Ramonia Bonham

Have you ever felt a rush of heat across your face, neck and upper body that causes you to reach for the nearest makeshift fan? And did you find you were the only one in the room feeling the heat?

Chances are you were experiencing a hot flash—a common symptom associated with body changes that occur in women over 40.

These “private summers” can be linked to excess estrogen in your body. And this can pose a major health hazard for women as they age.

In proper amounts, estrogen provides anti-inflammatory properties and helps protect your health in many ways. But excess estrogen and xenoestrogens—chemicals in the environment that mimic the effects of estrogen—lead to estrogen dominance.

The results? Do these sound familiar…

• Weight gain—especially belly fat—without eating more
• Hot flashes and uncomfortable menopausal symptoms
• Unwanted facial hair
• Vaginal dryness and painful intercourse
• Bloating and water retention
• Memory loss and “senior moments”
• Depression and anxiety
• Migraines or headaches associated with the menstrual cycle
• Irregular or skipped menstrual cycles
• Insomnia
• Low sex drive
• Dry skin and wrinkles
• Brittle bones
• Breast tenderness

Dr. John R. Lee, M.D., believes that if estrogen levels are allowed to rise unchecked in women, it could lead to dangerous health concerns such as endometriosis… heavy bleeding… fibroid tumors… heart disease and stroke… uterine cancer… and decreased brain function!

To help prevent estrogen dominance, Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP, said the two primary female sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone, must be in balance—estrogen stimulating tissue growth and progesterone signaling the body to get rid of the excess tissue. When these two hormones, estrogen and progesterone, are in balance, then the hormonal harmony promotes balance and good overall health for the body.

What throws off this delicate balance? Aging can play a part in the imbalance because, unfortunately, as you get older, your hormone levels change—creating more estrogen in your body than you need.

Excess estrogen can also be the result of environmental, dietary and lifestyle factors. For example, environmental pollutants help produce the “fake” xenoestrogens.

These hormones have been proven to wreak havoc with your estrogen levels. Pick said many of these xenoestrogens are “proven carcinogens” and their main source in the environment is likely found in pesticides “stored in the fat cells of fish, poultry and other food sources.”

Another major source of xenoestrogens is in the growth hormones injected in poultry and livestock. Birth control pills, some canned foods, and plastic bottles or food containers will also expose you to these harmful hormones.

But Pick said your dietary choices—such as eating too much refined sugar, flour and simple carbohydrates—and too little exercise also have a major effect on hormone production. She also said stress “plays a major role in estrogen overproduction.”

So, the problem of “hormone hell” and what causes it is as complicated as each individual is unique. But that doesn’t mean you have to suffer alone! Be sure to discuss your symptoms with your doctor. And be sure to ask about natural alternatives to hormone therapy.

Posted in Hormone Balance, Menopausal Symptoms.

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