Balance Your Hormones Naturally: Estrogen & Progesterone
Many people, women AND men, have excess estrogen running unopposed through the body. This is what we call estrogen dominance. In women, progesterone (pro-gestation) is needed to balance estrogen. In men, testosterone helps to bring a healthy balance to estrogen found in the body. Unfortunately, this is commonly not happening and excess estrogen is wreaking havoc on the body.
Signs of excess estrogen dominance in women include:
Endometriosis
Blood Clots
Fibroid Breasts
Uterine Fibroids
Infertility
Irregular Menstrual Flow
Breast Tenderness
Mood Swings
Hair Loss
Depression
Weight Gain
Thyroid Imbalances
Signs of estrogen dominance in men include:
Prostate Enlargement
Urination Difficulty and Increased Frequency
Erectile Dysfunction
Low Libido
Fatigue
Reduced Muscle Development
Reduced Body Hair
Breast Growth (Man Boobs)
As the symptoms clearly show, it is important we balance our hormones and avoid the foods and chemicals that cause these imbalances. Unfortunately, much of what causes these issues comes from the foods we love and the medication doctors are often prescribing.
What causes estrogen dominance?
Medications (especially cholesterol drugs (statins) and birth control), soy, rancid fats and oils, lack of healthy fats, added hormones in meat and dairy products, pesticides, pollution, plastics, and a lack of grounding (the simple act of connecting with our earth) all contribute to estrogen dominance within the body.
Understanding Women’s cycles:
The uterus is a receptor site for hormones. This means both good and bad hormones, including synthetic hormones. Estrogen and progesterone must work in balance. Estrogen is released in the first half of the cycle to build the lining of the uterus and to prepare it for a fertilized egg. Progesterone is produced during the 2nd half of the cycle to maintain the lining of the uterus. If pregnancy occurs, progesterone will continue production to maintain this lining. If no pregnancy occurs, progesterone stops, and the uterine wall is shed. When you are estrogen dominant, this lining continues to thicken and not shed properly resulting in fibroids, clotting, pain, discomfort, etc.
Understanding Men’s hormones and the problems with estrogen:
Men do have estrogen, but it plays a minimal role in their health compared to women. The problem is that when men start to get excessive amounts of estrogen into their bodies, it starts the process of feminization which results in so many of the symptoms we see such as decreased muscle, increased breast size, reduced body hair, etc.
Here are steps men and women can both take to rebalance these critical hormones.
Step 1: Focus on your eating habits:
Quality fruits and vegetables are best. NO SOY, EVER! (Learn why you should avoid soy)
Eat good quality fats: What does an avocado look like? An ovary. It takes 9 months from blossom to a mature fruit. Avocados and olives are great food for good ovary health. And citrus fruit is great for breast health.
Limit consumption of sugar, caffeine, and processed foods.
IC-3 from cruciferous vegetables. Supplement or eat cruciferous vegetables, especially steamed! Broccoli, cauliflower, kale, brussels sprouts, cabbage, etc.
Increase fiber intake. We don’t want constipation.
Citrus peels from lemons and limes remove excess estrogen, you will see these commonly in Chinese medicine formulas.
Eat OATS. Oats will help to remove bad estrogen.
Step 2: Exercise and sunshine!
Exercise (outdoors) gets you grounded and connected to the earth which rebalances your hormones. Exercises also stimulates the production of many hormones.
Sunshine on your skin and in your eyes is what starts the cycle of hormone production in the human body. We are governed by the light that God gave us on this earth.
Step 3: Decrease Synthetic Estrogen Levels
Avoid chemical contaminants, birth control, synthetic hormones, hormone filled meat and dairy, plastics, pesticides, etc.
Restore by Herbally Grounded has herbs to balance proper estrogen levels for women and Estrogen Detox by Raw Forest Foods does the same for men.
Fem-Mate by Prime Health works on balancing female hormones and aids in proper liver function. The liver is responsible for removing excessive estrogens from the body.
Liver Cleanse by Spirit of Health is great for men or women - Keep working on that liver!
Systemic enzymes remove excessive tissues from cysts, fibroids and scar tissue build-up. Arthur Andrew Medical has a brilliant formula for women called Fibrovera that not only contains these enzymes, but also contains herbs to help balance healthy estrogen levels.
Iodine removes excess bad estrogens.
Step 4: Increase Progesterone Levels with herbs, foods, and vitamins
100% natural progesterone creams such as Platt Pro 5% Progesterone Cream by Platt Wellness or Progesteronic by Wishgarden
Coconut and avocado