As the title says, this one’s for the girls! Today we are going to talk about estrogen - one of the primary sex hormones we all have. In today’s health & fitness community, unfortunately, many of us have gone through cycles of over dieting (under eating) and over exercising in order to reach our weight loss goals. Leaving us feeling vulnerable and very prone to hormonal imbalances. Being in better tune with your body as well as understanding the endocrine system a bit better can give you valuable insight into what is going on with your body, and why it’s responding or feeling a certain way, especially if things begin to change negatively. So today we will discuss estrogen specifically, as this is one of the most common imbalances!
ESTROGEN & BALANCE
First let us make sure we understand exactly what estrogen is and the important role it plays in our body.
FAST FACTS:
- Estrogen is one of two main sex hormones that women have (the other one is progesterone).
- Estrogen is responsible for female physical features and reproduction.
- Men have estrogen too, but in smaller amounts.
- Estrogen helps control the menstrual cycle and is important for childbearing.
It also affects your brain (including mood), bones, heart, skin, and other tissues. Like any hormone, if there is an imbalance it can cause some major issues and roadblocks as you try to achieve your goals.
What is Estrogen Dominance? This is when estrogen is too high in relation to progesterone! Estrogen dominance can occur with “normal estrogen levels” but low progesterone levels! Remember, balance is key.
What are the symptoms:
- PMS
- Weight Gain
- Fatigue
- Low libido
- Abnormal Menstruation
- Depression, Anxiety & Mood Swings
- Persistent Bloating
- Insomnia
- Hormonal Birth Control
- Being overweight
- Stress
- & more!
What is Estrogen Deficiency?
Low levels of estrogen that can lead to early perimenopausal or menopausal levels of estrogen
What are the symptoms:
- Vaginal dryness
- Mood Swings
- Fatigue
- Hot Flashes
- Depression
- Brain fog
- Irregular or absent periods
- Excessive exercise
- Stress on the body (this can be caused by physical stress, mental stress, not eating enough or getting enough sleep)
- Eating disorders
- Low thyroid
- Premature ovarian failure
- Menopause
- & more
How do you improve your levels?
In all honesty, everyone requires specific protocols based on their own symptoms and their root cause. The most important thing is if you believe you have an imbalance, work with a doctor and a health professional for personalization. Some natural herbs that I have personally taken to balance my hormones and increase my nonexistent Estrogen levels have been Dong Quai and Vitex (Chaste Berry). These herbs can also help to naturally lower estrogen dominate levels. Secondly… TEST don’t GUESS! A blood work full panel every 6 months or my favorite a DUTCH test (urine and saliva) can give you amazing insight into what is actually going on! Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to your body! When you are working with a professional, some of the ways that estrogen imbalances can be treated include:
- Gaining or losing body fat
- Avoiding phytoestrogen-containing foods such as soy products
- Eating plenty of fresh veggies and fruits, choosing healthy fats, eating lean proteins and eliminating refined sugar from your diet