted through the stool. Refresher: beta-glucuronidase is an enzyme in the gut that prevents the clearance of estrogen
- Magnesium-influences the pituitary gland, which in turn, supports the production of estrogen and progesterone
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How To Reverse Estrogen Dominance Naturally
Addressing estrogen dominance can feel overwhelming, so I take a four-step approach in my clinic and my Hormone Harmony Academy digital program to make it more achievable.
If youre ready to learn exactly how to balance your hormones step-by-step, find out about my Hormone Harmony Academy digital program here. To get you started, Ive outlined some simple tips to begin addressing estrogen dominance:
Testing For Estrogen Dominance
Estrogen and progesterone can be tested using regular blood tests at your doctors office, however these tests are not highly sensitive and its common for hormone imbalances to be missed, particularly when it comes to estrogen.
The gold standard of hormone testing is the Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones which examines the key reproductive hormones like estrogen, testosterone and progesterone, as well as their metabolites to provide a comprehensive picture of your overall hormone balance.
In my Hormone Harmony Academy program, I offer my students the option to include a DUTCH test along with the 8-week program to significantly enhance their results throughout the program.
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How Do I Know If I Have Estrogen Dominance
Comprehensive testing that includes a thorough blood work up can help us understand inflammation, liver function, nutrient insufficiencies, metabolic markers, ability to methylate, and other factors. A saliva test for cortisol and other hormones is also critical to an accurate diagnosis. Sometimes a comprehensive stool analysis is recommended to look at gut health.
How To Recover From Estrogen Dominance With Whole Food Nutrition
Food is medicine and we dont mean that as a metaphor. When it comes to addressing common yet uncomfortable conditions like hormonal imbalance it can be tempting to take aggressive measures. What we really need is to be gentle to our bodies, to listen to their cry for help and to treat them with the best care in the form of good, natural nourishment.
Holistic Nutritionist and womens wellness expert, Kristin Dahl, has been talking to us about estrogen dominance all month. According to Kristin, estrogen dominance is one of the most common hormonal imbalances women experience, which can be due to either excess estrogen or a lack of progesterone in the body. Either way, there is an imbalance between estrogen and progesterone and this imbalance can negatively impact health in numerous ways.
We broke down the topic here and dove into some fascinating details here. Below, Kristin is sharing how to get back to balance using clean, whole food nutrition. As with any medical concern, its important to check in with your doctor, but this holistic guide is a helpful place to start your journey back to balance
How Do I Use Foods To Heal Estrogen Dominance?
Increase + focus on these foods:
Eat lots of whole foods from the Brassica family and cruciferous vegetables . Increase fiber, probiotic-rich foods and water.
Eliminate and Reduce These Foods:
Replace refined sugar with natural sweeteners like dates, honey or maple syrup, again in small quantities.
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Food Items That You Should Avoid
Its very important to know which estrogen dominance foods to avoid. You should steer clear of red meats, processed food, refined carbs, and foods rich in saturated fats. These categories of foods have a negative impact on the body in general. They produce harmful metabolites and can increase the risk of diseases like diabetes, and cardiovascular afflictions.
Estrogen levels tend to be higher in individuals who eat a Western type of diet. High-fat, high-carb diets can have harmful effects on the body and cause hormonal imbalances which may lead to 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.
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Increase Your Consumption Of Cruciferous Vegetables
Cruciferous veggies are a great source of sulfur-containing compounds called glucosinolates.
Glucosinolates are very beneficial for supporting the livers detoxification work .
To help lower your estrogen levels, add the following cruciferous veggies to add your diet:
- kale
- radishes
- rutabaga
Now, as I mentioned in the previous point, DIM is also found in cruciferous veggies.
So you might be wondering, why take the supplement when I could just eat cruciferous veggies ?
Well, the truth is you get better results when you combine cruciferous foods with a DIM supplement.
You see, the whole veggies contain vitamins, minerals, enzymes and other nutrients that cant be perfectly bottled up.
As for the supplement, it allows you to get more DIM than you could from food alone.
Combined together, you can really amplify your results!
Increase Cruciferous Vegetables In Your Diet
As I mentioned above, estrogen dominance in women is sometimes a result of liver dysfunction.
Cruciferous vegetables contain glucosinolates, which are responsible for the detoxification process in the liver.
Some of the vegetables in this category include kale, broccoli and arugula.
Just make sure the veggies dont contain pesticide residue as it may worsen the situation. Buy organic if you can afford it.
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Boost Liver Breakdown Of Estrogen
An efficiently functioning liver is essential to clearing high estrogen levels. To boost your liver function, focus on the liver supporting foods in the estrogen dominance diet plan: dandelion greens, green tea, cacao, citrus peel , radishes and bitter melon.
The liver also requires magnesium, glycine, selenium and B-vitamins so ensure any deficiencies of these nutrients are addressed. Visit a holistic practitioner for further support around nutrient deficiencies.
In my Hormone Harmony Academy program, we cover specific nutritional supplements and vitamins for estrogen dominance in depth. I teach my students how to individualize their supplement protocols based on their symptoms and take them through a 14-day detox plan to boost liver function.
Tips To Help Prevent Estrogen Dominance A Risk For Breast Cancer In Women And Men
Low estrogen levels in women can cause weight gain, mood swings and headaches. It also raises the risk for cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and dementia. And in men it may raise body fat, lower sex drive and contribute to erectile dysfunction.
Seems awful. But there is one bright spot lower levels of estrogen also lower your risk for breast cancer as well as other estrogenic cancers such as ovarian, uterine, thyroid and prostate. A pooled analysis involving nine studies suggested that having high levels of the estrogen estradiol doubles your risk for breast cancer, according to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
There are different types of estrogen, says Dr. Andrea Klemes, endocrinologist and chief medical officer, MDVIP. Low levels of one type can lead to a host of health issues, while high levels of another type raise the risk for cancer.Estrogen is a group of female hormones comprising estrone, estradiol, estriol:
Genetics are involved in breast cancer but not as much as you might think. Less than 15 percent of breast cancer cases have familial ties, according to BreastCancer.org. Hormones play a role in at least some types of breast cancer.
However, estrogen also plays a critical role in the development of breast cancer, according to a study published in Cancer Letters. Researchers found that cells involved in estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer cells one of the most common forms of breast cancer — need estrogen grow.
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Why A Plant Based Diet Promotes Estrogen Detoxification And Stubborn Weight Loss
Many women that I work with in my practice want to lose weight. They come in with this weight loss goal, but when we look deeper, we often discover hormonal imbalances that contribute to weight gain or make it hard to lose weight. Instead of white knuckling weight loss with a very restrictive diet, we address the root causes while adding in hormonal support through specific foods and dietary strategies. Often, when we fully address the root, weight normalizes effortlessly.
As I continue on my hormone series, today I want to offer some strategies to support estrogen detoxification and specifically, what foods to eat. You might be interested in an estrogen detox diet plan as part of a strategy for how to lose stubborn weight.
If youâre just catching up, be sure to go back and read Part 1 where I talk about the stress hormone cortisol and Part 2 where I talk about cortisol and progesterone.
In my most recent article, Part 3, I covered estrogen dominance â how too much estrogen in the system leads to uncomfortable, yet all too common, symptoms including PMS, tender breasts and fibroids. It even contributes to the development of cancer.
Excess estrogen or excess estrogen in relation to progesterone, is a common hormone imbalance that I see in women in my practice. Some women produce too much estrogen, others have a hard time clearing it and we are all exposed to extra estrogen, known as xenoestrogens, through the environment around us.
Letâs dive in to the details!