Hormonal Balance The Natural Way

We are constantly being exposed to news that girls are reaching puberty as young as 7 years old, fertility rates are going down, and breast cancer rates have increased. By the age of 60 one in three women has had a hysterectomy. It's more important than ever to balance your estrogen in order to protect your feminine health.

Ladies, it has not always been like this, and with so many having medical procedures done it may seem like it is supposed to be like this, but it is not.

Something is definitely wrong.

Weston Price toured the world in the 1930s studying various indigenous people, and he discovered that native women eating traditional diets didn't have any reproductive health problems. So, as you can see, these feminine problems are not normal. It is our modern lifestyle, especially the exposure to environmental toxins known as xenoestrogens, that is causing the problem.

Xenoestrogens

The body produces three estrogenic hormones, they are called estrone, estradiol, and estriol. Plants make substances that have estrogenic-like effects and they are called phytoestrogens. 

Xenoestrogens are a third type of estrogenic compound. They are environmental pollutants that have estrogen-like actions. They are found in eggs, meat, and dairy products from hormone fed animals. They are also found in pesticide residues on food, plastics, and other sources such as shampoos, cosmetics, and other beauty products. It may not seem so harmful if you are exposed to these chemicals individually, but you have to consider that when a person is exposed to multiple xenoestrogens, then the estrogenic effect is 100 -1000 times stronger than the most potent form of estrogen made in humans. 

By overstimulating estrogen sensitive tissues, xenoestrogens cause:

• abnormal changes in breast and uterine tissues, contributing to the development of breast lumps and uterine fibroids. 
• mood swings
• menstrual irregularities such as cramps and heavy bleeding
• thinning of hair
• hot flashes
• weight gain

Estrogen itself is not bad, it is just that xenoestrogens overstimulate an estrogen response. Unfortunately, our food and water supplies are laden with xenoestrogens from herbicides, pesticides, and petrochemical residues. Estrogen compounds are fed to chicken and cattle to increase meat, egg, and dairy production.   It is very wise to minimize the exposure to xenoestrogens since they are involved in so many health problems

How to avoid xenoestrogens

• Animals that are raised organically cannot be given estrogens. I know it can be pricey, but choosing organically grown meat, milk, and eggs reduces your exposure to estrogens.
• Pesticides are another source of xenoestrogens, so choose organically grown fruit, seeds, nuts and vegetables. Buy what's in season, sometimes locally grown food is grown organically even though it is not certified. 
• Eat foods rich in phytoestrogens. Many natural foods contain phytoestrogens and they bind to the same receptor sites that xenoestrogens do. Xenoestrogens can't attach to the site if they are occupied by a phytoestrogen. Foods that contain phytoestrogens are beans, flax seeds, many whole grains, dark green, leafy vegetables, and flax seeds with lignans. Lignans are a phytoestrogen.
• Avoid beauty products with parabens. Don't heat food in plastic if you are using a microwave oven.
  

Detoxify xenoestrogens

The liver is responsible for breaking down excess hormones and environmental toxins. You can help your liver get rid off excess xenoestrogens and other toxins by supporting it with appropriate herbs and supplements. Most herbal and supplement companies carry liver cleansing products. Fiber binds toxins so don't forget to take some when you cleanse your liver.

Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower may also reduce the levels of xenoestrogens due to their compound indole-3-carbynol. You want to go easy on the cruciferous vegetables if you suffer from hypothyroidism.

A balance between progesterone and estrogen is important. Many natural health care practitioners suggest to increase the progesterone to keep the hormones balanced. However, I suggest that you research more before you add progesterone.

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Johanna is an aromatherapist and she is passionate about educating people about health, essential oils, real food, natural remedies, and nutrition so they make healthier choices in their lives. 
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