Estrogen Dominance
Hormones dictate so many of the bodily functions of humans that affect our wellbeing and overall health. In women, there are specific hormones that have profound influence over their physiology: the most well-known is estrogen.
Estrogen is a hormone crucial for puberty, secondary physical sex traits, regulation of the reproductive system and fertility. It is also essential for cognitive, cardiovascular, metabolic and bone health.
But too much estrogen, referred to as “estrogen dominance,” can cause irregular periods and may worsen conditions that affect your reproductive and everyday wellbeing.
“Estrogen dominance” is a vague term, as the higher levels of estrogen can be attributed to either “progesterone deficiency,” when there is not enough progesterone to balance estrogen levels and/or ‘estrogen excess” when the body is unable to metabolize and eliminate excess estrogen efficiently.
Symptoms of estrogen dominance in women include:
- Ovarian cysts and uterine fibroids
- Fibrocystic or dense breasts
- Menstrual irregularities
- PMS
- Heavy and/or irregular periods
- Mood swings, depression, and/or anxiety
- Weight gain
- Low libido
- Infertility
What can cause Estrogen dominance?
- Skipped ovulation (anovulatory cycles), most commonly in PCOS
- Inadequate progesterone production
- Compromised liver function
- Excess body weight
- Poor diet or sedentary lifestyle
- High Stress
- Inadequate sleep
- Certain medications
- Exposure to xenoestrogens
Xenoestrogens are hormone disrupting compounds that can mimic the behavior of estrogens. They can be found everywhere in our modern environment. In food, personal care products, clothing, home goods, plastics (especially those with BPA), and even water supplies!
Symptoms of estrogen dominance can occur at any phase of a woman’s life and are common throughout the early transition into menopause (perimenopause), when hormonal levels tend to fluctuate.
How to Support Healthy Estrogen Levels
Fortunately, with the help of a healthcare professional and some lifestyle tips, the symptoms and effects of estrogen dominance can be addressed, and healthy hormones levels can be supported! Some habits to keep in mind include:
- Minimizing exposure to synthetic xenoestrogens in food, water, and body care products.
- Reducing or eliminate alcohol.
- Practicing healthy stress management and getting quality sleep.
- Maintaining a healthy weight.
- Establishing and support a healthy gut microbiome and focus on fiber-rich foods.
- Consider herbs that support healthy estrogen levels.
Eliminate Excess Estrogen with Milk Thistle
When the body is not metabolizing hormones effectively, it can result in “estrogen excess.” While the digestive system is important for elimination, a key organ for optimal hormone metabolism is the liver.
Your liver is the top “detoxer” in the body. This vital organ filters the blood and helps to break down fat-soluble toxins so your body can eliminate them, but it can become overwhelmed by too many processed foods, medications, and environmental pollutants.
A healthy liver is essential for the body to have the ability to efficiently metabolize and excrete excess hormones from the body!
Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is an excellent liver-health support herb. It is the classic liver tonic herb for daily detox, with both protective and health enhancing benefits to effectively support optimal liver function. The benefits of this herb are attributed to silymarin, milk thistle’s antioxidant, liver-protective group of compounds. Silymarin inhibits the binding of toxins to liver cell membrane receptors and increases the rate of protein synthesis in liver cells, as well as encouraging subsequent repair after injury to cells.
Our carefully crafted milk thistle preparations provide gentle support that aids the liver in its daily function of processing and eliminating waste.
You can take Milk Thistle as a daily liver tonic in our potent Milk Thistle Capsules, or Milk Thistle Tincture – both made with certified organic milk thistle.
Milk thistle is also the main herbal ingredient in HepatoDR® and HepatoDR Capsules – liver-supportive formulas that blend the benefits of milk thistle PLUS 4 other complementary detoxifying herbs. This synergistic formula helps to support liver function and enhances its removal of the body’s accumulated waste products – including excess hormones – by aiding eliminatory functions!
Finding the underlying causes of hormonal imbalances like estrogen dominance, whether they are caused by lifestyle, environment, the phase of life you are in or just your body’s personal constitution, can be tricky to figure out.
If you feel that you may be experiencing symptoms of estrogen dominance, or that your general hormonal health could use some support, a Naturopathic Doctor can help to assess and treat your individual concerns.
You can find an ND in your area here.
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