How to treat oestrogen dominance
There are a number of different ways to treat oestrogen dominance, depending on the underlying cause.
Increase exercise
Moving your body is one of the best ways to address oestrogen dominance. Excess body fat is a key factor in oestrogen dominance, so maintaining a healthy weight with good muscle mass is a great way to keep hormones in check.
Exercise will also support your body’s metabolic processes, enabling it to break down estrogens into the 2-hydroxy estrogens, which are easier for your body to remove.
Take control of stress
Stress leads to spikes in cortisol production by the adrenal glands. Cortisol is the “fight or flight” hormone that increases alertness and helps the body cope with stressful situations.
The body needs progesterone to produce cortisol, so increased stress levels can deplete progesterone levels by shifting focus towards cortisol production. This can lead to oestrogen dominance, even without high oestrogen levels. Taking control of stress is one of the simplest ways you can boost progesterone levels.
High and prolonged cortisol levels can lead to an array of additional health problems, so it’s worth taking steps to limit stress, even if oestrogen dominance isn’t a concern.
Avoid toxins
Our environments are filled with endocrine disruptors. These chemicals can mimic or interfere with our hormones and lead to oestrogen dominance, among other problems. One type of endocrine disruptor is xenoestrogens, which mimic the role of oestrogen in the body.
These are found in common beauty products (parabens and benzophenone), processed foods, plastics (BPA and phthalates), household cleaning products and insecticides. Identifying and cutting these out of your life could help to address your oestrogen dominance.
Eat more phytoestrogen-rich foods
It might seem counterintuitive to eat foods rich in phytoestrogens, but this can actually provide a balancing effect. Phytoestrogens found in soy and legumes contain a weaker form of oestrogen that downregulates your total oestrogen load.
Focus on plant-based foods
The food that we eat helps to break down and remove hormones, so it’s important to choose the right balance. Vegetables, fruits and whole grains all contain fibre and b-vitamins that help to support a healthy hormone balance in the body.
Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and Brussel sprouts are also great for maintaining healthy hormone balance. These contain compounds known as indoles, which help to support the liver in metabolising oestrogen.