Written by the Smart Solutions Education Team
Estrogen dominance (too much estrogen) is a common problem today, particularly for women, because of the number of xenoestrogens found in our environment, including our personal care products. Xenoestrogens are harmful, foreign substances that mimic estrogen and bind to hormone receptor sites, preventing natural estrogens from binding to the same sites.
Examples of xenoestrogens include:
- Pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides
- Dark hair dyes – phenylenediamine
- Parabens, phthalates found in soaps and cosmetics
- All plastics- BPA/Phthalates – do not microwave or heat
- Farmed fish
- The Pill and HRT
- Commercially raised meat and dairy
- Coffee – raises estradiol
- Alcohol – raises estradiol
- Soy products – raises estradiol 380%
When we have too much estrogen fluctuation it:
- Causes our thyroid to go low and sex drive to die
- Reduces progesterone
- Causes cells to grow without control
- Encourages weight gain
- Causes heavy periods
- Causes fibrocystic breasts, acne, ovarian cysts
- Promotes migraine headaches (caused by the fluctuations)
- Worsens cellulite
- Causes endo, fibroids, period problems, PMS
Our body becomes challenged and overloaded by these bad, foreign estrogens and our liver has to work much harder to remove these harmful substances. To naturally reduce exposure to xenoestrogens and support your body’s detoxification of them, consider these tips:
- Choose organic foods when possible
- Choose hormone free animal products
- Incorporate cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, etc.) into diet daily
- Use natural skin care and household products
- Avoid BPA in plastics
Select References:
- Environmental Working Group. 80 Years Later, Cosmetics Chemicals Still Unregulated. Accessed August 31, 2020 at: https://www.ewg.org/news-and-analysis/2018/06/80-years-later-cosmetics-chemicals-still-unregulated
- PreciadosM, Yoo C, Roy D (2016) Estrogenic Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Influencing NRF1 Regulated Gene Networks in the Development of Complex Human Brain Diseases. Int J Mol Sci. Dec; 17(12): 2086.
- Relationship Between Hypothalamus and Pituitary Gland - Scientific Figure on ResearchGate. Accessed August 31, 2020 at:https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Anterior-Pituitary-Complex_fig3_320413589
- Sanlier, N., Guler, S. M. (2018). The Benefits of Brassica Vegetables on Human Health. J Human Health, 1(1): 1-13.
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Endocrine Disruptors. Accessed August 31, 2020 at: https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine/index.cfm
- Schliep et al (2012) Caffeinated beverage intake and reproductive hormones among premenopausal women in the BioCycle Study The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 95, Issue 2, Pages 488–497.
- Arciello M et al, (2013) Environmental Pollution: A Tangible Risk for NAFLD Pathogenesis. Int J Mol Sci. Nov; 14(11): 22052–2206
- Preciados M, Yoo C, Roy D (2016) Estrogenic Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Influencing NRF1 Regulated Gene Networks in the Development of Complex Human Brain Diseases. Int J Mol Sci. Dec; 17(12): 2086.
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Endocrine Disruptors. Accessed February 11, 2020. https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine/index.cfm
- Environmental Working Group. 80 Years Later, Cosmetics Chemicals Still Unregulated. Accessed Feb 11, 2020. https://www.ewg.org/news-and-analysis/2018/06/80-years-later-cosmetics-chemicals-still-unregulated
- Medical News Today. 10 most common birth control pill side effects. Accessed Feb 7, 2020 at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/290196.php
