When we talk about women’s health, we naturally talk about hormones. More particularly about the female sex hormone called Estrogen. Here we cover the essential knowledge women should know.
What Is the Role of Estrogen To Women?
Estrogen is important to a woman’s sexual and reproductive development. It’s the hormone responsible for the changes we undergo through puberty, menstrual periods, pregnancy, peri-menopause stages. There are several places this hormone is produced: ovaries, fat cells, adrenal glands, and placenta during pregnancy. Estrogen also exists in men, however in much lower doses and only produced in their adrenal glands. Estrogen is metabolized by the liver and is essential in our overall wellness. As women, we need this hormone to be balanced — not in excess (estrogen dominance) nor deficient.
Estrogen’s role:
- helps regulate the menstrual cycle
- controls lactation and changes in the breast during pregnancy and adolescence
- essential in bone function, with vitamin D and Calcium
- regulates blood clotting
- skin, hair health
- uterus/pelvic health
- aids in regulating inflammation in the brain – brain health
What Can Cause Estrogen Imbalance?
Did you know that Estrogen levels fluctuate, especially throughout our menstrual cycle? However, it’s important to note that these fluctuations should not remain low or high for long periods of time.
3 Causes of Deficient (Low) Estrogen level:
- Peri-menopause/Menopause/post-menopause. Estrogen levels fall during these periods that leave us with hot flashes, vaginal dryness and loss of sex drive. Other effects chronic deficiency are vaginal atrophy, night sweats, anxiety, sleeping problems.
- Extreme Exercise and Extreme Low Body Fat. Extreme and excessive exercise triggers other hormones that suppress estrogen. Women athletes likely experience irregular menstrual periods. On the other hand, women with low body fat (below 13%) may not produce adequate estrogen.
- Post-Pregnancy. Estrogen is produced by the placenta so it is naturally depleted once the birth and removal of the placenta. Since Estrogen plays an important part in brain function, post-partum depression and anxiety are triggered.
3 Causes of Estrogen Dominance (High) :
- Exposure to Estrogen-trigger substances such as pesticides, cosmetics, chemical-based cleaners.
- Alcohol and poor liver function. Estrogen is broken down by our liver. For obvious reasons, if our liver isn’t functioning well then estrogen isn’t broken down properly, causing excess estrogen metabolites.
- Insufficient Progesterone. Progesterone is another hormone that regulates an ‘aggressive’ element in estrogen that has been connected to the growth of pathogenic tissue like in the case of fibroids, cancers, and endometrial tissue.
Do You Know What Happens When Your Estrogen is Imbalanced?
Estrogen imbalance can lead to:
- endometriosis
- irregular periods and heavier menses
- tendency for blood clots and strokes
- Thyroid dysfunction
- weight gain and fatigue
- poor circulation causing cold hands and feet
- sleep problems
- tendency for breast and pelvic tumor growth
- poor bone health, osteoporosis
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (POS) and its symptoms such as excess facial hair and acne
What Can You Do To Help Balance Estrogen?
- Drink water and keep hydrated.
- Sleep. Insufficient sleep impacts PMS.
- Reduce or eliminate alcohol. Alcohol jacks up estrogen and increases the chances of cancer.
- Reduce stress. Chronic stress affects other hormones that work with and regulate estrogen.
- Exercise. Exercise releases other hormones that help regulate estrogen. Stay active and find an activity that you enjoy and do daily if possible.
- Eat cruciferous vegetables. These help breakdown estrogen and help as liver support too.
- Supplement right with :
- Fish oil/ Omega 3
- Vitamin B’s and D
- Calcium and Magnesium
- Probiotics
- Vitamin E
- Curcumin/ Turmeric for liver support
- Limit or eliminate dairy and gluten. Most sources of dairy are from hormone enhanced and antibiotic-treated dairy cows. Gluten and Dairy are the most common sensitivity culprits that cause hormone imbalance.
Consider Her As A Best Friend
We know what a best friend is like to us, don’t we? We know someone is a best friend when he/she is there for the long haul, through the trials and tribulations of our life. A best friend may not always be physically around you but will still remain true to you, with or without you seeking her. We don’t abandon or abuse her either. Neither do we forget her. She’s there to give you sound advice and give you the truth you need to see or hear or feel. She’s straight to the point, even if her ways feel hurtful yet you know she only means the best of intentions for you to be a better person. A best friend doesn’t give you false hopes, nor will she keep you in the dark. She doesn’t smother you nor abandon you.
Let’s call this best friend Estrogen because she’s there to tell you the truth about yourself. She’s there to help you grow to what you’re meant to be — a woman who is balanced, well both in mind and body. But she needs all the balance care to be able to be there for you as well. Let’s not take her role for granted, as she has been with you since you were young. You need her to be well, to be balanced, so you will be well and be balanced, and be able to live an optimal happy life, the way you’re meant to live.
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