What is estrogen dominance? What are estrogen dominance symptoms, the best estrogen dominance diet, and estrogen dominance treatments to naturally heal and reset your hormones to healthy happy hormones?
In this post, we will be doing a deep dive into estrogen dominance covering the Top 7 Most Asked Questions about Estrogen Dominance
- estrogen dominance symptoms (with a free downloadable checklist)
- estrogen dominance diet
- estrogen dominance signs
- estrogen dominance weight gain
- estrogen dominance in menopause
- estrogen dominance supplements
- estrogen dominance symptoms female vs estrogen dominance symptoms male
Before diving into the Top 9 Most Asked Questions About Estrogen Dominance what is estrogen dominance?
The definition of Estrogen Dominance is the condition of increased estrogen levels relative to progesterone levels in the body. Estrogen dominance may be the result of overproduction of estrogen by the body, changes in estrogen metabolism and excretion, or an imbalance in the estrogen to progesterone ratio.
Most commonly estrogen dominance is said to be caused by a decrease and progesterone without a subsequent decrease in estrogen.
Over 70% of women are estimated to experience estrogen dominance throughout their lifetime.
Estrogen dominance in the body shows up as;
- builds up uterine lining
- increase in body fat
- depression, headaches, or migraines
- interference with thyroid hormone
- increase in blood clotting
- decrease in libido
- a blood sugar control
- increases the risk of endometrial cancer
- increases the risk of breast cancer
Our bodies need estrogen for our reproductive, cardiovascular, and bone health. However, too much estrogen can cause irregular periods and may worsen conditions that affect our overall reproductive health.
Estrogen is an important hormone that regulates our reproductive systems. Estrogen also plays an essential role in other body systems too.
Estrogen levels rise and fall throughout our lifetime and often sync with our other hormonal changes to control critical body processes.
An increase in estrogen Spurs sexual development during puberty. Along with the hormone progesterone, estrogen prepares a woman’s body for pregnancy.
Estrogen levels that are too high can cause other hormonal imbalances and way too many other problems.
High estrogen can disrupt reproductive processes, cause unpleasant symptoms and side effects and also increase risks of other conditions.
It is rare for one’s estrogen levels to be high because of the estrogen the body is producing. It’s more likely estrogen levels are high or off balance due to medications that one is taking.
For example, someone may have a low sex drive because of high estrogen levels, but this is most likely caused by medications such as birth control pills not the body’s natural estrogen production.
Also need estrogen but at much lower levels than women need estrogen. High levels of estrogen in men can cause:
- infertility
- erectile dysfunction
- a condition called gynecomastia, where the breast of a man becomes enlarged
Top 13 Estrogen Dominance Symptoms
Fortunately, like some other hormone imbalances in the body, we can often identify the presence of estrogen dominance by assessing the clinical symptoms.
Anyone with concerns about estrogen dominance should always confirm the official diagnosis with a blood test, but in many cases, symptoms alone can be very telling.
Estrogen dominance tends to follow closely with the symptoms associated with high estrogen and low progesterone.
Here are the 13 symptoms of estrogen dominance to be on the lookout for;
- Breast tenderness or breast fullness (hard to the touch)
- Low libido, or reduced sex drive
- Weight gain especially in the hips, thighs, and butt region
- Changes in menstrual cycles (menstrual irregularities, heavy menstrual flow, Cramps, mood changes, migraines with menstrual cycle)
- You’re lost such as brittle hair, hair thinning, or changes to the color of your hair
- Problems with fertility usually difficulty with conception compared to a high risk of miscarriage with low progesterone
- Changes in one’s mood including depression, anxiety, we’re not feeling like yourself
- bloating in the stomach
- Excess water retention especially in the hands, feet, and face
- Changes in bowel movements (going days between bowel movements)
- Changes and sleep patterns including insomnia, or a reduction in the quality of sleep
- Reduced or damaged metabolism or gaining weight even though once diet hasn’t changed
- Other hormonal imbalances such as low testosterone and thyroid disease
Estrogen Dominance Diet
Estrogen is a hormone and our hormones are all produced in our endocrine system and autoimmune system. Healing my own autoimmune system naturally using food as medicine and clean nontoxic living after having babies threw my hormones out of wack is the reason I started this blog.
Doctors and specialists (endocrinologists) all told me the same thing, “I am sorry K’Lee this is just something you are going to have to live with and manage (and be on medication the rest of your life for). There is no cure.”
So, after two years of doctor visits and testing, and thousands of dollars later, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I knew if I could find at least one person who healed their autoimmune system so could I.
It took me lots of time and research and trial and error but I found something that my body responded to with amazing results! I lost 50+ pounds and have kept it off and am free of all medications!
Click the link below the picture and scroll down to read my full story!
The Custom Keto Diet
When I started the keto diet it was honestly out of desperation. I had over 50 pounds of postpartum weight that would NOT come off no matter what I tried, or how hard I worked out.
The reason is now obvious to me, it was hormonal weight gain paired with the fact that my hormones never balanced back out after two very hard pregnancies.
The rules of the weight loss game change COMPLETELY when you have any kind of hormonal imbalance.
Little did I know at the time, again all I cared about at the time was getting the weight off and figuring out what the heck was going on with my body, but there are a whole lot of foods that are known endocrine disrupters.
Foods that you, like I, have probably eaten your entire life without a problem.
However, when our bodies undergo big hormonal changes and have not returned to what I call happy healthy hormones then those foods will be the very thing stopping the hormonal balance plus start causing more harm.
Then, it is pretty much the domino effect on health issues after that.
The reason Clean Keto is so effective in balancing and resetting our hormones is that it eliminates the inflammatory foods that are now part of the problem.
Clean Keto simply means eliminating dairy and most processed foods as well. Dirty keto is just eating low carbs but there are still those “frankin-foods” cooked up in a lab somewhere that is not even real food.
And dairy is one of the most inflammatory foods.
……..but K’Lee I have tried keto before and it did not work!”
I cannot tell you the number of times I have heard this from friends, family, and coaching students. They all fell in one of these two categories, some fell into both;
- they were doing it wrong
- they quit too soon
To avoid spending months figuring out “how to go keto” then more time meal planning, because after all there is no ‘winging it’ when you are starting something new.
I always, always, always tell people here is the BIG RED EASY button…..
This custom keto plan starts with a quiz, then customizes a meal plan AND shopping list for you based on your weight loss goals and taste buds.
Most people fall off the “diet” wagon within the first 2-3 weeks, and I would bet the old saying “people don’t plan to fail they fail to plan” would probably hit the nail on the head!
Don’t be most people.
You are with investing in your health! And this meal planner is basically like skipping one dinner out a month!
Estrogen Dominance Signs
I hope you have already downloaded the 13 Most Common Symptoms of Estrogen Dominance above (if not click here).
Here are the most common signs of Estrogen Dominance in women;
- abnormal menstruation (heavy or painful periods, migraines during periods)
- excessive PMS
- headaches
- decreased sex drive (low libido)
- bloating, excessive gas, or belching after coffee or meals
- elevated mood swings
- being ‘hangry’ (angry when hungry)
- fatigue
- anxiety & depression
- breast tenderness
- endometriosis
- fibroids
- hormonal weight gain
If you are experiencing more than a few of these signs please print off the checklist and see your doctor for blood work to confirm. You can ask for a hormonal panel as well as let them know you think you may be experiencing estrogen dominance.
Estrogen Dominance Weight Gain
Losing weight can be hard. Losing weight when you are experiencing hormonal weight gain can feel near impossible. And honestly, until you get your hormones on track again it may just be impossible.
When talking about weight loss the same rules do not apply to hormonal weight gain.
The reason for this is no amount of ‘eating less and working out more‘ will fix a hormonal imbalance.
Scientists have meth busted that old way of thinking years ago, yet when people want to lose weight that is most often the first place they start.
The most common cause of hormonal weight gain is
Hormonal Weight Gain
Estrogen dominance weight gain falls under the hormonal weight gain umbrella. As mentioned above losing hormonal weight gain is not the same as “normal” weight loss if there is such a thing.
The old saying, “eat less exercise more” simply will not work when it comes to hormonal weight gain.
I can share with you that the best hormonal imbalance diet that my body responded to was Keto (the ketogenic diet).
There were other diets or eating styles I tried before keto that I gave a good 90 days to 6 months each with no success or visible changes.
This brings me to a really good point, one should not waste their time and energy if not fully committed for at LEAST 90 days to 6 months.
When it comes to hormonal weight loss there is no such diet that anyone could “lose 30 pounds in 30 days”. Nor would this type of crash diet be safe for anyone.
Now, I can tell you I did lose about 30 pounds in my first 60-90 days on the ketogenic diet. I am not sure the exact time frame as I was not really counting the days or anything like that.
I simply made up my mind that I would go for it and stick with it and that is what I did. No specific weight loss goal (number) or hard-set timeline other than returning my body and hormones back to the healthy happy hormones they use to be.
I decided the weight that comes with that would be a healthy weight for my body (the idea was around the 130-140 pound range for my height of 5’6).
Amazingly as my hormones healed the hormonal weight started to come off with it.
The doctors and I closely monitored my hormone panel blood work and we’re slowly weaning my body off the very high dosage of thyroid medication.
The photos of me above on the right are a DECADE apart! Not only do I now feel so much better, but the hormonal acne, weight, fatigue, food cravings, painful periods, and crazy mood swings are also gone!
It may just be me but I feel like I even look 10 years younger than the photos from over a decade ago when my hormones were out of wack!
If you want to give Keto a go to see if your body responds as mine and thousands of others then start right. Have a plan. Commit to 6 months, no cheat days!
After all, what would you say to your husband if he asked for a once-a-week (or month) cheat day on you?
If you could not let him cheat on you….why would you cheat on yourself?
“But what about my birthday (or kids or fill in the blank)? What about the holidays? Surely you do not mean the holidays too?!?!”
Friend, if this is your mindset stop and focus on mindset and perspective. If those are your questions then you are not ready to start yet.
I want you to be successful, better to wait until you have MADE UP YOUR MIND and nothing can stop you!
If you need help or accountability reach out to me! I am here for you.
A word of caution.
If you are thinking, “I know I will get (fill in the blank) to start with me to help keep me on track!”
Unless the person name you filled in the blank with is one of the most disciplined and consistent people you know. Already in amazing shape and nerd out over health, wellness, supplements, etc.
If they are needing to get that extra weight off as badly as you are….. well you will most likely quit if they quit or be pulling them along with you.
Most likely a bad idea.
If you know yourself and you know you need someone to be there with you get a wellness coach preferably one who is a hormone expert, not just a general nutritionist.
I personally love finding those who have had the same issues, as they understand on a personal level, not as a general study or rule of thumb.
Set yourself up for success friend. Invest in yourself.
YOU ARE WORTH IT.
Estrogen Dominance in Menopause
Estrogen Dominance most often occurs during menopause. The hormonal imbalances occur during premenopause for some during menopause for others, and after menopause for most women.
Why estrogen dominance occurs during menopause?
Most women find it paradoxical if our hormones are disappearing in menopause how can there possibly be estrogen dominance?
The ovaries go into retirement and stop working after the age of 52 for most women. So, you think that estrogen would go down, not up….right?
Then why do so many women become estrogen dominant? Which also places are a risk of cancer of all kinds of other issues after menopause.
First, let us talk about the symptoms of estrogen dominance.
The most common symptoms of estrogen dominance are breast tenderness, irritability, depression, craving for chocolate, weepy and emotional state, cystic acne, weight in the hips thigh, and ‘pooch’ area of the stomach (also called the hormonal belly), low libido, cancer, and endometriosis.
In fact, estrogen and overproduction are commonly listed as the source of cancer in the breast and uterus. It takes the presence of overproduction of estrogen for these cancers to develop.
Facts About Estrogen
Estrogen drops off after menopause, but when progesterone drops even more than estrogen it leads to estrogen dominance (a higher ratio of estrogen than progesterone).
If you have estrogen at level four, and progesterone drops to level one, you then have estrogen dominance over progesterone. And the possessed around hormone that opposes estrogen.
These two hormones perfectly balance a scale.
If one begins to go up too high and the other one is going down now the scale is off balance.
Now estrogen begins to counter the effects of progesterone this is where the issues begin.
Now, the adrenal glands are the backup to the ovaries. During Menopause the adrenal glands will make the same hormones that the ovaries.
We have probably all heard of adrenal fatigue. Adrenal fatigue creates feelings of overwhelming fatigue and the inability to lose weight.
When this happens the adrenal glands are stressed by the lack of hormones and start over by producing more hormones in an effort to get the cortisol to create homeostasis or a balance and hormones.
An increase in the need for cortisol further depletes progesterone, which is used to make cortisol.
Now progesterone is being shut off to make cortisol, less is available to balance progesterone. This equals estrogen dominance.
Short the body is attempting to fix one problem and unfortunately causing another.
This happens very often with hormonal imbalances which is why it is so important for us to be aware of hormonal imbalances so that we can correct them before they turn into an autoimmune disease.
Estrogen Dominance Supplements
What to naturally do about estrogen dominance, is a more advanced approach. If you are just starting out and of the 8 listed below you are not doing any of them yet, skip below to my 3 Steps to Success Starting Point for Healthy Happy Hormones.
I have found that attempting to “do it all” right away is the quickest way to overwhelm ourselves and the fastest path to setting ourselves up for failure.
Pin this post on Pinterest and come back to it in 5-6 months AFTER you have been doing the 3 Steps To Success consistently…. then add a few more!
- eat organic vegetables only
These will not have GMOs and pesticides that are acting as estrogens in your body
- eat hormone-free Meats
Try to eat meat from grass-fed animals only. These will devoid the GMOs from the corn and soy feed.
- take iodine supplements
Iodine is important with estrogen dominance because it helps maintain the hormones that regulate the thyroid, and it also helps be the estriol (anti-cancer) form of estrogen in the body. Iodine helps lower estrogen.
- DIM (concentrated phytonutrients from cruciferous veggies)
DIM Is found in many cruciferous vegetables, this can help the body’s estrogen balance, but do not overeat as cruciferous vegetables can lead to bloating
- nettle root
Is a fantastic natural route that is great for both the prostate and lowering estrogen it is also a great anti-inflammatory.
- eat lots of cruciferous vegetables
If you don’t take supplements cruciferous vegetables are good as estrogen inhibitors
- cortisol support
During the time of balancing estrogen it is important to keep cortisol levels balanced as well as mentioned above we don’t want the body to try to correct one issue by causing another.
- Chaste tree and black cohosh are good herbal supplements as well that can lower estrogen in the body
Herbal supplements can be great for some of the symptoms or side effects of estrogen dominance such as joint pain and inflammation, these issues are not being caused by estrogen dominance but actually an effect of the adrenal fatigue or adrenal imbalances that are being caused because of the estrogen dominance.
3 Steps To Success Starting Point for Healthy Happy Hormones!
Step 1: Keep it simple!
Step 2: Be Consistent
Step 3: Track Your Progress
When you are just starting out we have to start at a pace that you can keep up. Adding 12 supplements, 15 things to your morning routine, and so on will lead to burnout fast!
To Keep It Simple we will look at food as medicine. Dr. Hyman, a functional medicine doctor who had to heal his hormones said it like this, “food is either medicine or poison, it is either nourishing your body or slowly poisoning it”.
Yikes!
But this is 100% true! Foods that you may have eaten your whole life may just be the slow poisoning that led your body to the hormonal imbalance you are now experiencing.
It is important to see success right away when we eliminate these foods. What worked for me and the starting place I recommend to anyone with hormonal imbalance is Clean Keto.
As I said above I encourage you to use the Custom Keto Plan for at least your first 90 days!
Why?
For two reasons. One most people think they are one keto but are doing it wrong. And Two because learning the right way to do keto, then teaching yourself a new shopping and meal plan is TIME-CONSUMING!
Here is that BIG RED Easy button so you do not waste time, get frustrated thinking it is “not working for you”, and give up.
This meal planner starts with a quiz based on what you like to eat and asks what your weight goals are. Then formulates both a custom meal plan and shopping list for you!!!
It does not get much easier than this!
Hormonal Harmony All-in-One Supplement
Ok, so if the list above is a bit overwhelming I totally get it! Let me make it easy for you and point you to a supplement developed for hormonal imbalance to help reset the hormones to a balanced state naturally.
The great thing about balancing your hormones is that stubborn hormonal weight gain will finally come off! If you click the link above you will hear story after story of weight loss after starting to take the HB5 Supplement!
They do not “market” the supplement as a weight loss supplement, it is a simple cause and effect from getting our hormones in harmony again.
I also appreciate that it is an All-in-One Supplement. Not only does this save money but it saves so much time in having to short and schedule. This one in the morning with food, that one in the late morning 1 hour after eating, etc.
What a pain.
A Good Green Drink
If you are ready to really get your hormones in order and can do the HB5 Supplement and a Good Green Drink in the mornings one we love is Organifi.
The simple fact is that between poor farming practices in the US and the “SAD diet”, Standard American Diet (fitting acronym) we simply do not get all the nutrition in our food anymore.
I use to juice all the time, but not only is that super expensive it is also extremely time-consuming.
Funny enough I use to follow ol’ Drew Canolly on Youtube back in the day for all my juicing recipes and education. He must have heard the people’s complaints and created Organifi.
estrogen dominance symptoms female vs estrogen dominance symptoms male
Estrogen hormones are essential for sexual and reproductive development, mainly in women. They are also referred to as the female sex hormones. The term estrogen refers to all chemically similar hormones in this group.
Estrone, estradiol, and estriol.
However, estradiol, the predominant estrogen, also plays a critical role in male sexual function.
Estradiol in men is essential for modulating libido, erectile function, and spermatogenesis.
A sign of estrogen dominance in men often includes:
abdominal weight gain, lethargy, fatigue, brain fog, insomnia, mood swings, irritability, low libido, depression, and anxiety.
End times estrogen imbalances in men are a result of certain medications such as certain antibiotics and could even be from other natural substances (for example soy contains high levels of estrogens).
If men are experiencing progesterone and testosterone decreases with estrogen that does not also equally decrease it will become estrogen dominance.
There are external factors such as pesticides, herbicides, plastics, fuels, car exhaust, and drugs as well as many personal hygiene products such as creams, lotions, soaps shampoos perfumes, and room deodorizers that have chemical structures similar to estrogen and can act like estrogen when absorbed into the body for both men and women!
If you are a man over 40 your progesterone and testosterone levels have already started to decline. Man can take proper steps to reverse estrogen dominance and lower risk through the use of clean natural foods, healthy lifestyle changes, and supplements that encourage healthy hormone balance.
Men Scroll back up to the right above this one called “3 Steps To Success Starting Point for Healthy Happy Hormones”.
This is the proper starting place for you too especially if you are over the age of 40!
Conclusion
In this blog post, we went in-depth on the 7 most asked questions when it comes to Estrogen Dominance. Answering these questions on how to reset our Hormones to Healthy Happy Hormones is the first step in understanding how to fix the hormonal imbalance.
The next step is taking action!
In the section called “3 Steps To Success Starting Point for Healthy Happy Hormones” I outlined the starting point for anyone, man or woman, of any age (but most important for men and women over the age of 40).
These 3 steps give you the eating plan to get the foods hurting your hormones out of your daily diet. It gives you an all-in-one supplement to rebalance your hormones (and bonus helps you lose hormonal weight gain naturally), and lastly a good green drink to be sure you’re getting all the nutrients daily that your body needs and most of us are deficient in.
Remember if you need more help and love one-on-one coaching to keep you on track and accountable I can help you there too!
My husband Jason and I team up for what I call our “Fit Over 40 Couples Wellness Coaching” as well.
No, you do not need to be “over 40” to join our coaching program…..
but if you are it is EVEN more important to get your hormones right as everything starts declining naturally…..but you can take action to slow it down drastically!
Cheers,
K’Lee
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