Struggling with Estrogen Dominance? Discover Natural Ways to Eliminate Excess Estrogen
One of the most common hormone imbalance that women experience is excess estrogen, also refered to as "estrogen dominance". This describes a condition where a woman can have deficient, normal or excessive estrogen, but has little or no progesterone to balance its effects in the body.
The body makes three main estrogens:
- Estrone (E1)
- Estradiol (E2)
- Estriol (E3)
Estrone (E1), which is made primarily in the adrenal glands and adipose tissue, is the main type of estrogen that a woman's body keeps making naturally after menopause. Estradiol (E2) is the strongest estrogen, made by the ovaries and present in the body for most of women's lives before menopause. Estriol (E3) is the weakest estrogen, present in the body primarily during pregnancy.
Keep reading to discover my top herbal, lifestyle and nutrition tips to naturally reduce excess estrogen, reblance your hormones, and effectively reverse the symptoms and conditions associated with etsrogen dominance.
Signs and Symptoms of Estrogen Dominance
Common signs and symptoms of high estrogen to progesterone ratio are:
- Cyclical headaches & migraines
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
- Breast tenderness
- Severe PMS or PMDD
- Mood swings
- PCOS
- Uterine fibroids
- Endometriosis
- Ovarian cyst
- Fatigue
- Water retention
- Fibrocystic breast
- Sluggish metabolism
- Gallbladder issues
- Yeast Infections
- Skin issues (acne, eczema, etc)
- High blood pressure
- Insulin resistance
- Insomnia
1. Improve Your Liver and Gut Health
Poor liver and gut health can inhibit the elimination of excess estrogen from your body and promote its reabsorption. High levels of synthetic estrogen like those found in hormonal birth control, beauty and household products, and packaged foods require additional work by your liver and gut to process out.
To support your liver and gut health, avoid unnecessary medication and prescription drugs. Use herbs and natural medicine as an alternative instead. Also, address parasites, gut pathogens and dysbiosis (bacterial or yeast overgrowth) and support your microbiome.
For improved liver and gut health, and proper excretion of excess estrogen purchase the 30-Day Cleanse Health Program- an herbal, nutrition and lifestyle shift protocol that helps women eliminate their estrogen dominance symptoms and improve their overall health.
If you can't invest in the full 30-Day Cleanse Program right now, shop here for individual cleansing products.
2. Limit Your Exposure to Xenoestrogens & Toxic Products.
Xenoestrogens, also known as “fake or synthetic estrogen” are endocrine-disrupting chemicals that mimic estrogen. These synthetic hormones are what's found in many of your commercial skincare and cosmetic products, household cleaning products, plastic, canned foods, dental sealants, flame retardants, non-stick cookware, and certain clothing.
Instead opt for safe, natural eco-friendly skincare and household products. Use natural body butter, oils and creams. Invest in glass storage containers instead of plastic storage container. Be mindful of your clothing fabric too.
The point I'm making here, is for you to intentionally work to limit your exposure to environmental toxins, as much as you can. Because truth is, in today's world, it's absolutely impossible to avoid toxins entirely. This is where our cleansing herbs in the apothecary help fill the gap to support your hormone health, and overall wellbeing.
3. Identify Your Sources of Stress.
Stress, whether it's physical, mental, emotional or environmetal can contribute to estrogen hormone imbalance. Stress causes your cortisol hormone levels to rise, and cortisol can decrease progesterone production and can also block your progesterone receptors.
Over time, this can lead to lower levels of progesterone, and too much estrogen circulating in the body. This is why tending to the areas in your life that are causing you stress, or you to stretch yourself too thin, needs to be addressed.
Frankly, in order for you to feel better, you're going to have to confront your dis-ease promoting lifestyle.
Meanwhile, our Adrenal Support in the apothecary supports healthy cortisol balance-while you work on addressing, reshifting (and even replacing) the things, places and people in your life that's contributing to your stress levels.
4. Address Nutrient Deficiencies & Avoid Restrictive Diets
Several nutrient deficiencies can contribute to estrogen dominance. A magnesium, vitamin B6, zinc, iodine or vitamin D deficiency can cause an imbalance of estrogen relative to progesterone. Addressing these nutrient deficiences through diet or supplementing can support hormone balance.
This is why extreme restrictive diets are not healthy long-term. When you eliminate whole food groups from your diet, you raise your risk of developing nutrient deficiencies and hormone imbalances.
Instead load up on nutrients by eating a traditional nutrient-dense diet that include; healthy pasture-raised meat, organ meats, wild fatty fish, eggs, vegetables, fruit, seeds and nuts. When you diversify your diet you can easily improve your nutrient profile.
5. Move Your Body, Be Active.
Exercise plays a vital role in managing estrogen dominance by addressing some of its root causes and promoting overall hormonal balance. Regular physical activity helps regulate the production and metabolism of hormones.
Exercise can lower levels of circulating estrogens and increase levels of a protien called sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) that binds up free-estrogen in your blood serum. Physical activity also improves the liver's ability to detoxify and eliminate estrogen.
Excess body fat can contribute to estrogen dominance since fat cells produce and store estrogen. By reducing fat levels, especially through aerobic and strength-training exercises, you can lower estrogen production and restore balance.
So get active, and start moving your body in a way that feels good to you.
In Summary
Estrogen dominance is a condition that can affect your body in many different ways-from skin issues to period issues, from mood swings to gallbladder illness, and blood pressure and weight concerns. How excess estrogen manifests in your body, depends on your unique body constitution and underlying health issues.
The good news here is that it can be addressed naturally, but your approach MUST be holistic. Follow the guidelines I shared with you here to start improving your hormone health and overall wellbeing.
As always, if you want to work 1:1 to transform your health, or you have questions about which herbal products to purchase in the apothecary, book a FREE Health Discovery Call.
Love and health,
- Shavonne