EstrogenEstrogen Dominance Dominance

ByByDr. Afaf El-AnsaryDr. Afaf El-Ansary

Female hormonesFemale hormones

Two primary hormonesTwo primary hormones

Progesterone

Maintained in optimal balance in our bodyMaintained in optimal balance in our body

EstrogenEstrogen

Synthesis of estrogen Synthesis of estrogen and progesteroneand progesterone

Estrogen and menstrual cycleEstrogen and menstrual cycleDuring a normal menstrual cycle, estrogen During a normal menstrual cycle, estrogen

and progesterone driving the process of maturing and progesterone driving the process of maturing and releasing an egg and preparing the uterus for and releasing an egg and preparing the uterus for possible pregnancy: possible pregnancy:

Estrogen rises in the first half of the cycle, Estrogen rises in the first half of the cycle, peaks at ovulation, then falls in the second half as peaks at ovulation, then falls in the second half as progesterone rises. progesterone rises.

Progesterone is released by the rupturing of the Progesterone is released by the rupturing of the egg follicle during ovulation. egg follicle during ovulation.

If there is no pregnancy, you have a period and If there is no pregnancy, you have a period and the whole cycle begins again.the whole cycle begins again.

Estrogen functionEstrogen function

Regulates Regulates menstrual cyclemenstrual cycle

It softens the It softens the cervixcervix

Promotes cell Promotes cell divisiondivision

Female Female characteristics characteristics during puberty during puberty

Affects female Affects female sexual organssexual organs

Estrogen is not a single hormoneEstrogen is not a single hormone

Estrone ( E1)Estrone ( E1)

Estradiol ( E2 )Estradiol ( E2 )

Estriol ( E3)Estriol ( E3)

Family of EstrogensFamily of Estrogens

AnimalAnimal EstrogensEstrogens

Synthetic Synthetic estrogensestrogens

PhytoestrogensPhytoestrogens

XenoestrogensXenoestrogens

ProgesteroneProgesterone

Pro-gestation hormonePro-gestation hormone

Favour the growth and well being of the fetus.Favour the growth and well being of the fetus.

It protects against the growth effect of estrogen.It protects against the growth effect of estrogen.

Its level is 20-25 mg/day during monthly cycle Its level is 20-25 mg/day during monthly cycle

and 300-400 mg/day during pregnancy.and 300-400 mg/day during pregnancy.

Estrogen dominanceEstrogen dominance

RelativeRelativedominance ofdominance of

estrogenestrogen

Different health problemsDifferent health problems

cancercancer

Relative Relative deficiency of deficiency of progesteroneprogesterone

When estrogen levels are high in relation When estrogen levels are high in relation to progesterone women can feel many to progesterone women can feel many severe symptoms, among themsevere symptoms, among them::

Anxiety Anxiety Breast tendernessBreast tenderness Headaches or migrainesHeadaches or migraines Depression Depression Digestive issues and weight gainDigestive issues and weight gain Fuzzy thinkingFuzzy thinking Irregular bleedingIrregular bleeding Water retentionWater retention

Symptoms of estrogen dominanceSymptoms of estrogen dominance

• Water retention

• Breast inflammation

• Fatigue

•Emotion instability

•Hot flashes

•Anxiety

•Depression

Common estrogen dominance Common estrogen dominance conditionsconditions

Premenstrual Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)syndrome (PMS)

Fibrocystic Fibrocystic Breast Breast

Pre-menopausalPre-menopausal

Syndrome (PMS)Syndrome (PMS)

EndometriosisEndometriosis

Uterine FibroidsUterine Fibroids

Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Common estrogen dominance conditionsCommon estrogen dominance conditions

Polycystic ovary Polycystic ovary syndrome syndrome

Common reasons for estrogen Common reasons for estrogen dominancedominance

Commercially raised cattle and poultryCommercially raised cattle and poultry Commercially grown fruits and vegetables with pesticidesCommercially grown fruits and vegetables with pesticides Exposure to xenoestrogenExposure to xenoestrogen Petrochemical compoundsPetrochemical compounds Industrial solventsIndustrial solvents Hormone replacement therapyHormone replacement therapy StressStress ObesityObesity Liver DiseasesLiver Diseases Increased coffee and fast food consumptionIncreased coffee and fast food consumption

Commercially raised cattle Commercially raised cattle and Poultryand Poultry

These animals are fed estrogen-like These animals are fed estrogen-like hormones and growth hormones.hormones and growth hormones.

It takes only 6 weeks now to grow a chicken It takes only 6 weeks now to grow a chicken to full size.to full size.

Feeds used contain large amounts of Feeds used contain large amounts of hormone-disrupting toxins including:hormone-disrupting toxins including:

Pesticides, antibiotics, and drugs to combat Pesticides, antibiotics, and drugs to combat diseases when so many animals are packed diseases when so many animals are packed closely together.closely together.

Commercially grown fruits Commercially grown fruits and vegetablesand vegetables

If you eat in any developed countries, you are If you eat in any developed countries, you are taking pesticides from fruits and vegetables.taking pesticides from fruits and vegetables.

Many pesticides are known as hormone Many pesticides are known as hormone disruptors.disruptors.

About 5 billion pounds of pesticides, About 5 billion pounds of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides are added to the world herbicides, fungicides are added to the world every year.every year.

XenoestrogensXenoestrogens

Pesticides are perhaps the biggest source of Pesticides are perhaps the biggest source of xenoestrogens. xenoestrogens.

Mostly they are bioaccumulated in fat cells of Mostly they are bioaccumulated in fat cells of fish, poultry and other food sources- in fish, poultry and other food sources- in increasing concentration until they reach the increasing concentration until they reach the top of the food chain where you and I top of the food chain where you and I consume them! consume them!

They are highly estrogenic They are highly estrogenic

Non-biodegradable synthetic estrogen from Non-biodegradable synthetic estrogen from urine of woman taking HRT and birth urine of woman taking HRT and birth control pills that is flushed down the toilet control pills that is flushed down the toilet and found its way into the food chain and and found its way into the food chain and back to the body.back to the body.

A wash in a sea of xenoestrogensA wash in a sea of xenoestrogens

Many of these xenoestrogens are proven Many of these xenoestrogens are proven carcinogens. They are also well known for carcinogens. They are also well known for their ability to damage the immune system their ability to damage the immune system and interrupt hormonal balance. Our cells and interrupt hormonal balance. Our cells can’t always distinguish fully between our can’t always distinguish fully between our

own estrogen and xenoestrogens. Every cell own estrogen and xenoestrogens. Every cell has estrogen receptors that recognize and has estrogen receptors that recognize and open to the shape of an estrogen molecular open to the shape of an estrogen molecular

chain, regardless of where it comes fromchain, regardless of where it comes from..

Petrochemical compoundsPetrochemical compounds

Creams, lotions, Soaps, Shampoos, Creams, lotions, Soaps, Shampoos, perfumes, nail polish, hair spray and perfumes, nail polish, hair spray and room deodorizers often have chemical room deodorizers often have chemical structures similar to estrogen and indeed structures similar to estrogen and indeed act like estrogen.act like estrogen.

Hormone Replacement TherapyHormone Replacement Therapy

HRT with estrogen alone without sufficient HRT with estrogen alone without sufficient opposing progestrone such as the drug opposing progestrone such as the drug Premarin.Premarin.

This drug contains 48% estrone and only a This drug contains 48% estrone and only a small amount of progestrone.small amount of progestrone.

Excessive estrogen from ERT also lead to Excessive estrogen from ERT also lead to increased chances of DNA damage, setting a increased chances of DNA damage, setting a stage for endometrial and breast cancer.stage for endometrial and breast cancer.

StressStress

Stress caused adrenal gland exhaustion and Stress caused adrenal gland exhaustion and reduced progesterone output.reduced progesterone output.

This will increase estrogen/progesterone ratio.This will increase estrogen/progesterone ratio.

High estrogen/progesterone ratio, further taxes High estrogen/progesterone ratio, further taxes the adrenal gland leads to more reduction in the adrenal gland leads to more reduction in progesterone and more estrogen dominance.progesterone and more estrogen dominance.

ObesityObesity

Fat has an enzyme that converts adrenal steroids to estrogen.Fat has an enzyme that converts adrenal steroids to estrogen.

The higher the fat intakeThe higher the fat intake

The higher the The higher the

conversion to estrogenconversion to estrogen

Deficiency of Vitamin B Deficiency of Vitamin B and magnesiumand magnesium

Both are necessary for the neutralization of Both are necessary for the neutralization of estrogen in the liver.estrogen in the liver.

Too much estrogen tends to create deficiency of Too much estrogen tends to create deficiency of Zn, Mg and vitamin B.Zn, Mg and vitamin B.

Increased sugar and fast food leads to the Increased sugar and fast food leads to the depletion of magnesium. depletion of magnesium.

Liver diseasesLiver diseases

Liver disease such as cirrhosis fromLiver disease such as cirrhosis from

excessive alcohol intake reduce the excessive alcohol intake reduce the breakdown of estrogen.breakdown of estrogen.

Increased coffee consumptionIncreased coffee consumption

Caffeine intake from all sources was linked Caffeine intake from all sources was linked with higher estrogen levels regardless of:with higher estrogen levels regardless of:

AgeAge Body mass index(BMI)Body mass index(BMI) Caloric intakeCaloric intake Smoking and alcohol intakeSmoking and alcohol intake Cholesterol intake.Cholesterol intake.

In absolute terms, those who live in the In absolute terms, those who live in the developed world are bathed in a sea of developed world are bathed in a sea of estrogen and do not know it.estrogen and do not know it.

ControlControl

Maintain ideal Maintain ideal

body weightbody weight

ExerciseExercise

Coffee and teaCoffee and tea

DetoxificationDetoxification

PhytoestrogensPhytoestrogens

A diet rich in phytoestrogens is thought to be A diet rich in phytoestrogens is thought to be protective. Phytoestrogens are plant-based protective. Phytoestrogens are plant-based substances found in soybeans, licorice, and substances found in soybeans, licorice, and alfalfa that naturally mimic estrogen in a alfalfa that naturally mimic estrogen in a healthy way when consumed. healthy way when consumed. This action This action protects the cell receptors from accepting the protects the cell receptors from accepting the more damaging xenoestrogens.more damaging xenoestrogens.

In general, phytoestrogens are thought to In general, phytoestrogens are thought to wash out of the body within several days in wash out of the body within several days in contrast to months that the synthetic contrast to months that the synthetic chemical xenoestrogens take to be excreted.chemical xenoestrogens take to be excreted.

Most phytoestrogens bind to the estrogen Most phytoestrogens bind to the estrogen receptors, but do not stimulate it. The flax receptors, but do not stimulate it. The flax seed phytoestrogen competes with other seed phytoestrogen competes with other estrogens that would otherwise stimulate estrogens that would otherwise stimulate the estrogen receptor.the estrogen receptor.

How to avoid estrogen dominanceHow to avoid estrogen dominance

Avoid Synthetic Chemicals.Avoid Synthetic Chemicals. Use natural pest control not pesticides.Use natural pest control not pesticides. Don't use herbicides; use a cup of salt in a gallon of vinegar.Don't use herbicides; use a cup of salt in a gallon of vinegar. Buy hormone free meats to eat.Buy hormone free meats to eat. Buy Buy ""OrganicOrganic""produce, fruits and vegetables without produce, fruits and vegetables without

pesticides, herbicides or synthetic fertilizer or hormonespesticides, herbicides or synthetic fertilizer or hormones.. Eat a plantEat a plant--based, fiberbased, fiber--rich diet rich diet ((at least 20-30 g fiber per at least 20-30 g fiber per

dayday).). Take vitamin BTake vitamin B6 6 , B, B1212 and folate as essential cofactors for and folate as essential cofactors for

critical methylation pathways such as detoxification of critical methylation pathways such as detoxification of estrogens.estrogens.

Take a liver-supporting and detoxifying herbal formula. Take a liver-supporting and detoxifying herbal formula. Maintain ideal body weight (BMI, 18-25).Maintain ideal body weight (BMI, 18-25). Regular exercise. Regular exercise.