Estrogen Dominance - An Increasingly Common Problem
by Ruth Galbraith, ND
"Estrogen dominance" sounds like a "female problem," but in fact it is increasingly a problem for men and children, as well. Estrogen dominance is what we call it when a person has an imbalance of hormones in which there is more estrogen than there should be for the amount of progesterone available. This imbalance can result in a wide variety of conditions, ranging from mildly annoying to deadly serious. Among the most serious effects of estrogen dominance are infertility and certain cancers, including uterine, ovarian, breast and prostate cancers.
All humans make estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen dominance may be caused by production of too much estrogen or by not enough progesterone production; either would lead to an increased amount of estrogen compared to the amount of progesterone, called the estrogen/progesterone ratio. In our culture, it is usually an increase in estrogen that causes the problem.
Some signs that you may have Estrogen Dominance:
by Ruth Galbraith, ND
- hot flashes/sweating
- PMS symptoms such as irritability, weight gain/bloating, breast tenderness
- decreased sex drive
- anxiety, panic attacks, mood swings or depression
- fibrocystic breasts
- headaches
- fatigue
- infertility
- uterine fibroids
- endometriosis
- polycystic ovaries/PCOS
- hair loss
- memory loss/foggy thinking
- thyroid dysfunction
- precocious puberty
- hypoglycemia
- acne
Estrogen dominance is so common because all of us - men, women and children - are exposed to what are called "xenoestrogens" in our food, water and environment. Xeno means foreign, so xenoestrogens are "foreign estrogens." They are molecules that so closely resemble estrogen that our body is fooled by them and allows them to attach to estrogen receptors, which are found throughout the body in almost every tissue, including our sex organs, fat cells, liver, bones, brain, thyroid and kidneys. When xenoestrogens attach to these estrogen receptors, they mimic the effects of estrogen in the body. As a culture, we are exposed to more and more xenoestrogens all the time, because they are found not only in our food and water supply, but also in many common household products like air fresheners and fabric softener. Pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers used on conventionally grown fruits and vegetables are a major source of xenoestrogens. Plastics are another common source. Xenoestrogens are found in our drinking water because chemicals that were previously believed harmless – like Bisphenol A – are not filtered out. What can you do at home to help reduce your chances of becoming Estrogen Dominant?
- increase consumption of whole foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and fish
- increase consumption of high-fiber foods, which help the body metabolize estrogen
- work your way up to 30 minutes of aerobic exercise 5 or 6 times a week
- microwave food in glass or ceramic containers, rather than in plastic
- drink water from a food-grade metal thermos or a glass bottle, rather than a plastic water bottle
- decrease consumption of refined carbohydrates, caffeine, sugar and sodium
- if you consume milk, make sure it is milk without added hormones
- eat hormone-free meats
- use laundry detergents with fewer chemicals
- use natural pest & weed control methods
- buy organic fruits and vegetables, grown without pesticides, herbicides and synthetic fertilizers