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Why Estrogen Balance is Important

Why Estrogen Balance is Important

Why Estrogen Balance is Important

Estrogen is the name of the class of hormones related to the reproductive cycle.  It includes the three main estrogens called estrone, estradiol, and estriol.  Each of these plays a role in the hormonal balance in women.

In healthy premenopausal women, estrogen is made from progesterone and/or from androgens within the ovary’s cells. Estrogen is responsible for changes in young women at puberty and gives adult women their shapely curves. During childbearing years, estrogen rises during the first half of the menstrual cycle in preparation for pregnancy. Elevated estrogen causes water retention and weight gain, and too much estrogen can lead to excess fat and/or obesity.

There are good reasons for some of the negative effects on the body such as water retention and weight gain. In times of famine, an expectant mother would be able to store body fat.  During times of severe famine or nutritional deficiencies, when a woman would be unable to carry a pregnancy to term, the body stops the production of estrogen to prevent fertility. Most of us have not experienced a famine but a large majority of Western women are experiencing severe nutrient deficits, which is causing our bodies to stay in starvation mode.

In times of dietary abundance, estrogen’s effects can be harmful. When women consume more calories than needed, estrogen production increases to extreme levels and can create estrogen dominance and exaggerated estrogen decline at menopause.  Americans who consume diets high in animal fats, sugar, refined starches, and processed foods are creating estrogen levels twice as high as those in third-world countries. It is rare for western women to be truly deficient in estrogen but more likely they may be progesterone deficient, creating an imbalance between estrogen and progesterone levels.

SIGNS OF HORMONAL IMBALANCE

Hormone imbalance is when estrogen becomes the dominant hormone and progesterone is deficient. The estrogen in excess becomes toxic to the body.  The imbalance causes symptoms such as:

  • Infertility
  • Endometriosis
  • PMS
  • Cramps
  • Headaches
  • Hot Flashes
  • Night Sweats
  • Weight gain
  • Heavy menstrual flow (menorrhagia)

NATURALLY BALANCE HORMONES

The great news is there are natural ways to get your hormones back in balance.   You can begin to integrate these healthier, safer options and they will have a positive impact on your health and hormones:

  • Utilize gut health testing. The gut must be balanced before you can fully balance hormones.
  • Eliminate processed foods
  • Identify and eliminate toxic chemicals in the home and personal care
  • Avoid conventionally processed meat and dairy– high levels of estrogen – eat grass-fed instead or consider a more plant-based diet
  • Avoid Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and birth control pills
  • Consider a natural progesterone cream
  • Supplement your nutrition with a whole-food concentrate
  • Add essential fatty acids (EFAs) to your diet. EFA’s are crucial to hormone balance, fertility, and brain health.
  • Eat more organic fruits, vegetables, and greens especially cruciferous vegetables as they contain nutrients that use up bad or excess estrogen

You can also contact us to schedule an appointment for a personal consultation to discuss your hormonal imbalance issues and consider hormone testing.

 

 

 

Health Issues from Toxicity

Your Body’s Cry For Help: Toxicity

Have you been feeling healthy lately?  If you find yourself suffering from sickness or fatigue you may not be eating for optimal wellness.
Are you…

  • Feeling tired, sluggish, lethargic
  • Having trouble concentrating and staying focused
  • Experiencing headaches
  • Experiencing joint pain
  • Catch colds easy
  • Having trouble sleeping
  • Suffering from bad breath
  • Emitting an unpleasant body odor
  • Having frequent gas, bloating or indigestion
  • Suffering from allergies and/or food sensitivities
  • Noticing skin problems like acne, psoriasis, eczema
  • Experiencing constipation and other gastrointestinal irregularities
  • Feeling depressed, irritable or noticing mood changes
  • Having recurrent respiratory problems
  • Suffering from back pain, hemorrhoids or sinus congestion

These are common signs of toxcicity and are your body’s way of asking for help.

“The intestine may harbor the seeds of disease in the form of a false lining that blocks nutrient absorption and creates toxicity.  Many illnesses such as a number of cancers, most allergies, infections, liver diseases, acne, psoriasis, and asthma start in the intestine.  The intestine becomes clogged, toxic, and diseased by what and how we eat and by how poorly we eliminate waste material.  Once the bowel is toxic, it creates toxicity for the entire body and an inability to absorb the nutrients necessary for health and healing.”  (Diamond M.D., Cowden M.D., Goldberg)

Toxicity can be directly tied to constipation and improper digestion which brings to light the importance of fiber. Read more about fiber and how to help toxicity here: http://wp.me/p1drJP-IF