Estrogen dominance occurs when a woman has too much estrogen relative to progesterone. This hormonal imbalance can cause various symptoms like weight gain, fluid retention, and mood swings. Many factors can contribute to estrogen dominance:
- High levels of environmental xenoestrogens (synthetic estrogens) from plastics, pesticides, and personal care products can disrupt hormonal balance.
- Chronic stress promotes excess cortisol, which can decrease progesterone levels.
- Poor liver function impairs the body's ability to properly metabolize and excrete estrogens.
- Insulin resistance and obesity can increase inflammation and aromatase enzyme activity, raising estrogen production.
- Low fiber diets and compromised gut health allow more estrogen to recirculate.
- Advancing age causes ovaries to produce less progesterone.
- Under or over-exercising can delay ovulation, suppressing progesterone.
Estrogen dominance can manifest itself in many ways:
- Weight gain, especially around the hips and thighs, that's hard to lose due to fluid retention and increased appetite.
- PMS symptoms like breast tenderness, mood swings, irritability, or depression.
- Fibrocystic breasts - lumpy, painful breasts.
- Irregular periods or abnormal bleeding.
- Endometriosis - uterine lining growth outside the uterus.
- Fibroids - noncancerous tumors in the uterus.
- Infertility and low progesterone levels.
- Fatigue, trouble sleeping, anxiety, and digestive issues.
So how can you treat estrogen dominance? Here are some tips:
- Reduce exposure to xenoestrogens by using natural personal care and cleaning products and avoiding plastics when possible. Eat organic produce to avoid pesticides.
- Manage stress through yoga, meditation, massage, or other relaxing activities. Get enough high-quality sleep.
- Support your liver with foods like grapefruit, turmeric, and cruciferous vegetables. Avoid alcohol and unnecessary medications.
- Exercise moderately - not too much or too little.
- Eat a fiber-rich diet with plenty of leafy greens to support bowel regularity. Take a probiotic.
- Consider bioidentical progesterone therapy, soy isoflavones, or DIM supplements to help rebalance hormones.
- Herbal remedies like vitex, black cohosh, and maca may provide relief from symptoms.
If symptoms persist, see a doctor to get hormone levels tested. They can provide personalized treatment recommendations and help get to the root cause of the imbalance. Consider specialized care from hormone experts like Rejuvenate Hormone Clinic who take a holistic approach to restore hormonal equilibrium. With proper diet, lifestyle adjustments, and care you can relieve estrogen dominance and feel your best again!