Estrogen Dominance Symptoms
Aging and high levels of physical, chemical, and emotional stress are associated with the loss of progesterone in women and testosterone in men (1, 2). When these key hormones are depleted it causes a state of estrogen dominance. This state of estrogen dominance is one of the major factors associated with degenerative disease processes (3). In this article, we will go over estrogen dominance symptoms and solutions.
“As a species, we`re on a fast track to extinction,” says Ori Hofmekler, author of The Anti-Estrogenic Diet (4). “In the past few decades, men have lost 50% of their sperm count and within only one generation, the average man’s sperm count and testosterone have dropped by 20%. Women are no better. Staggering figures show that most women today are suffering from female disorders and three out of ten women between the ages of 35 to 60 will develop breast cancer.”
Estrogen Dominance and Xenoestrogens
Most conventional food products and modern lifestyle habits are estrogenic in nature. The over reliance on highly processed, chemically-laden industry based goods and products seems to be the major culprit (5). Xenoestrogens are artificially made compounds produced by industry. These differ chemically from archiestrogens (naturally occurring) produced by living organisms.
Xenoestrogens mimic the effects of true estrogen and interact with cellular receptor sites. This process contributes to estrogen excess and blocks the effects of true estrogen. To make matters worse, these endocrine disruptors lodge in fat cells where they are resistant to breakdown.
Many of these chemicals will act in a synergistic effect when combined with other endocrine disrupters. This synergistic process exponentially enhances their effects within the body causing major problems at the cellular level (6). This is a significant factor in the production of estrogen dominance symptoms.
Overburdened Liver:
This excessive bombardment of artificial hormones taxes the liver, which desperately tries to break down the excess to effectively eliminate it from the body. Over time, the hormone eventually is stored in fat cells.
Chronic liver stress causes severe problems with toxicity, digestion, metabolism, and inflammation among other things (7, 8, 9). The symptoms of this include high cholesterol, lowered energy, and immunity along with estrogen dominance symptoms.
Poor liver function causes an inadequate breakdown of older hormones, allowing these back into the bloodstream in an even more toxic form than when they originally entered the liver. The toxic form of estrogen dramatically increases estrogen dominance symptoms and the risk for breast cancer, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, cervical dysplasia, prostate issues, menopause, andropause (male menopause), and thyroid disorders (10, 11).
Estrogenic Foods & Environmental Sources:
Certain foods are full of estrogenic molecules and chemicals (12) These include conventional meat and dairy which are loaded with hormones and anti-biotics and the animals were fed a diet rich in estrogenic grains. Soy isoflavinoids are highly estrogenic as are sugars, additives, preservatives, and processed foods and beverages (13). Grains and beer (fermented barley) are highly estrogenic as well.
Major environmental sources of estrogenic substances include plastics and canned goods (14). Personal care products, oral contraceptives, pharmaceuticals, Styrofoam products, pesticides, and herbicides are highly estrogenic and promote estrogen dominance symptoms. Be sure to avoid typical laundry and dishwashing detergents, household cleaners, and air fresheners which are all loaded with estrogenic chemicals.
Anti-Estrogenic Foods:
There are many great foods that help the body detoxify estrogen. Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower Brussel sprouts & cabbage contain several powerful nutrients that detoxify bad estrogenic molecules (15). These nutrients include Indole-3 Acetate, Indole-3 Carbonyl, and Diindolylmethane.
These cruciferous veggies also contain sulfur containing nutrients such as Sulfuraphane and Phenyl Isothiocyanates that enhance liver detoxification processes and destroy cancer cell formation (16, 17).
Anti-inflammatory foods that are rich in saturated and omega-3 fatty acids such as 100% organic, grass-fed beef & dairy, organic poultry, wild-caught Salmon, and wild game are anti-estrogenic (18, 19). Plant based fats such as avocados, coconut oil, and olive oil are all powerful anti-estrogenic superfoods. Raw nuts and seeds such as almonds, pecans, walnuts, chia, pumpkin, and hemp seeds are rich in anti-estrogenic plant sterols.
Anti-Estrogenic Herbs:
Onions, garlic, and scallions are rich in sulfur containing amino acids and the powerful anti-oxidant quercetin that both help the liver detoxify at a higher level and reduce the production of estrogen (20). Herbs such as oregano, thyme, rosemary, sage, and turmeric are loaded with volatile oils that promote liver detoxification. Turmeric has a potent ability to destroy estrogen receptor positive cancer cells which are the most commonly found cells in breast, uterine, ovarian, and prostate cancer (21).
Using organic acids is an advanced strategy for liver and gut health that enhances the body’s ability to remove these unwanted estrogenic molecules. Squeeze fresh lemon, which is rich in citric acid, in water and on salads, veggies, meats, and other dishes.
Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid, and fermented raw dairy from grass-fed cows contains lactic acid. There are other products that contain fermented superherbs in an organic acid base that are extraordinarily powerful for enhancing detoxification processes and neutralizing bad estrogen metabolites.
Supplements for Detoxifying Bad Estrogens:
There are many factors involved with the body’s ability to detoxify these artificial estrogens and optimize their hormonal response. It is often a process that takes many months to years depending upon how many toxins are stored in the body, the body’s unique response to the various toxins, and how well the individual can neutralize and eliminate the toxins.
Monitoring your estrogen dominance symptoms can be a helpful tool in understanding how you are neutralizing and eliminating these toxic metabolites that are leaving the body. In general, as the toxins leave and micronutrient deficiencies are addressed, the estrogen dominance symptoms will gradually improve.
I use several major supplements with clients for the healthy elimination of xenoestrogens and the encouragement of healthy estrogen metabolites. For men and women, I recommend Thyroliver Protect to enhance protection and detoxification at the cellular level while supporting liver, gut, blood, and kidney detoxification.
For women, I will often add Fem Protect to influence healthy estrogen/progesterone metabolism. This product is also very good for helping improve male testosterone function.
If you want to work with a functional health coach, I recommend this article with tips on how to find a great coach. On our website, we offer long-distance functional health coaching programs. For further support with your health goals, just reach out—our fantastic coaches are here to support your journey.
Sources For This Article Include:
1. Harvard Gazette: Estrogen and Female Anxiety Link Here
2. Mercola: Testosterone Decline: How to Address This Challenge to ‘Manhood’ Link Here
3. The Anti-Estrogenic Diet Hofmekler, O. Link Here
4. Next Level Nutrition: New study: Common chemicals combine to create super potent hormone wrecking toxins Link Here
5. Olea N, Olea-Serrano F, Lardelli-Claret P, Rivas A, Barba-Navarro A. Inadvertent exposure to xenoestrogens in children. Toxicol Ind Health. 1999 Jan-Mar;15(1-2):151-8. PMID: 10188197
6. Fucic A, Gamulin M, Ferencic Z, Katic J, Krayer von Krauss M, Bartonova A, Merlo DF. Environmental exposure to xenoestrogens and oestrogen related cancers: reproductive system, breast, lung, kidney, pancreas, and brain. Environ Health. 2012 Jun 28;11 Suppl 1:S8. PMID: 22759508
7. Fu JH, Sun HS, Wang Y, Zheng WQ, Shi ZY, Wang QJ. The effects of a fat- and sugar-enriched diet and chronic stress on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in male Wistar rats. Dig Dis Sci. 2010 Aug;55(8):2227-36. PMID: 19847649
8. Brice A. Barton, Carl B Schreck, Lesley D Barton. Effects of chronic cortisol administration and daily acute stress on growth, physiological conditions, and stress responses in juvenile rainbow trout Link Here
9. Fataccioli, V., Andraud, E., Gentil, M., French, S. W. and Rouach, H. (1999), Effects of chronic ethanol administration on rat liver proteasome activities: Relationship with oxidative stress. Hepatology, 29: 14–20.
10. National Cancer Institute: Diethylstilbestrol (DES) and Cancer Link Here
11. Nutter LM, Wu YY, Ngo EO, Sierra EE, Gutierrez PL, Abul-Hajj YJ. An o-quinone form of estrogen produces free radicals in human breast cancer cells: correlation with DNA damage. Chem Res Toxicol. 1994 Jan-Feb;7(1):23-8. PMID: 8155821
12. Scientific American: Some Food Additives Mimic Human Horomones Link Here
13. Barrett JR. The Science of Soy: What Do We Really Know? Environmental Health Perspectives. 2006;114(6):A352-A358.
14. Yang CZ, Yaniger SI, Jordan VC, Klein DJ, Bittner GD. Most Plastic Products Release Estrogenic Chemicals: A Potential Health Problem That Can Be Solved. Environmental Health Perspectives. 2011;119(7):989-996.
15. Linus Pauling Institute: Micronutrient Information Center Link Here
16. The World’s Healthiest: Feeling Great with Cruciferous Vegetables Link Here
17. Percival, M. Phytonutrients & Detoxification Link Here
18. Young LR, Raatz SK, Thomas W, Redmon JB, Kurzer MS. Total dietary fat and omega-3 fatty acids have modest effects on urinary sex hormones in postmenopausal women. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2013 Apr 23;10(1):36. PMID: 23618064
19. Cao W, Ma Z, Rasenick MM, Yeh S, Yu J. N-3 poly-unsaturated fatty acids shift estrogen signaling to inhibit human breast cancer cell growth. PLoS One. 2012;7(12):e52838. PMID: 23285198
20. Galluzzo P, Martini C, Bulzomi P, Leone S, Bolli A, Pallottini V, Marino M.Quercetin-induced apoptotic cascade in cancer cells: antioxidant versus estrogen receptor alpha-dependent mechanisms. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2009 Jun;53(6):699-708. PMID: 19194971
21. Mercola: Cancerous Cells Cannot Thrive Without This Link Here
IS ADEX [DRUG USED BY BODYBUILDERS]
MOST EFFECTIVE. OR GENERALLY VERY EFFECTIVE IN KEEPING ESTROGEN AWAY IN PEOPLE THAT ARE PREDISPOSED TO SUCH A CONDITION.
Estrogen was not mentioned in this study.
Onions, garlic and scallions are rich in sulfur containing amino acids and the powerful anti-oxidant quercetin that both help the liver detoxify at a higher level and reduce the production of estrogen (20)
But being a COMT inhibitor, quercetin would increase the levels of estrogen in the body by preventing their breakdown via COMT, would it not? It’s been shown in several studies that it does. Haven’t found any where it removed estrogen.