Estrogen dominance is a popular topic these days, and although most people are learning to recognize the symptoms, many are left wondering what to do if they think they may have it! In addition to helping you restore hormonal balance, the easy-to-follow steps listed below can help men and women avoid hormone imbalance in the first place.
Before we get to that, here’s a quick recap of the top symptoms:
- Abnormal menstrual periods
- Bad PMS (breast tenderness/swelling, mood swings, headaches)
- Low libido
- Weight gain (especially hips and abs)
- Fatigue
- Brain fog
- Hair loss
- Thyroid dysfunction
- Sluggish metabolism
- Trouble sleeping
Step 1: Remove xenoestrogens
Unfortunately, as a side-effect of greater industrialization and new innovations in technology, we’ve seen harmful chemical compounds enter into our day-to-day routine. One such chemical compound is called a “xenoestrogen”, which can mimic estrogen in the body. We’re being bombarded on a daily basis, so it’s no wonder so many people are suffering from estrogen dominance!
Here are some of the top offenders to swap out of your daily routine:
- Plastic water bottles
- Plastic tupperware
- Cosmetics, makeup and toiletries (opt for natural lines)
- Non-organic dairy, produce
- Tap water
- BPA cans
- Dryer sheets
- Birth control pill
- Soy protein isolate
Step 2: Ensure efficient elimination
It’s all well and good to want to remove excess estrogen from your body, but what if you’re chronically constipated? That estrogen isn’t going anywhere! It’s simply going to re-enter the bloodstream and circulate throughout the body, continuing to cause problems. That’s why this step is crucial before beginning to take liver and estrogen detoxification supporting supplements.
Make sure you are having daily bowel movements. If you’re not, try out these tips:
- Drink 2-3L of water per day
- Fill up half your plate with vegetables at each meal
- Eat probiotic foods like kimchi, sauerkraut, miso, kefir, plain yogurt and tempeh
- Add a scoop of fibre to your daily smoothie, oatmeal or parfait
- Supplement with magnesium citrate or triphala (an Ayurvedic herb) to promote bowel movements
To support elimination through all the pathways in the body, make sure to do the following as well:
- Take deep breaths to support the lungs
- Go for a massage to support the lymph
- Work up a sweat through exercise or sit in a sauna to support the elimination of toxins through the skin
- Use a dry skin brush to remove dead skin cells
Step 3: Support liver health & estrogen detoxification
A well-functioning liver helps us remove excess estrogen from the body. Here’s how it’s done in simple terms: during Phase I of detoxification, the liver turns harmful estrogen intro milder, weaker forms of estrogen. In Phase II, the liver turns that mild form of estrogen into a water-soluble form so that it can be excreted through urine and stool.
Clearly, supporting Phase I and Phase II detoxification is crucial. But there are two main instances in which this would not be possible:
- If the liver is not receiving the nutrients it needs to fulfill Phase I and Phase II
- If other chemicals are competing for liver function i.e. alcohol, drugs, junk food (there is only so much the liver can do without becoming overburdened!)
Here’s what you can do to support liver function:
- Each a real, whole-foods based diet (avoid processed food)
- Drink plenty of clean, filtered water
- Avoid overeating
- Avoid alcohol abuse
- Eat plenty of foods that support liver health:
- Beets, dandelion greens, dark leafy greens, artichoke, onions, garlic, leeks, shallots, eggs, cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, kale etc.)
- Supplement with botanicals that support liver health:
- Milk thistle, dandelion root, barberry, oregon grape root, gentian, rosemary, licorice, ginger, wild yam, red clover, burdock
- Supplement with nutrients that support detoxification:
- B-vitamins (in particular, B6, B12 and Folic Acid)
- A hormone balancing formula that contains one or all of the following: Calcium-D-Glucarate, Indole-3-Carbinol, DIM, sulforaphane