The Culprit: ESTROGEN DOMINANCE

Did you know that every three minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer? Do you think estrogen dominance affects women only? Think again! Although there are numerous reasons why women predominantly experience estrogen dominance (use of birth control, menopause and pregnancy), both men and women are increasingly affected by estrogen dominance. 

Dr. Harry Eidenier, Jr., Ph.D., states, “We are swimming in a sea of environmental xenoestrogens.” Xenoestrogens are environmental, man-made chemicals that have a chemical structure similar to estrogen that accumulate in fatty human tissue.

Sources of Xenoestrogens

• Car pollution 
• Contaminated water
• Non-organic foods (particularly animal fats from dairy and meat)
• PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), Polycarbonate plastic bottles, food containers, baby bottles
• Pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers
• Some shampoos, lotions, toiletries and deodorants

The longer these foreign substances stay in your body the more opportunity they have to do damage. Your body has to detoxify these xenoestrogen chemicals every day, and over time this can become a burden.

The estrogen compound 2-hydroxyestrone is considered the ‘good’ estrogen, and 16-alpha-hydroxyestrone is considered the ‘bad’ estrogen. The importance is the ratio of these two estrogens. This can be determined through a simple urine test, 2/16 OH estrogen. Estrogen in general tends to promote cell division, particularly in hormone-sensitive tissue (breast and uterine lining). 


Excess estrogens in your body not only lead to aromatization, but estrogen dominant health issues including uterine fibroids, fibrocystic breast disease, ovarian cysts, menstrual irregularities such as heavy bleeding and cramps, endometriosis, menopausal symptoms, breast, uterine, cervical and prostate cancer, and reduced sperm counts in men.




Aromatase is an enzyme found in estrogen producing cells in the adrenal glands, ovaries, placenta, testicles, adipose or fat tissue and the brain.

Factors that Raise Estrogen and Cause Aromatization

• Age increases aromatase activity
• Carbohydrate intolerance and insulin resistance–this affects the adrenals and all other major hormone levels (the hormone you have the most control over is insulin–this is controlled through your diet. Hormones do not act independently). Insulin increases aromatase.
• Consuming a diet of processed soy and non-organic foods loaded with xenoestrogens, pesticides, antibiotics, etc.
• Food sensitivities
• Heavy metal toxicity (arsenic, barium, cadmium, lead, cobalt, aluminum, and mercury).
• Illegal drugs such as marijuana or prescription drug side effects–especially diuretics, anti-depressants, steroid, and liver activity drugs.
• Inflammation
• Liver congestion and function changes–Elevated AST and ALT values.
• Low protein intake
• Obesity–High estrogen is present in most obese people of all ages. Obesity in males = 25 percent body fat or greater. Obesity in females = 30 percent body fat of greater.
• Overuse of marijuana and alcohol–this equals higher blood sugar, triglycerides, and estrogens.
• Parasites
• Plastics, PCBs, pesticides, soaps, emulsifiers, skin care products, lotions, cosmetics and household cleaning products containing xenoestrogens, pesticides and other chemicals.
• Stress–if cortisol demand is too high, pregnenolone will be shunted to produce cortisol at the expense of other hormones.
• Zinc deficiency. Low levels of zinc have been linked to enlarged prostates and less than desirable levels of testosterone. Contact me for a zinc taste test to measure your zinc status.

Symptoms/Conditions Associated with Increased Estrogen

• Allergies and food sensitivities
• Breast, prostate and cervical cancers
• Decreased libido
• Depression and/or fatigue
• Early menstruation cycles for young girls
• Endometriosis, fibroids, hormone dominant cancers (breast, prostate)
• Fat gain around the hips, thighs and waist (men and women)
• Infertility and/or miscarriage
• Moobs (known as man boobs)–Excess fat or breast growth in men is a definitive indication of high estrogen in relation to their testosterone. This is often combined with insulin resistance.
• Estrogen dominance in men contributes to hair loss, atherosclerosis, prostrate problems, lowered libido and impotency.

For women battling fibrocystic breast disease it is important to eliminate any and all sources of caffeine from their diet. Some women can drink all the coffee they want and not have fibrocystic breast problems, but unfortunately, women with fibrocystic breast problems are always caffeine-sensitive. Women with fibrocystic breast disease and other estrogen dominant conditions are often deficient in iodine and often require more iodine than others do. Both the thyroid and breast have high concentrations of iodine.

The American Institute for Cancer Research says one-third of cancer could be prevented by healthy nutrition, consistent exercise and maintaining a healthy body weight. External estrogens can be eliminated through diet, supplements and lifestyle changes.

Reduce Cancer Risk and Estrogen Dominance with Nutrition, Lifestyle, Exercise and Supplements

Nutrition

• Alkalize your blood by eating approximately 80 percent of your diet from alkaline foods. Cancer thrives in an acidic environment. Consume organic foods versus conventional due to their abundance of synthetic pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, etc. Grass-fed, free-range, hormone-free, antibiotic-fee meats. Organic fruits and vegetables contain 50-80 percent more nutrients than conventionally raised produce. 

• Cruciferous vegetables–broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, cabbage. In an animal study at the University of Michigan, it was found that sulforaphane, a compound founding broccoli sprouts, eliminated breast cancer stem cells
• Fiber from vegetables and low-glycemic fruits. Fiber may help reduce the amount of circulating estrogen in your body.
• Drink only purified water and add unprocessed sea salt. Invest in a water filter.
• Green tea (at least three cups daily). The EGCG in green tea helps prevent breast cancer.
• Keep insulin levels low.
• Mushrooms–A study published in the International Journal of Cancer discovered that women who ate 10 grams of button mushrooms/day were 64 percent less likely to develop breast cancer.
• Organic, extra virgin olive oil.
• Read the entire list of ingredients on all products. You’ll be surprised at the number of chemicals, colorings and artificial ingredients.
• Walnuts–the omega-3 fatty acid, phytosterol and antioxidant combination found in walnuts have been shown to prevent cancer.

Avoid

• Alcohol in excess.
• Artificial sweeteners and food additives and chemicals.
• Caffeinated products in excess (coffee, tea, chocolate).
• Deli and luncheon meats, and anything else that contains sodium nitrates.
• Non-organic meats and dairy products.

• Excess iron, especially after age 50.
• Overcooked foods.

• Processed soy products.

• Storing your food and beverages in plastic containers; the estrogen-like compounds in the plastic can make their way into the foods and liquids. Instead use Pyrex glass containers.  

Refined carbohydrates, trans fats, sugars, HFCS and hydrogenated vegetable oils, Sugar is a food source for cancer. A study in the Journal Cancer Epidemiology, Mile Markers, and Prevention found that refined carbohydrates (white flour, sugar and high fructose corn syrup) are linked to cancer. The study of more than 1,800 women in Mexico found that those who got 57 percent or more of their total energy intake from refined carbohydrates had a 220 percent higher risk of breast cancer than women who ate more balanced diets.

Lifestyle

 • Breastfeeding versus formula feeding. According to a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine, women with a history of breast cancer are 59 percent less likely to reduce their risk of breast cancer simply by breastfeeding their child.
• Reduce your body fat.
• Determine your hormone levels.
• Suggested urine test: 2/16 OH estrogen (this inexpensive test measures estrogen metabolites). A low 2/16 indicates a high risk of estrogen sensitive cancers
• Go braless occasionally. Bras restrict the flow of lymph glands.
• Improve your mood naturally and get off antidepressants which raises aromatase.
• Campaign against pesticide use in schools and workplaces. Children are especially susceptible to the effects of xenoestrogens.
• Monthly breast self-exams and breast massage.
• Sleep between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. for 7-8 hours of restful sleep.
• Sleep in complete darkness.
• Spend time in a sauna at least once a week.
• Spend time outdoors in sunlight without sunscreen 10-30 minutes daily.
• Work a first shift.
• Test for heavy metal toxicity.
• Store plastic water bottles in a cool dark place.
• Use natural pest control in your home and garden.
• Test iron and ferritin levels extra iron is toxic as we age, a potent oxidant, increasing free radicals and raises risk of cancer.
• Thermography uses an infrared camera, and is risk-free (no radiation) and painless. Thermograms can detect the possibility of breast cancer earlier, whereas mammograms cannot detect a tumor until it’s been growing for years.
• Use organic soaps and toothpastes (fluoride-free).
• Use only naturally based perfumes. Most perfumes are petrochemically based.
• Be aware of noxious gases from copiers and printers, carpets, fiberboards, etc. Computer monitors can emit a high level of electromagnetic force (EMF).

Suggested serum lab tests are Female Hormone Profile: Pregnenolone, Total Estrogens, DHEA-S, Progesterone, Testosterone (total); Male Hormone Profile: Pregnenolone, Total Estrogens, DHEA, Progesterone, Bioavailable Testosterone, Testosterone (total and free); Male: PSA (Test at age 50 for Caucasian; age 40 for African American); Both male and female: Thyroid panel: T3 Uptake, T4 and TSH; Vitamin D– 5 (OH)D

Avoid

• Avoid new carpet-it can give off noxious fumes.
• Avoid X-rays as much as possible. Opt for safer, more effective thermograms. 
• Smoking.

• Fabric softeners–they put petrochemicals directly on your skin.
• Synthetic flea shampoos, flea collars and flea pesticides for your pets and homes.
• Chemicals. There are at least 200 known chemicals that studies have shown are linked to breast cancer: View the list here.
• Avoid creams, lotions and cosmetics that have toxic chemicals and estrogenic ingredients such as parabens and stearal konium chloride. Cheap brands usually have more toxic ingredients.
• Avoid nail polish and nail polish removers.

Estrogen precursors such as plastic bottless. Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a widely used industrial chemical that has been directly linked to reproductive abnormalities and an increased risk of breast and prostate cancers, diabetes and heart disease.

Regarding pesticide exposure, the molecular structure of some pesticides closely resembles that of estrogen. This means they may attach to receptor sites in your body. It’s a known fact that women with elevated levels of pesticides in their breast tissue have a greater breast cancer risk.

Exercise

Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Daily, sensible exercise and deep breathing provide more oxygen down to the cellular level. Include walking, rebounder and strength training. Bouncing on a rebounder for two minutes every hour is good therapy for preventing or treating cancer. One hour after rebounding, white blood cells count normalizes.

Rebounding every hour boosts your immune system by flushing the lymphatic system. Exercise balances your insulin levels. Controlling insulin levels is one of the most powerful ways to reduce your cancer risks.

• Rebounding on a mini trampoline to increase lymphatic circulation and detox
• Exercise one hour daily. Consistent physical exercise reduces breast cancer risk according to numerous studies.
• Lift weights three times per week. Higher levels of strength are associated with a decreased risk of cancer.

Supplements

These supplements should be part of everyone’s supplement protocol to prevent disease and improve health.

• Omega-3 fish oils–make sure you supplement with a quality brand that is free of toxic heavy metals, PCBs and other chemicals. Research published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention showed that postmenopausal women who take fish oil supplements may lower their rish of the most common type of breast cancer (invasive ductal breast cancer) by a whopping 32 percent.

• Vitamin D–prevents and reduces 78 percent of all cancers. Vitamin D suppresses growth of breast cancer by blocking and enhancing signals that inhibit cancer cell growth and by altering gene regulators of the cell cycle.

• Calcium d-glucarate supports liver detoxification of excess estrogen. The liver also needs B vitamins, particularly B6, to detoxify excess estrogen.
• Ensure healthy gut flora with probiotics.
• Evening Primrose or borage oil.
• Green tea.
• Increase progesterone levels with herbs such as Chaste tree berry. Bioidentical progesterone decreases the risk of breast cancer.
• Iodine/Iodide combination.
• Resveratrol–The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry demonstrated high anti-tumor and estrogenic activity of resveratrol. Researchers compared resveratrol to other phytoestrogens and found that it increased cancer-cell death more than any of the others.
• Turmeric

Natural Aromatase Inhibitors (natural estrogen blockers)

Botanicals

• Calcium d-glucarate–helps liver detoxify excess estrogen out of the liver (500mg 3x/day)
• DIM–helps breakdown and metabolize estrogen (Women: 100-200 mg/day; Men: 200-400mg/day)
• Grapeseed extract (reduces up to 80 percent of aromatase)
• Green tea
• Indole-3 Carbinol
• Melatonin–anti-aromatase inhibitor (1mg) & potent antioxidant
• Myomin-an aromatase inhibitor that effectively reduces excess estradiol & reduces fibroid cysts.
• Nettle Root–blocks estrogen uptake in the prostate
• Passion Flower
• Quercetin
• Resveratrol–natural anti-aromatase inhibitor & block estrogen receptor sites

Avoid

• Synthetic supplements and prescription drugs.
• Excessive iron through supplements, diet and cast iron cookware. Iron is toxic as we age.

If you’re using birth control pills or synthetic estrogens such as Premarin educate yourself on what these drugs do to your body, particularly your hormonal system, your gut and your immune system. Provera has been linked to blood clots, fluid retention, acne, rashes, weight gain, depression, certain cancers and other disorders.

Anti-estrogen drugs such as Tamoxifen, a selective estrogen receptive modulator. This drug comes with a number of side effects including blood clots, strokes, dizziness, hot flashes, sexual problems, stroke, cataracts, leg swelling, mood swings and vision problems according to The National Cancer Institute. Tamoxifen has also been linked to endometrial and uterine cancer. Research shows tamoxifen increases the risk of the women developing a second and far more dangerous type of breast cancer by a stunning 440 percent published in the journal, Cancer Research.

Estrogen dominance is complex health condition, however by implementing and following the Winning Formulas above you can decrease estrogen dominance and reduce your risk of estrogen dominant cancers. Cancer may be caused from environmental factors, diet and genetics. Diet and nutrition, stress management, exercise, and sunlight are preventative measures for 90% of all health related diseases/conditions. Now is the time to take control and responsibility for your health with the four powers: Nutrition, Lifestyle, Exercise and Supplements.