Are you oestrogen dominant?

Hormonal health and balance for females is essential for healthy female reproductive function. Oestrogen is a hormone produced primarily by the ovaries but also in small amounts by the liver, adrenals, breasts and fat cells. Oestrogen exists in 3 different forms E1, E2 and E3, with each different form playing a different role throughout a female’s life. The main role of oestrogen is to influence the development and maintenance of secondary female sex characteristics, regulate menstruation, maintain pregnancy, support bone strength, aid in the maintenance of blood vessel health, metabolic rate, bowel motility and fluid balance.

Oestrogen must be in balance with another hormone called progesterone for optimal hormonal health. However, too much oestrogen in relation to progesterone is called oestrogen dominance or oestrogen excess which is becoming increasingly common. Signs and symptoms of oestrogen dominance include breast tenderness, mood swings, fluid retention, weight gain, headaches, menstrual cramping, irregular menstrual cycle, hair loss, depression, fatigue, thyroid dysfunction, heavy prolonged periods with clotting, decreased libido, endometriosis, fibrocystic breasts, polycystic ovaries, infertility and anxiety.

There are a number of reasons as to why oestrogen excess is so prevalent today. These include females having more periods per lifetime than in the past due to beginning menstruation earlier, bearing fewer children, lactating less and having an older average age of menopause. Other factors that contribute to this excess of oestrogen are xenoestrogens – foreign substances (usually a chemical) that biologically function like oestrogen in the body but are not identical to the physiologically normal hormone. Xenoestrogens are found in the following: non-organic meats, commercial non-organic dairy products, laundry detergents and household cleaners, the oral contraceptive pill and hormone replacement therapy, soy products, flaxseeds, shampoo and conditioner, cosmetics, weed killers, air fresheners, sunscreens and fly sprays. We also come into contact with xenoestrogens through drinking from plastic cups, re-heating and eating food from plastic containers, eating foods sprayed with insecticides and pesticides, eating tinned foods and wrapping our food in plastic cling wrap.

Due to xenoestrogens being impossible to avoid altogether, optimizing metabolism and clearance of oestrogens through the liver and digestive tract should be one’s focus. This can be done primarily through diet by consuming foods high in Indole-3-Carbionol a substance which supports one of the detoxification pathways to clear oestrogen. Foods high in Indole-3- Carbinol include brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and broccoli sprouts. Foods rich in methionine a amino acid needed for detoxification pathways found in beans, legumes, onion and garlic also assists in the breakdown of oestrogen. A fibre rich diet also aids in the clearance of oestrogen from the body. The best dietary sources of fibre are rice or oat bran, seasame seeds, sunflower seeds, pecans, hazelnuts, almonds, pistachios, sun dried tomatoes, navy beans, white beans, yellow beans, kidney beans and lima beans, Other good sources include peas, dried fruit, broccoli, spinach, kale, beet greens, pears, plums and apples.

The best, most reliable, cost effective way to get your hormones tested is via salivary hormone tests. Saliva hormone tests are considered to be the gold standard for hormone analysis by the World Health Organisation (WHO). They measure the free, biologically active form of your hormones, thus providing an extremely accurate picture of what your body is currently doing.

If you are concerned about your oestrogen levels affecting your health and quality of life make a time to see a Naturopath who can use accurate Saliva Testing to determine what your oestrogen levels and other hormones are doing. Once these are assed Natural Therapies such as Herbal Medicine and Nutritional Therapy can aid in re-balancing your body’s hormones and reducing your oestrogen levels along with a thorough diet plan.

Hormone Saliva Testing is available from Tessa Roberts N.D. at Eyre Naturopathic Clinic.

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