Resist Hormonal Imbalance
WHAT ARE HORMONES?
Hormones are chemical messengers that flow through our bloodstream and enter tissues where they turn on switches to the genetic machinery, affecting the action of every cell in our body, either helping or ruining our lives depending on their balance, quantity, strength and body’s reaction!
Hormones are made in the ovaries, testes, adrenals, pituitary, pancreas, brain, thyroid, parathyroid and hypothalamus, just to name a few. These organs are also known as glands and belong to the bigger and more complex system: the endocrine system, which is like a symphony with several glands working both alone and together to orchestrate bodily functions. To put it in an analogy, ‘Touch one strand and the whole web trembles.’
Different types of hormones control different bodily systems like reproduction, metabolism (food burning and waste elimination), and growth and development. Hormones also control the way you respond to your surroundings, and they help to provide the proper amount of energy and nutrition your body needs to function.
HORMONAL IMBALANCE… UNDERSTAND WHY YOU FEEL THE WAY YOU DO.
One of the top health issues women today seem to be confronted with is commonly referred to as "Hormonal Imbalance". There are over 70 symptoms linked to hormonal imbalance including fatigue, irritability, hot flashes, insomnia, vaginal dryness, weight gain, bloating, hair loss, and irregular periods. In severe situations, an imbalance can lead to disease or chronic disorders.
To understand the cause of hormonal imbalance, it is important to understand the delicate hormonal balance in a woman’s body. A woman has 2 important hormones: estrogen and progesterone. These 2 hormones synchronise with each other as checks and balances to achieve hormonal harmony to perform their individual functions. Any lack of equilibrium between them has important impact on the female’s health.
The most common hormonal imbalance is excessive estrogen in relation to progesterone. This is called "Estrogen Dominance". Both an excess of estrogen and a deficiency of progesterone can create estrogen dominance.
At about age 35 to 40. women reach the time of premenopause – levels of progesterone and estrogen begin to reduce. During this time through age 50, there is a 35% drop in estrogen, but a 75% reduction in progesterone occurring simultaneously. This is normal, and does create many premenopausal symptoms that we accept as part of the aging process.
In addition to the change from the physiological cycle, estrogen dominance can be further aggravated due to the following.
Excess estrogen may be caused by:
- Foods with added hormones, such as commercially produced meat, eggs, milk and other dairy products. These synthetic hormones are used to increase production or to fatten them. BUT they also go straight into our blood stream when we consume these produce causing a further rise in estrogen levels.
- Birth control pills contain high levels of estrogen. They can be very potent, and linger for a long period of time in the body. Side effects include cramping, painful and irregular periods, weight gain, mood swings, and breast tenderness. What is not usually mentioned, or even known, is that the metabolism of birth control pills by the liver requires extra amounts of the B-complex vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium, and zinc. That means if you have been taking birth control pills for years, you are creating nutrient deficiencies. Weight gain, fluid retention, mood changes, depression and even heart disease can all arise from nutrient imbalance. It has been 35 years since the introduction of the Pill and only now are the long term effects beginning to show, such as migraines, heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, depression, and of course low progesterone levels.
- Environmental toxins (xenoestrogens, which means foreign estrogens) that mimic the actions of estrogen. Sources of xenoestrogens found in wide range of household and personal care products. They include:
- pesticides (the largest source)
- disinfectants
- dry cleaning fluids
- drugs
- lubricants
- plastics – polystyrene and plastic food wraps
- paints and varnishes
- artificial scents, e.g. air freshener, perfumes, etc.
- Cosmetics that are made with petrochemicals. Do not be surprised, majority of them in the market, even the ‘branded’ ones, contain petrochemicals. These substances not only dry out your skin, clog your pores, accelerate sun damage, and cause more wrinkles, more importantly they are further putting your hormones out of balance. We are delighted to confirm that Annemarie Borlind products are 100% free from petrochemicals.
- Herbs which contain phytoestrogen (phyto meaning plant) – naturally occurring estrogenic compounds that are found in a variety of foods, herbs, and spices. Their chemical structure resembles estrogen, but is generally weak in comparison to real estrogen and xenoestrogens. However, in a body that is already experiencing too much estrogen, adding more will exacerbate the problem. Some of the strongest phytoestrogen containing foods are soy, red clover, and dong quai. Soy indudes soybeans, soy milk, tofu, miso, and etc. Over consumption of phytoestrogenic foods or herbs on a long term basis may actually increase the risk of estrogen dominance significantly. Furthermore, phytoestrogens have been shown to inhibit the conversion of T4 to the active T3 thyroid hormone, and can trigger hypothyroidism. It is suggested that those with a history of thyroid imbalance, or suffering from estrogen dominance, should consume a minimum amount of phytoestrogens.
- Exposure to radiation, which increases estrogen levels in the blood.
- Chronic constipation, which interferes with the body’s ability to properly eliminate estrogen. Estrogen then accumulates in the colon and can be reabsorbed by the body.
- Synthetic estrogen supplements which form part of HRT (hormone replacement therapy) for menopausal symptoms.
Deficiencies of progesterone may be caused by:
9. An underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism).
10. Chronic stress. When you encounter a mildly stressful situation, your body draws on its progesterone to produce the hormones (adrenal corticosteroids) to counteract it. These are the hormones that protect against stress. BUT if your body is in constant or permanent state of stress, it can’t provide enough progesterone to be converted into anti-stress hormones and the result is adrenal exhaustion and no left over progesterone for other normal body functions. This dysfunction leads to blood sugar imbalance, hormonal imbalances, and chronic fatigue.
11. Frequent anovulatory cycles (menstruation without ovulation).
Estrogen Dominance Symptoms
The following are the symptoms of estrogen dominance. What begins with mild symptoms in younger years often becomes moderate in the mid to late 30s and severe by the time a woman reaches her mid 40s.
| MILD | MODERATE | SEVERE |
|---|---|---|
|
Premenstrual breast tenderness |
Irregular menstration | Uterine bibroid tumours |
| Premenstrual mood swings | Weight gain | Endometriosis |
| Premenstrual fluid retention | Hair loss | Dibrocystic breasts |
| Premenstrual headaches | Depression | Polycystic ovary syndrome |
| Menstrual cramps | Fatigue | Breast tomours |
| Thyroid dysfunction | Infertility | |
| Adrenal gland fatigue | Thickened uterine lining | |
| Severe menstrual cramps | Accelerated aging | |
| heavy periods with clotting | Miscarriage | |
| Joint and muscle pain | Anxiety and panic attacks | |
| Decreased libido | Autoimmune disorders | |
| Insomnia and restless sleep | ||
| Dry eyes |
Health Consequences of Estrogen Dominance
Estrogen dominance can lead to many different related health conditions. For example:
- Breast cancer. A leading doctor tested estrogen and progesterone levels in breast tissue specimens from several thousand women who had undergone breast cancer surgery admitted that. "Almost universally, they revealed a deficiency in progesterone relative to estrogen."
- Fibroids and cysts.
- Osteoporosis.
- Stroke and heart disease.
- Ovarian and cervical cancer.
- Infertility.
