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Estrogen Dominance: 10 Ways to Natural Balance

By Expert HERWriter
 
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Estrogen dominance occurs when your levels of estrogen are higher than your progesterone. These two hormones like to live in a nice, healthy balance so you get the benefits of both. If your progesterone drops down or your estrogen shoots up, you suddenly find yourself full of symptoms such as PMS, heavy periods, longer periods, clots, weight gain, breast tenderness, mood swings, and potentially estrogen dominant cancers.

Here are simple ways to reduce your risk of estrogen overload:

1) Non-organic/non-free range cattle & poultry are fed estrogen like hormones to grow and become meatier. Make the switch to free-range, hormone-free meat and dairy products.

2) Non-organic vegetables have pesticide residues with an estrogen like chemical structure. Make the switch to organic and avoid these chemicals.

3) Extra hormones, such as birth control and estrogen replacement can increase estrogen. Talk with your doctor about other options or utilize this list for balancing help.

4) Petrochemicals and Parabens in creams, lotions, soaps, shampoos, perfume, hairspray, room deodorizers…etc. can all act like estrogen and mimic its actions. Choose more environmentally safe products without these chemicals.

5) Eat liver friendly foods such as artichokes, onions and garlic, salad greens (not just iceberg lettuce!), ground up flax seeds (not oil), broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and kale to help process your estrogen more effectively.

6) Take a good quality multivitamin with B6 and magnesium to assist estrogen balance.

7) Limit your alcohol to 2 servings per week. Anything more increases estrogen in your bloodstream and can slow your liver down.

8) Limit your coffee! 500mg of caffeine (4-5cups/day) increases estrogen as well.

9) Work on your stress! Make sure you are setting your boundaries and taking the time to do things for you! This helps support your adrenal glands with hormone balance.

10) Increased fat = increased estrogen. Commit to eating healthy, exercising most days of the week for at least 30 minutes, drinking enough water, and getting your 25-35 grams of fiber per day.

Add a Comment5 Comments

EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I have been doing research into foods that cause estrogen dominance and soy products are a cause of increased estrogen as they encourage estrogen production so need to be limited if estrogen dominance is an issue.

July 23, 2009 - 1:19am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

I am so glad that you mentioned this. I work for an all vegetarian private school and I was not made aware that soy increased estrogen levels. I've been eating alot of it thinking that it would be healthier for me. Wow... that explains sooo man things! Thank you so much for mentioning this! AA+++ research!!

January 5, 2010 - 6:44pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

Actually soy does not increase estrogen, the cell in soy is close in structure to estrogen but extremely weak in comparison. It is dairy products that you should stay away from as they are loaded with estrogen.

July 26, 2012 - 10:12pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

Soy does increase estrogen please research further and give correct info on this..stay clear of soy

April 14, 2013 - 3:09pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

Opt for organic dairy which is free from hormones & antibiotics! Reduce to minimum or stay away from non organic meat as
one of the main source of estrogenic food.

August 20, 2012 - 4:23am
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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.