How to Know If You Have Estrogen Dominance and What To Do About It

Are you experiencing symptoms of estrogen dominance? There is an equilibrium of hormones in your body. But sometimes, the scales tip.

You’re working hard in the gym and taking all the weight loss supplements in the market. And even after all the celebrity workouts, you’re still not losing weight.

It’s time to look within yourself. Your hormone balance—or imbalance—might hint at why your new pants don’t fit anymore.

This article focuses on estrogen dominance and what it could mean for women.

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Estrogen Dominance | Symptoms & Solutions

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What is Estrogen Dominance?

Your body maintains a balance between estrogen and progesterone.

Estrogen is a hormone that gives you your feminine figure, regulates your menstrual cycle, and brings about puberty. It also plays a role in controlling cholesterol and bone, heart, skin, and brain health.

Men also carry estrogen, but in smaller amounts.

Progesterone plays a bigger part during pregnancy. It prepares your body for pregnancy and, later on, your breasts for milk production.

But when your body maintains or produces too much estrogen or not enough progesterone, this could lead to estrogen dominance. Women with estrogen dominance may have abnormal levels of estrogen.

What are the Symptoms of Estrogen Dominance?

In women, symptoms to watch out for include:

• weight gain around your thighs, hips, and waist
• heavy bleeding on your period
• light bleeding on your period
• worsen premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
• fibrocystic breasts
• fatigue
• drop in libido
• depression
• anxiety

In men, you may experience:

• larger breasts
• increase body fat
• poor erections
• infertility
• insulin resistant
• increased risk of Osteoporosis
• declined lean muscle
• lowered thyroid function

What Causes Estrogen Dominance and Its Symptoms?

Poor liver function may contribute to estrogen dominance. If your liver can’t get rid of the excess estrogen in your body, it may end up recirculating and lead to a jump in estrogen levels.

Contraceptive pills and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may also cause a spike in estrogen levels.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) manipulate your hormonal balance or influence the way your body uses them. Some chemicals mimic estrogen, affect how your body metabolizes estrogen, or throw off your estrogen levels.

Unfortunately, many of them are found in the environment. EDCs could leak into the food you eat and could spread as household dust from affected materials. They may also be present in the items you have at home that you use daily.

You may find EDCs in:

• processed foods
• cosmetics
• household chemicals
• pesticide
• plastics (BPA)

What Can I Do?

1. Eat Veggies

One way to help lower your estrogen levels is to get them out of your system. And the only way your body is scientifically proven to detox is through your liver.

Vegetables are rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Fiber-rich foods may help your liver flush out waste, including estrogen your body no longer needs.

Five sulfur-containing compounds could promote liver detoxification. These are:

• glutathione (parsley, beetroot, avocado)
• α-lipoic acid (broccoli, tomatoes)
• taurine (eggs, milk)
• alliin (garlic)
• sulforaphane (broccoli)

A healthy, fully functioning liver may help restore balance to your hormones. There are many ways to detox your liver, allowing it to operate at optimal levels. Lucky we come prepared. Learn more about how to detox your liver here.

2. Probiotics to Improve Gut Health

The gut has a hand in releasing and distributing hormones in the body. So an unhealthy gut may cause a hormonal imbalance like estrogen dominance.

Probiotics are good bacteria that may promote a healthy gut microbiome.

Some delicious examples may include:

• yogurt
• kimchi
• miso
• kefir
• sauerkraut
• tempeh
• some cheeses

Yogurt is packed with nutrients and makes a delicious breakfast and mid-day snack. Kimchi is a Korean side dish that pairs well with savory meals.

RELATED: 7 Signs Of Unhealthy Gut And How To Improve Gut Health

3. Go Greek

The Mediterranean diet involves a meal plan that is rich in healthy fats from plant sources. While it allows animal products, it places more interest in plant foods than animal sources.

A study found that women who enjoy a Mediterranean diet have 40% lower estrogen levels.

If your meals comprise largely of animal fats and proteins, it may be time to make the switch.

Greek yogurt and table olives are fermented foods that may help promote a healthy gut and get healthy fats.

And as it cuts back on animal sources, a Mediterranean diet may also check the fourth box.

4. Cut Back on Pro-Inflammatory Foods

Inflammation may activate an enzyme called aromatase. This enzyme converts androgen into estrogen, driving up your estrogen levels.

Cut back on pro-inflammatory foods, which may include:

• red meat, processed meats
• added sugar
• refined carbs
• alcohol
• trans fats
• omega-6 (canola oil, corn oil, mayonnaise)

Instead, chow down on anti-inflammatory and body-protective foods such as:

• plant sources (veggies, fruits, whole grains, legumes)
• antioxidants (fruits, veggies, leafy greens, green tea)
• omega-3 (tuna, salmon, mackerel)

If this sounds like a Mediterranean diet, then you’re correct.

5. Detox Your Lymphatic System

Some believe that dry skin brushing can help with lymphatic drainage, which can detox your way out of estrogen dominance. But this claim is poorly investigated.

But if you’re interested in lymphatic drainage, work out your muscles. Simply moving your muscles could be effective in getting your lymph moving.

Until your endocrinologist recommends this to you, stick to a healthy diet and an active lifestyle.

So I Show Some Signs of Estrogen Dominance, Am I at Risk?

Because estrogen plays a pivotal role in body functions, too much or too little of it could put you at risk.

High estrogen levels for a long period could lead to more serious conditions like thyroid disease and some cancers.

How Soon Do I Go to My Doctor Once I Show Symptoms of Estrogen Dominance?

If you’re worried, then you may visit your doctor as soon as possible.

It’s normal for hormone levels to fluctuate. And the symptoms stated may not always point to too much estrogen. But it pays to visit a doctor whenever your experience unusual symptoms.

Because there are many possible causes of estrogen dominance and your symptoms, your doctor must pinpoint the cause. Understanding the cause could get the proper treatment you need.