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Estrogen Dominance...What is it?

Updated: Feb 22, 2023

Estrogen is a hormone and we need it in our body to remain functional. Too much estrogen can lead to Estrogen Dominance.


One way to get Estrogen Dominance is when we have an imbalance of estrogen to an insufficient amount of progesterone. For you to function well this combination needs to be balanced. For example, estrogen increases body fat BUT progesterone helps us to use fat for energy. So, if this balance is off you can see how excess fat storage can happen. Another example would be how estrogen impairs blood sugar and progesterone regulates blood sugar levels. It's a fine dance between the two.


Another way to get Estrogen Dominance is when your body cannot properly breakdown estrogen and can't get it out of the body. This can be due to poor liver function, impaired pathways, nutritional deficiencies, gut issues, constipation, and more.


Your liver health is extremely important as it breaks down, detoxifies, and eliminates estrogen from the body. Estrogen gets cleared from the liver during Phase 1 and Phase 2 detoxification. If the liver is impaired and can't detoxify properly this can lead to a build up of estrogen and result in Estrogen Dominance.


Your gut also plays a role in breaking down hormones. If you don't have certain estrogen metabolizing bacteria to breakdown estrogen this can lead to Estrogen Dominance. These bacteria can get damaged from antibiotic use, gut infections, toxins, etc. (Hence, if you've been following for a while, you know, all dis-ease starts in the gut!)


Symptoms of Estrogen Dominance can look like any of the following:


  • PMS

  • fibrocystic (lumpy) breasts

  • Fibroids

  • Heavy bleeding

  • Hot flashes

  • Cellulite on thigh or butt

  • Thyroid nodules

  • Hair loss

  • Irregular bleeding

  • Uterine polyps

  • Estrogenic cancers like breast, ovarian and uterine


What can I do to improve Estrogen Dominance?


There is a sulfur compound found in all cruciferous vegetables called sulforaphane. This active compound helps detoxify excess estrogens! Plus, it can help shrink breast cancer cells as it acts as a killer of cancer stem cells [1, 2].


Try adding in any of the following:

  • Arugula

  • Bok choi

  • Broccoli sprouts

  • Brussel sprouts

  • Cabbage

  • Cauliflower

  • Collards

  • Kale Radishes

  • Turnips

  • Kohlrabi

* FYI, broccoli sprouts has way more sulforaphane per gram than regular broccoli

* According to the UDSA, adult women should eat 2.5 cups of vegetables per day, while adult men should have 3 cups





An easy way to make sure you are getting in all your cruciferous vegetables is to supplement with a product which includes both DIM (Diindolylmethane) and sulforaphane. I recommend using Thorne DIM Advantage. Please click on the link and enjoy 10% off.




Benefits include:

  • Helps detox excess estrogens

  • Helps support healthy estrogen metabolism

  • Can shrink breast cancer cells

  • Helps get toxins out of the body

  • Detoxifies the liver

  • Reduces inflammation

  • Provides antioxidant properties

  • Acts as an aromatase inhibitor - can block some testosterone from converting into estrogen

  • Helps prevent prostate enlargement



Thorne's DIM has 150mg of Diindolylmethane. {You'd have to eat 6 pounds of cruciferous veggies to get to 100 mg of DIM.}


Facts:

  • You could have low estrogen levels but still have Estrogen Dominance

  • Around age 40, both estrogen and progesterone levels start to decline

  • Progesterone drops much faster than estrogen, especially during perimenopause

  • Liver health is crucial in breaking down estrogen properly and removing from the body

  • Your gut plays a role in breaking down hormones

  • You can get excess estrogen coming in from the outside from plastics.

Want more? Maybe time for a health reset? Let's talk nutrition and wellness!


Jinjer Brody-Grant

Holistic Health Practitioner




References:

  1. Thomson CA, Ho E, Strom MB. Chemopreventive properties of 3,3'-diindolylmethane in breast cancer: evidence from experimental and human studies. Nutr Rev. 2016 Jul;74(7):432-43. doi: 10.1093/nutrit/nuw010. Epub 2016 May 31. PMID: 27261275; PMCID: PMC5059820.

  2. Penta D, Tripathi P, Rajarajan D, Natesh J, Mondal P, Meeran SM. Diindolylmethane Promotes Metabolic Crisis and Enhances the Efficacy of Centchroman in Breast Cancer: A 1H NMR-Based Approach. ACS Omega. 2022 Nov 16;7(47):43147-43160. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.2c05832. PMID: 36467932; PMCID: PMC9713897.

* You should talk to your healthcare provider before taking DIM supplements










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