Oestrogen dominance describes a condition where you can have normal or excessive oestrogen, and consequently too little progesterone to balance oestrogen’s effects in your body. Our society today has many exogenous components which all increase exposure to estrogens such as PCB’s (pesticides, electrical transformers, varnishes, inks, cosmetics), heavy metals (cigarettes, paints, plastics, batteries, dental fillings, cosmetics, plastics), organochlorines (insecticides, fungicides, herbicides), parabens (deodorants, cosmetics), plastics, dioxins ( sanitary products, disposable nappies), Bis phenol A (PVC, cellophane, cling wrap, plastic bags, drink bottles, take away containers, moisturises, hairsprays, shampoo and detergents), pharmaceutical drugs (OCP, depo provera, HRT, fertility drugs, synthetic oestrogens given to livestock), and the list goes on. These products can cause disruption to our normal hormonal mechanisms by mimicking the biological activity of the hormone by binding to a cellular receptor which can lead to an unwarranted hormonal response or by binding to transport proteins in blood and therefore increasing blood hormone levels as well as affecting natural metabolism and break down of these hormones.
Oestrogen dominance has many effects in our society such as declining sperm counts, congenital malformations in children , cancers, endometriosis and uterine fibroids, abnormal sexual development, retarded neuro behavioural development, infertility, birth defects, premature labour, hormonal imbalances, weight gain and obesity, compromised immunity, excessive menstrual bleeding and many others.
What can we do to protect ourselves?
Purify all drinking water to rid our water of heavy metals and toxins, as well as hormonal residue from urine of animals and women on the OCP making their way along with many agro chemicals into our water supply.
Buy organically grown and fed foods, as fat is a reservoir for these toxins. Poultry and other animals are given hormones to plump them up.
Eat fish which are deeps sea to avoid agricultural and industrial run off as well as being smaller in size and further down in the food chain to avoid risking higher exposure to mercury and heavy metals. Ideally avoiding canned and farmed fish, if consuming canned fish wild Alaskan salmon is preferable. (For further information on your weekly mercury intake look at www.gotmercury.org)
Store foods in glass, ceramic or stainless steel containers (or rigid non flexible plastic), do not put any heated food into plastic containers or especially avoid heating food or liquid with plastic as this leaches the phthalates and xenoestrogens into our food (and also water if water bottle is left in the sun).
Use natural preferably organic skin care and cosmetics, environmentally friendly and chemical free cleaning products, and natural deodorants to avoid heavy metal and toxic exposure.
Replace amalgam or plastic tooth fillings with porcelain or gold (or ask your dentist about plastic fillings which don’t contain phthalates).
Replace bleached tampons and sanitary pads with organic cotton.
Due to fatty tissue being the reservoir for storage of oestrogen it is important to maintain a healthy body composition.
Nutritionally having a diet high in essential fatty acids such as flaxseed oil, olive oil, avocados, nuts and seeds, and oily fish will assist in reducing oestrogen dominance by assisting in the metabolism of your stored fat, along with having substantial fibre in your diet to ensure adequate clearance of estrogens such as fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds. Flaxseeds are essential to include in the diet as they increase Sex Hormone binding Globulin which enhances the binding and excretion of hormones. Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, kale etc are also important for adequate conjugation and excretion of excess estrogens. Soy products are best avoided in a case of oestrogen dominance, and if consuming soy it is important to ensure it has been fermented (soy sauce, miso, tempeh) or at least soaked thoroughly (ie legumes).
Supporting the digestive system and liver are also important to enable correct metabolism and clearance of excess hormones. Talk to your naturopath about a detoxification, and also ensuring adequate methylation and breakdown is occurring by using B6, folate and B12.
Symptoms of oestrogen dominance can include heavy bleeding, painful menstruation, clotting, premenstrual or mid cycle spotting, PMS, irregular cycles (check with your naturopath with this as it may be of varying causes), PCOS, Endometriosis, acne, weight gain and fluid retention. By making small dietary and lifestyle changes it is possible to rebalance your hormonal levels. For further assistance with balancing hormonal levels please contact your naturopath.
