Achieving hormonal balance can feel like riding a unicycle, walking a tightrope, juggling pins…all manner of challenging circus tricks. Indeed, things go awry when we lean too far one way, threatening to topple.
The balance of female hormones such as oestrogen & progesterone is one such delicate dance. Increasing numbers of women are displaying symptoms of oestrogen dominance – heavy, clotty and/or painful periods of lengthy duration, painful ovulation, and symptoms of PMS. Mood swings, anxiety & depression can also indicate a relative lack of progesterone, a “feel good” hormone that is just as important as serotonin in regulating mood & behavior.
Apart from uncomfortable monthly symptoms, the implications of long-term oestrogen dominance are more sinister.
– As oestrogen is an anabolic hormone, excess can be associated with weight gain, particularly around the abdomen. The catch? Oestrogen is produced by adipocytes (fat cells) so will increase in proportion to body fat – a vicious cycle.
– When oestrogen is high, immune activity is increased leading to inflammation, which stimulates even more oestrogen production!
– Oestrogen may be re-absorbed into the gut if levels are elevated & its breakdown is impaired. The health of the gut flora is critical in this respect – healthy flora will help excrete oestrogen, pathogenic or ‘bad’ bacteria will promote its build-up.
– Oestrogen dominance can also spoil your digestion. It interferes with bile production, leading to difficulty digesting fats, and, if you are predisposed, greater chance of gallstones.
– Not to mention the risk of oestrogen-dependant cancers – such as breast, uterine and ovarian.
Luckily, bringing the body and its hormonal messengers back to equilibrium can be undertaken simply & naturally. The best place to start? Avoiding external (or, ‘exogenous’) sources of oestrogens & oestrogen-like compounds, such as:
– Oral contraceptives and synthetic hormone replacement therapies.
– Non-pastured animals fed hormones. Grain-fed meats are laden with chemicals (sprayed on the grains) that accumulate in their tissue and disrupt hormones in the person consuming them. Choose grass-fed meat, dairy and eggs.
– Petro-chemically-derived pesticides, herbicides and fungicides.
– The chemical Bisphenol A (BPA), used in plastic bottles, containers and almost all food-can liners. Eat canned food sparingly.
– Solvents in fingernail polish and remover, glue, cleaning supplies have been found to cause cell proliferation and endocrine disruption. Choose less toxic types.
– Car exhaust is a real problem if you live in a city or an area with constant exposure. Incorporate plenty of antioxidant-rich teas and foods into your diet to combat this.
– Emulsifiers found in soaps and cosmetics. Your skin is your largest organ & absorbs everything – choose organic & chemical-free.
– Almost all plastics release oestrogen-like compouds – especially when they’re heated. Don’t buy food that is stored or packaged in plastics & transfer anything bought in plastic to something more stable, like a glass container.
– Industrial wastes such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxins leak into the ground water and contaminate drinking water. Drink filtered water. These same chemicals can also be found in seafood – choosing local, wild-caught, smaller varieties of fish can help reduce exposure.
Oestrogen dominance can cause more than just painful periods — it has long-term implications for our health and future happiness.
Hop off the hormonal see-saw and restore the balance by starting small — avoiding excess estrogens in your environment. This simple prescription can make a big difference – begin healing your hormones today!