Hormones play a significant and necessary role in our lives, but fluctuations can significantly impact our overall well-being. When you experience hormonal imbalances, you may start to notice more brain fog or feel tired all the time. Perhaps your periods become heavier, or your libido is nonexistent. Many dismiss these symptoms as stress from increased demands at home or work. However, what may actually be happening is a condition called “estrogen dominance,” where there is an increase in the overall estrogen burden in the body. It can occur in women (especially pre-, peri-, or menopausal) and men, leading to a host of health issues.

In addition to brain fog, low libido, and menstrual changes, women with estrogen dominance can experience intense PMS, breast tenderness, and headaches before periods. Others may face hot flashes, belly fat, and difficulty losing weight. In men, estrogen dominance can cause enlarged breasts (gynecomastia), sexual dysfunction, weight gain, and infertility. Estrogen dominance is also thought to contribute to certain hormone-related illnesses, such as uterine fibroids, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, and even increased risks of breast, uterine, and prostate cancers.

What causes estrogen dominance?

Lifestyle risk factors, including physical inactivity, poor diet, excess weight, and alcohol use, can all influence our estrogen burden, contributing to estrogen dominance. But perhaps the most important contributor is our exposure to xenoestrogens. Xenoestrogens are estrogen-mimicking compounds that disrupt hormone balance. They include phthalates in beauty and cleaning products, bisphenols in plastics, estrogens in birth control and hormone replacement medications, and forever chemicals such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs).

PFASs are human-made substances that reside forever in our bodies and are found in everyday items, including food packaging, non-stick cookware, clothing, and cosmetics. They are found nearly everywhere in the environment, including the air, soil, and drinking water, and are present in 97% of North Americans. When we are exposed, not only do they take up permanent residence, but they mimic our estrogen and disrupt hormonal equilibrium, contributing to estrogen dominance.

Relieving the burden

Our total estrogen burden includes endogenous estrogens (the stuff our bodies make) and exogenous estrogens and xenoestrogens (the stuff we put in/on our bodies). When these compounds circulate in the bloodstream, they eventually reach the liver, where they are broken down into metabolites. The problem is that the liver can metabolize estrogens and xenoestrogens into different types of compounds – some that are protective and others that promote estrogen dominance. The good news is that we can support the liver’s ability to break down hormones and chemicals in a healthy way, reducing estrogen dominance and helping relieve its associated symptoms.

In fact, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study involving 114 premenopausal women using a supplement containing a blend of micronutrients and herbal extracts, called EstroSense®, found that taking the supplement for three months led to markedly higher levels of the protective estrogen metabolite and lower levels of the more dangerous metabolite compared to the placebo.

Give your gut the final say

To encourage the final stage of detoxification of estrogens and xenoestrogens, the estrobolome (collection of microbes in our gut that modify and metabolize estrogens) must be supported. Although more research is necessary, prebiotics and probiotics show promise in supporting overall endocrine balance and potentially reducing estrogen dominance.

What you can do

Working with a qualified health care practitioner can help determine your estrogen levels. No one is too young to start limiting their exposure to estrogens, and both men and women can benefit from the following tips:

• Maintain a healthy weight and engage in regular physical activity.
• Eat a well-balanced diet, such as the Mediterranean diet, emphasizing the “rainbow” of fresh fruit and vegetables, including cruciferous vegetables, whole grains, legumes, plant-based oils, and wild fish.
• Boost fiber intake to encourage the binding of excess estrogen in the digestive tract by eating more flax seeds, chia seeds, rice/oat bran, nuts, and other seeds.
• Incorporate fermented foods and probiotic supplements to support further metabolism of xenoestrogens.
• Wash your fruits and veggies well to remove any herbicide and pesticide residues.
• Keep your alcohol intake to fewer than one drink daily or have none at all.
• Try to go plastic-free! Switch out your plastic containers for glass and replace plastic wrap with beeswax options.
• Avoid conventional household cleaners and personal care products, such as shampoos, soaps, hairsprays, and cosmetics containing phthalates.
• Consider a supplement like EstroSense, containing indole-3-carbinol (I3C), calcium D-glucarate, and sulforaphane, to support healthy estrogen metabolism.

References:
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About the Author: The WomenSense Team

WomenSense by Assured Natural is a full line of products designed with women’s health needs in mind, allowing you to choose the best product for your specific needs at each stage of life.