Estrogen Dominance… Not the kind of dominance you are going for!
According to the Mayo Clinic[1] over 50% of women with experience fibrocystic breasts in their life time. This means they will have hard, lumpy, fluid filled cysts that may or may not be painful. These fibrocystic changes to breast tissue are a result of fluctuating hormones and are mainly present in women in their 20’s to 50s. Are these a cause for concern? Part of a bigger picture?
Medically, these are fibrocystic breast changes are labeled “insignificant” or basically considered “Normal”. But are they? In my opinion, they are a warning sign that a woman is in a state described as “Estrogen Dominant”. This condition sets the stage for other things like uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and may even contribute to breast cancer. This state of “Estrogen Dominance” is increasingly prevalent. Here are some other signs that a woman is this state:
As you can see, this is a list of things that many women struggle with. What should you do if this is you?
Lifestyle changes you can make to help overcome Estrogen Dominance…
1) Eat a diet low in processed foods with additives, colors, etc. Try to eat mostly fresh vegetables, some fruits, protein sources from pastured, free-range animals (conventionally raised animals can often receive hormones that contribute to this condition)
2) Cut back on caffeine. This may cause cysts found in the breast and uterus to grow. There is inconclusive research on this, but many women find this helpful
3) Keep the carbs at bay. Cutting breads and other high-glycemic grains out of the diet can help with inflammation and this helps overall health.
4) Try to eliminate sources of estrogen-mimicking substances (These are called Xenoestrogens). Some of the most commons sources include:
a. Plastics and Canned goods lined with plastic
b. Makeup, lotions, perfumes (look for natural products)
c. Oral Contraceptives
d. Styrofoam – this breaks down with heat, so coffee cups and take-out containers are the worst!
e. Household cleaners and air fresheners (use natural products)
f. Scented laundry detergent and fabric softeners
g. Pesticides/Herbicides
h. Dry cleaning chemicals
i. Bleached sanitary items (look for organic cotton)
Consider supplementation, if needed, to help correct the underlying hormone imbalance problem. Some herbs and supplements that I really like are Chaste Tree (or Chaste Berry), Black cohosh, and DIM.
Sometimes, functional hormone testing can be super helpful to help you identify what is specifically going on in your body. I routinely use salivary hormone testing and urine testing (The “DUTCH” test). If you are interested in more information on that, please click here to schedule a short free Consultation to learn more.
To your health!
Dr. Jeni
[1] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fibrocystic-breasts/symptoms-causes/syc-20350438
