If losing weight is harder than you thought?
If mood swings are taking a toll on our relationship with your partner and kids?
If premenstrual (PMS) symptoms make you dull, bloated and throw you out of whack then it’s probably excess estrogen circulating in your body.
In Males, excess estrogen can also lead to erectile dysfunction.
Estrogen regulates cholesterol, maintains bone health and affects moods. It influences puberty, menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause. The three types of Estrogen are
- Estrone (E1): This is the primary type of Estrogen in males. It is also the primary form of estrogen in females after menopause. The ovaries, placenta, testicles, and fat tissue produce estrone from androstenedione or androgens.
- Estradiol (E2): This is the most potent form of Estrogen, and its concentration is highest in females of childbearing age. Doctors use this form of estrogen as a marker for ovary health.
- Estriol (E3): The placenta produces this type of Estrogen, which reaches peak levels during pregnancy. The amount of estriol increases as the fetus grows.
Let’s first understand that high levels of estrogen are not good. This may happen due to primarily 3 reasons
- Overproduction of Oestrogen
- Changes in how the body breakdown Estrogen
- Changes in how the body excretes Estrogen
Factors that can be influence Estrogen dominance are
- Obesity or excess body weight, especially around the waist.
- Stress as it releases cortisol levels. Chronic stress influences progesterone level (another reproductive hormone) and leads to a knock off effect on Estrogen as well.
- Alcohol consumption.
- Dysbiosis- Certain bad bacteria in the gut leads to a poor excretion of Estrogen from the body which leads to build up of excess Estrogen.
- Xenoestrogen exposure- These are endocrine disruptors that mimic Estrogen and enter the body through our environmental exposures.
- Medications- Some medications may elevate Estrogen in the body.
- Type 2 diabetes and other conditions- Chronic conditions such as PCOS, pre or type 2 diabetic, endometriosis, uterine fibroids and certain cancers lead to high levels of Estrogen. But there is good news! You can overcome these serious health challenges by making a lifestyle shift just as I did when I had symptoms of PCOS and years of PMS struggles.
Follow these tips to ease your symptoms drastically
- Plant based diet or anti-inflammatory diet (plant based happens to be the most anti-inflammatory diet)
- Eating more soy, cruciferous and a very high fibre diet
- Maintaining a normal body weight
- Reducing stress
- Eliminating or reducing alcohol (depends on your condition)
- Avoiding exogenous hormones entering your body through environmental exposures.
Ofc, seeing a doctor and testing for hormone imbalance is a must.
Disclaimer: Always consult your GP/PHYSICIANS. This article is no way giving you any medical recommendations or asking you to override your doctor’s advice. Nurture Yourself is not responsible for any health issues you may have or develop in future.