Estrogen Dominance

Estrogen dominance generally occurs when a body has too much estrogen in relation to progesterone and testosterone. It can cause a host of problems and health conditions such as:

• Prostate problems
• Man boobs
• Impotency
• Male patterned baldness
• Weight gain
• Low libido

Men too, not just women, can suffer from estrogen dominance.  As men age, their estradiol levels gradually rise, whereas their progesterone and testosterone levels gradually fall. The hormone balance changes. These gradual changes lead to reduction in testosterone benefits and eventually to estrogen dominance. That is, his estradiol effects emerge since his testosterone level is not sufficient to block or balance them.  The “beer belly” seen on the aging male is typically a sign of estrogen dominance.

Estrogens from plant estrogens and environmental sources, also known as xenoestrogens, produce hormonal stimuli that can contribute to inappropriate growth of mammary tissue cells.  In men, estrogen dominance stimulates breast cell growth and prostate hypertrophy.  Since the male prostate is the embryonic equivalent of the uterus, it should not be surprising that estrogen dominance is also a major cause of prostate cancer.

We are constantly assaulted by estrogens in our environment from the food we eat and the chemicals we use.  Estrogen mimickers in the form of food/plants (phytoestrogens) and chemicals (xenoestrogens), can mimic the action of estrogen produced in cells and can alter hormonal activity. Exposure to xenoestrogens is a concern for everyone, and those with an estrogen dominance condition should be particularly concerned about avoiding xenoestrogens.

Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring estrogenic compounds that are found in a variety of foods, herbs, spices.  Their chemical structure resembles estrogen. These compounds are generally weak estrogens, in comparison to real estrogen and xenoestrogens, but in a body that is already experiencing too much estrogen, adding more may contribute to the problem.

Some of the strongest phytoestrogen containing substances are soy, the lignans found in flax seed products, red clover, black cohosh, chasteberry, and dong quai. Soy includes soybeans, soy milk, tofu, tempeh, textured vegetable protein, roasted soybeans, soy granules, miso, and edamames.

Key points to reducing estrogen dominance:

• Avoid chemical sources of estrogen (xenoestrogen)
• Avoid food sources of estrogen (phytoestrogens)
• Cleanse the liver
• Exercise
• Reduce stress
• Balance hormones
• Metabolize excess estrogen (DIM, Calcium D-Glucarate)
• Do not heat food in plastic
• Drink out of glass containers, not plastic or Styrofoam