The secret life of Oestrogen!

Hey everyone. Hope you all had a great Easter.

I wanted to delve into a slightly different topic this month and the importance of hormones and with a deep look at Oestrogen.

This hormone is vital for fertility in women, for immune function in both men and women, it’s also vital for bone and tendon health.  As with all these things – you need enough, not too much in order to be healthy.

In women ‘oestrogen dominance’ can occur when too much estrogen is produced either in the ovaries or via excess fat stores and an enzyme called aromatase.  In men sometimes testosterone can convert too quickly to oestrogen leading to female type body fat deposition and sometimes breast like tissue or man boobs can occur ‘moobs’ as they are sometimes called. 

In a man testosterone is converted to estrogen via the same aromatase enzyme. This occurs in body fat. So keeping lean and incorporating strength training into your weekly routine is one of the keyways to avoid over production of estrogen in both men and women. As less fat means less aromatase converting and producing excess oestrogen. 

Common signs and symptoms associated with Oestrogen Dominance:

• Irregular menstrual cycle and heavy bleeding
• Weight gain, especially in your hips, thighs and mid-section
• Fibroids/Endometriosis
• Insomnia
• Depression/Anxiety/Irritability
• Low Libido
• Fatigue
• Breast cancer
• Infertility/PCOS

Causes of Excess Oestrogen​

So where does this excess oestrogen come from? How can a hormone produced by the body be bad for you?  As with most deficiencies, illnesses and disorders, it’s a case of the body’s normal systems not being as well controlled and regulated as they should. Declining health can upset the delicate balance in the body, leading to a downward spiral!  As the body forms oestrogens as a breakdown product from testosterone, these hormones are ever present but are usually eliminated by the liver, which treats them as toxins. Anything that preoccupies your liver and diverts resources from the hormonal detox, will therefore increase levels of circulating oestrogen above normal healthy levels.  Liver supporting nutrients and foods that reduce the strain on the liver, like high fibre, nutrient-rich vegetables can help keep these levels in check. You can also use more powerful liver protecting detox herbs like milk thistle. 

In addition, many external compounds present in the food-chain and environment have structures similar to oestrogens, and can mimic their effects, or prevent oestrogen clearance. These “xeno-oestrogens” include petrochemicals and pesticides such as polychlorinated biphenyls, DDT, TCDD, and dioxins.These appear to be much more of a problem than previously thought. Making ‘cleaner’ eating and using less plastics generally vitally important. 

Aromatase activity. Aromatase is the enzyme responsible for converting the androgens (e.g. testosterone) into oestrogens – it’s the most emasculating of enzymes!! Having higher levels or greater activity of this enzyme will therefore increase oestrogen production.  Increased levels of oestrogen are associated with higher levels of body fat, while it may also increase the amount stored on the waistline – a dangerous, metabolically active area! Aromatase’s synthesis of oestrogen occurs in fat tissue – this causes a viscous cycle of fat gain!  It’s not just fat that increases oestrogen levels, but alcohol consumption stimulates this enzyme. As we age, a greater proportion of testosterone is converted to oestrogen – we are facing an uphill battle!! 

 How our body clears excess estrogens 

Enzymes in the liver detoxify harmful excess estrogen. They work to solubilize toxins and excrete them in the urine.  We therefore need to provide nutrients that support our liver’s detox abilities.  High amounts of cruciferous vegetables; watercress and broccoli are an excellent choice as are grapefruits, apples, oranges. Scientists are discovering that it appears to protect against cancer and other diseases via a different mechanism than antioxidants such as vitamin C and folic acid. These vitamin antioxidants work by neutralizing toxic free radical damage in the body. Fiber intake can also have a positive effect of detoxification.

Low-Fiber Diet

A low-fiber diet causes oestrogen levels to be higher, while a diet high in fiber results in decreased oestrogen levels in the bloodstream. 
Why? Excess oestrogen is excreted in the bowel. When stool remains in the bowel for a longer time, the estrogen is reabsorbed. Studies have shown that women on a vegetarian/high-fiber diet have lower levels of circulating estrogen. 

Increasing fiber from all sources and using fiber blends can help with general detoxification and elimination.

BENEFICIAL FOODS & SUPPLEMENTS

• Curcumin (turmeric)
• B complex vitamins
• Vitamin
• Green tea
• All flavanoids particularly citrus and grape 
• Green tea
• Resveratrol
• Zinc rich foods
• Fiber rich foods
• Glutathione boosting habits and foods / supplements 

Summary There is a lot that men and women can do to combat estrogen dominance and the symptoms they cause;

• Lose Fat
• Train smart and hard 
• Detox and cut out alcohol

I hope you found this newsletter this month useful.

Till next time

Mario