Estrogen, high levels and health problems

The premenstrual pain, the appearance of breasts in men, the highest rate of infertility between men and women, fibrous breasts or endometriosis are, according to Xevi Verdaguer, an integrative physician expert in hormonal health, the indicators that there is some accumulation of estrogen in the body.

An excess that ends up developing many of the modern problems with which we usually go to the consultations and that on many occasions, they are misdiagnosed, and they try to solve them with remedies that affect us much more.

According to this new type of understanding medicine and facing problems, the role of hormones has a lot to do: our endocrine systems are altered due to a significant increase in the level of estrogen, which many of us are not able to manage by our disposition genetic, and that, however, we can solve if we are aware of the problem.

We are surrounded by factors that introduce different hormones into our body and alter our endocrine system

The soaps, creams, and makeup (containing parabens, triclosan, and others) penetrate our skin with hormone disrupters that alter the balance of our body by increasing levels of estrogen. The wipes increase histamine. The contraceptives and IUDs, obviously alter and increase estrogen levels in addition to that lower libido and increase the risk of heart attack, among other risks. The plastics, especially of toppers and bottles can be very potent hormone disruptors when heated and the Teflon pans. The clothes made with polyester, which is nothing more than a kind of plastic, also has the same effect. The tobacco, on the other hand, prevents the detoxification of the liver and the correct processing of the hormones.
Exposure to obesogens is one of the most powerful mechanisms currently to cause metabolic alterations

Exposure to obesogens is one of the most powerful mechanisms currently to cause metabolic alterations

However, food is the most common entry door for our estrogen levels to be altered. It is not surprising that more and more, there are food proposals that try to review the habits we have and propose alternatives, such as the paleo diet or follow the guidelines of the alkaline diet.

Below we will see in detail what happens and what can happen when you have an excess of estrogen`s in men and women, what  foods may be causing these imbalances in part (are not the only factors as we have seen), and what kind of food should we carry out to improve our hormonal health.

What happens when you have excess estrogen?

men

• In the case of men, an excess of estrogen can be translated into some disorders that we usually attribute to other causes and that can lead to real problems.
• The development of breasts in men, some problems such as prostate hypertrophy, varicose veins in testicles and legs, anxiety problems, dandruff or peeling skin, or even sperm problems: poor mobility and quantity, are ailments that can be caused by an excess of estrogen in our body.
• However, this is not the worst thing that can happen, as some of these evils can increase the risk of suffering from prostate cancer and even suffer a heart attack or become sterile.

Women

• In the case of women, the excess of estrogen can mean the appearance of ailments and diseases that have somehow been assumed as normal, but that does not have to be so at all.
• Well, known is that many women suffer very acute menstrual ailments, menstrual syndromes and a flow that lasts much longer than the days of ovulation. The headaches, migraines can have their origin in an excess of estrogen and histamines, while joint and muscle pain can be due to hypothyroidism and excess estrogen.
• The belly pains, the irritable colon, and chronic constipation (except when you have the rule) can also be due to this hormonal excess.
• Other ailments that can warn women of an excess of estrogen are: fatigue, being too cold always, swollen eyes after getting up, insomnia, shallow sleep, low blood pressure, sinusitis, spring allergies, dermatitis, among many other pathologies that we usually believe associated with other causes and that we usually palliate with remedies that sometimes cause new ills.

Having excess blood sugar, in addition, can cause some visible symptoms that warn that something is wrong with the body`s resistance in insulin : grains or points on the outside of the arm, fat accumulation in the navel and legs, fringes brunettes in the neck, cracked heels, armpits of a darker color, little hair or excessive fall of it.

Foods that imbalance the level of estrogen

Many of the foods we eat can increase our estrogen levels. This occurs especially in those foods whose sugar intake increases insulin levels, causing decompensation in our endocrine system. These are the most common and those to be avoided:

Wheat

• The wheat is one of the foods that damage is causing health and unfortunately, much of the food we consume daily are made with this ingredient: bread, pasta, pasta, cookies, etc. This food increases the blood sugar level even more than the sugar itself.

Sugar

• The sugar raises blood levels, followed because increased insulin, in turn, causes an increase in estrogen. This also occurs with sugary drinks and packaged juices, sweeteners such as saccharin (not stevia) and even red meat, as it is not accompanied by vegetables.

Dairy products

• Milk products and milk make increase insulin and estrogen. The alternatives are not much better either, because soy milk, as well as soybeans and their derivatives, contain in and of themselves estrogen that increases the body`s own.

Other products, although not increase the level of estrogen, do not help the liver to detoxify and cleanse the body, such as coffee, the beer or alcoholic beverages,  in general.

What to eat to avoid excess estrogen or reduce it?

Avoiding excess estrogen is somewhat complicated, especially if we consider the number of foods of our daily diet that affect us, and the other factors that depend on it. Some foods to reduce the impact are these:

Stevia

• Natural stevia or panela sugar are good alternatives to sugar, syrups and artificial sweeteners like saccharin.

Infusions

• The infusions of passionflower, green tea, cinnamon, and regalesia can stop the production of excess estrogen.
• Kombucha tea, which is a fermented drink, also helps the liver in glucuronidation (generation of bile and elimination of estrogen).

Fruit and nuts

• The apple, grapes, pomegranates, and berries also stop the aromatase, the production of excess estrogen.
• Nuts such as walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds or Brazil nuts are the best alternative to bread, pasta, and biscuit, stopping the production of estrogen.

Cheese and milk

• Goat or sheep cheese is the best alternative to cow`s milk, while almond milk would be a better option than cow`s milk or soy milk.

Bread

• Bread made from buckwheat or sourdough, also known as ” Ezekiel Bread ” is the most convenient. Stops the manufacture of estrogen`s and helps sulfation. The sarraceno also serves to make crepes and other snacks.

Vegetables

• All the vegetables of the family of cabbages (broccoli, red cabbage, cauliflower, ruca, radishes) help the liver to eliminate excess estrogen.
• The mushrooms are also a good ally.
• The beet, to eliminate environmental toxins and stress hormones.
• The artichoke, for the elimination of estrogen.

Vegetables

• The best are adzuki beans, lentils, beans, and peas.

Octopus, squid and cuttlefish

• They are a good source of protein that helps sulfation and the liver to eliminate environmental toxins.

Sources of Omega-3

• The small bluefish, the shellfish and some seaweed, like the cochayuyo seaweed, ideal for soups and stews.