Understanding Estrogen Dominance: Causes, Symptoms, and Solutions

If you’ve been struggling with unexplained weight gain, mood swings, or painful periods, estrogen dominance could be the culprit. This hormonal imbalance occurs when your body has too much estrogen and not enough progesterone to balance it out.

Estrogen plays a key role in various body functions, including reproductive health, brain health, and metabolism. However, too much of it can lead to a range of frustrating symptoms.

What Causes Estrogen Dominance?

There are a few reasons why estrogen might become too dominant:

• The body produces too much estrogen.
• There isn’t enough progesterone to counteract estrogen.
• The body struggles to eliminate excess estrogen effectively.

Factors like stress, certain medications, poor liver function, and excess body fat can also contribute to estrogen dominance. Environmental toxins, like xenoestrogens found in plastics and personal care products, may further disrupt hormonal balance. 

Common Symptoms of Estrogen Dominance

If estrogen dominance is left unchecked, you might notice:

• Heavy or painful periods
• Sore breasts
• Irregular menstrual cycles
• Fatigue and/or insomnia
• Weight gain, especially around the belly
• Hair loss or memory issues
• Mood swings, irritability, and/or headaches

Natural Ways to Reduce Estrogen Dominance

1. Manage Stress: Chronic stress can lower progesterone levels, making estrogen more dominant. Incorporate daily stress-relief practices such as meditation, yoga, or nature walks to help reduce cortisol.
2. Support Liver Health: Your liver is responsible for detoxing excess estrogen. To aid its function, reduce your intake of alcohol, sugar, and processed foods. Herbal teas like dandelion or milk thistle can also support liver health.
3. Maintain a Healthy Weight: Since estrogen is produced by fat cells, carrying excess body fat can contribute to estrogen dominance. Regular exercise and a balanced diet can help keep your hormones in check.
4. Improve Gut Health: A healthy gut helps excrete excess estrogen. Eating high-fiber foods like chia seeds, lentils, and cruciferous vegetables supports digestion and hormone balance.
5. Choose Non-Toxic Products: Limit your exposure to xenoestrogens by using natural skincare products, avoiding plastics, and opting for organic foods whenever possible.
6. Reduce Meat Consumption: Conventional beef is often loaded with steroids and fed a grain diet, making it low in essential vitamins and high in unhealthy omega-6 fats. Pork is also problematic, typically containing nitrates and nitrites linked to cancer and aging. Instead, choose organic, pastured chicken, turkey, eggs, and fish. If you reintroduce beef or pork, opt for organic, grass-fed, and pastured options.
7. Give Up or Reduce Alcohol: Sadly, there are many studies that show, alcohol can further increase your estrogen dominance problem. If you are feeling many of these side effects, we suggest you consider giving up alcohol for at least 21 days to reset your estrogen levels.  Read our blog here on why giving up alcohol is also key.