5 Ways to Reverse Estrogen Dominance Naturally

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What is Estrogen Dominance?

Estrogen is one of the most common hormones to fall out of balance. Yes, estrogen levels can be too low, but typically they are too high. If your estrogen becomes even higher than your progesterone, this is called “estrogen dominance”.

Estrogen and progesterone are meant to work like a seesaw – balancing the levels of each hormone to keep communication with our brain, ovaries and adrenal glands smooth and effortless. When estrogen levels start to soar, or if our progesterone levels drop too low, the result is… you guessed it. Estrogen Dominance.

What Causes High Estrogen Symptoms?

There are two main causes for estrogen dominance:

Your estrogen is actually too high, and you just have large levels of this hormone in your body.
You have low levels of progesterone, which as a result, throws off the balance of your estrogen and you become dominant in estrogen which has its own set of symptoms. This is referred to as

Low estrogen symptoms can sometimes mirror high estrogen symptoms so it is wise to get your levels tested before you try to treat one or the other. But let’s talk about some of the symptoms associated with high levels of estrogen.

Common Symptoms of Estrogen Dominance

Irregular or heavy periods
Clots in your period
Painful periods
Bloating
Weight gain
PMS migraines
Storing fat around your hips and thighs
Mood swings, particularly premenstrually (feeling teary, frustrated or irritable)
Headaches and migraines (particularly premenstrually)
Low thyroid function
Fatigue
Blood sugar imbalances

What Causes Estrogen Dominance?

Sometimes your body can create too much estrogen endogenously (aka internally) or your body struggles to properly eliminate natural estrogen through your liver and bowel.

Other times, this can be an external issue, aka exogenous. This is when external sources of estrogen-like substances can spike estrogen levels in the body. You might have heard the term “endocrine-disrupting chemicals” (EDCs). These chemicals, found in everything from beauty products to plastics, act similarly to estrogen in our bodies.

Common Sources of these estrogen-like toxins include

Bisphenol-A (BPA – found in plastics, water bottles, the lining of tin cans of prepared food and receipts)
Synthetic fragrances (like perfumes, soaps, shampoos, and air fresheners due to the addition of phthalates)
Non-organic conventionally-raised meat and dairy (due to the use of growth hormones)
Non-organic fruits and veggies (due to the use of pesticide and its residue)
Birth control (because of synthetic estrogens like ethinylestradiol)

So now that we know a little bit about Estrogen dominance, how can we help reverse it naturally?

5 Things Things That Can Help Reverse Estrogen Dominance Naturally

Yes, there are estrogen pills, estrogen creams, and even estrogen blockers you could get prescribed. But before you jump the gun on a new medication, here are a few natural approaches to estrogen dominance.

Carrot Salad

Carrot salad: Carrots have undigestible fibers to help detox excess estrogen from the body. Raw carrots can help by preventing the reabsorption of estrogen from the intestine, which helps the liver more effectively regulate your metabolism. What is a carrot salad? I will have my recipe up on this blog in a few weeks but essentially it is a shaved carrot with a splash of apple cider vinegar and a sprinkle of mineral-rich Celtic Sea salt .

Bee Pollen

Bee Pollen: Bee pollen can interfere with the reproductive hormones, by blocking the enzyme Aromatase. Aromatase is an enzyme that converts testosterone into estrogen. Inhibiting Aromatase can lead to high levels of testosterone and lower levels of estrogen. How do you eat bee pollen? This one is easy, I am obsessed with B. Powered Superfood Honey from Beekeepers Naturals. If you follow my Instagram you see me adding this to just about everything! Coffee, yogurt, bread, and just about anything else you would want to add honey to.

Fermented Foods

Fermented foods: Optimizing your gut health is key to keeping your hormones in balance. The microbiome in your gut aids the synthesis and regulation of hormones and neurotransmitters. Constipation is your enemy. When you are chronically constipated, estrogen gets reabsorbed through your gut instead of getting flushed out of your body. Keep things moving! If you need some natural constipation remedies read my blog post 3 Natural Constipation Remedies. My favorite ways to get in fermented foods is through my homemade fermented pickles (food on my Instagram), making a big pot of raw milk instant pot yogurt and adding a little bit of sauerkraut to whatever I’m eating.

Ditching Hormonal Birth Control

Ditching Hormonal Birth Control: The ethinylestradiol (synthetic estrogen) in most hormonal birth control pills is a form of xenoestrogen that is stronger than natural estradiol. This retards your ability to clear natural estrogen in your body and can impair your intestinal bacteria, further blocking your body’s ability to eliminate hormones. In addition to creating estrogen dominance, hormonal birth control depletes your minerals which can lead to a whole host of issues.

Get Moving

Get Moving: Naturally reverse estrogen dominance through exercise! This doesn’t have to be anything crazy, just a nice brisk walk 30 minutes a day will help! But if you want to take it up a notch, try to get a little sweat going. Sweating is one of the bodies was to naturally flush out toxins, don’t underestimate it! Of course, if you don’t work up a sweat on your walk, you could always heat up with a sauna session… my newest obsession!

If you have had success in reversing estrogen dominance naturally please drop your suggestions, tips and tricks below!