But for Jenni, diet, nutrients, and exercise werent enough.
Getting to know estrogenand why we might have too much or too little.
She worked at a high-end cosmetics store and was using at least a dozen of their skin care products.
As we talked during our initial consultation, Jenni chugged from a plastic water bottle.
Her low-carbohydrate diet included lots of conventionally raised beef, eggs, and poultry.
My patients have a love-hate relationship with estrogen.
Some vilify it, and some (normally post-menopausal women) revere it.
Yet like any hormone, estrogen isnt good or bad; it all comes down to balance.
Among its duties, estrogen gives your body fabulous hips, breasts, and thighs.
Adequate estrogen levels also protect your mood, brain, heart, and bones.
You want estrogen sticking around, but you also want it to stay in check.
When it starts running the show and knocks other hormones like progesterone out of whack, estrogen imbalance occurs.
Common factors that create estrogen imbalance in the body.
Even low estrogen levels can create estrogen dominance symptoms if youre also low in progesterone.
Chemicals are everywhere, but they’re only one piece of the estrogen dominance puzzle.
Those excess chemicalscalled xenoestrogenswere constantly bombarding her and set the stage for estrogen dominance.
That being said, estrogen dominance doesnt occur in a vacuum.
In Jennis case, when estrogen gets out of balance, other hormones like insulin and cortisol quickly follow.
Female hormones are intricately connected and complicated.
I strongly recommend working with a functional practitioner to overcome estrogen dominance and other imbalances.
Lab testing can reveal whether and why you have estrogen dominance.
Pay attention to what you put on your skin.
Your skin is a sieve, and estrogen-mimicking chemicals linger in many cosmetics.
Eat the highest-quality food you could afford.
Factory-farmed animals get estrogen-containing growth hormones to fatten them up, and guess where those hormones end up?
Look instead for grass-fed meats, pasture-raised eggs, and organic produce.
Give your liver some love.
Studiesshow2environmental estrogens can mimic, block, or cancel estrogen levels.
Once the liver processes estrogen for elimination, your gut moves it out.
Gut issues mean estrogen probably isnt making its way out efficiently and instead could be recirculating in your body.
As you might see, identifying and treating underlying causes of your digestive issues becomes crucial to balancing hormones.
Sufficient dietary fiber helps eliminate waste, including binding and releasing excess estrogen.
Fabulous fiber-rich foods include avocado, leafy and cruciferous veggies, berries, and freshly ground flaxseeds.
I had Jenni gradually increase her intake until she got 35 grams of fiber daily.
Eat a ton of vegetables.
Or at least about a pound daily.
Numeroustypes of studies3support I3Cs efficacy.
Green is great, but go for a variety of leafy and cruciferous vegetables.
A functional practitioner or nutritionist can help you design an estrogen-balancing supplement protocol.
Studies show two antioxidantsN-acetylcysteine (NAC) and resveratrolcan help reduce formation of estrogen-DNA adducts andprevent4several cancers.
Optimal vitamin D is also crucial, as studiesshow5sufficient vitamin D levels can inhibit breast cancer cell growth.
Ask your doctor for a 25(OH)D test,NOT the1,25(OH)2D test.
Chronic stress can lower progesterone, ramp up your stress hormone cortisol, andyou guessed itcreate estrogen dominance.
Lowering stress can help rebalance estrogen and other hormones.
Sleep becomes mandatory to balance estrogen and so many other hormones.
Studiesshowmelatonin possesses anti-estrogenic effects on estrogen receptor-expressing breast cancer cells.
During her last visit, she told me she felt like a new woman.
Here’san acupressure techniqueto balance your hormones.
In the meantime,try this hormone-balancing tea.
