In this second article of a 4-part discussion on hormone balance and the effects on weight gain we will look at the symptoms associated with estrogen dominance and the factors that may contribute to increased body estrogen levels. As women age they often begin to experience many symptoms and issues that they have never encountered in their pasts. They often attribute most of these things to "hormonal problems", thought to be caused by estrogen deficiency. This leads to a request for synthetic estrogen in an attempt to balance things out and get back to normal. The reality is her symptoms may actually be due to a progesterone deficiency. The decreased levels of progesterone cause an imbalance in the natural ratio of progesterone and estrogen and a subsequent state of estrogen dominance.
From the onset of puberty until a woman enters her early 30's, the ratio of estrogen to progesterone production by the ovaries is optimal and balanced. As a woman approached her mid thirties (35yrs) there is a shift in the balance of hormones. The ovaries begin to secrete decreased amounts of both estrogen and progesterone, however the decrease in progesterone production is as much as 120x faster than that of estrogen. Specifically, from age 35 to 50, there is a 75% reduction in the production of progesterone compared to a 35% reduction in the production of estrogen. So even if a woman has low or normal levels of estrogen, her progesterone levels are likely be even lower and thereby create an environment of estrogen dominance.When this imbalance occurs, a woman has an increased risk of developing many health issues, including weight gain and abdominal obesity. Some of the common gynecological conditions reported by women include fibrocystic breast disease, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, infertility, endometrial polyps, PCOS, menstrual irregularities, premenstrual disorders, auto-immune disorders, low blood sugar problems, and an increased risk of developing breast cancer.
So, you may now be asking how to determine if you are estrogen dominant. If you have any of the gyne conditions listed above there is a high probability that you are in an estrogen dominant state. If you greater than 10 lbs overweight, you have an even greater issue. As discussed before, the high estrogen levels increase the production of fatty tissue in the body. This fat is then used to produce more estrogen, which then increases fat storage....and the cycle continues. Lastly, if you are beyond age 35 years, you have already begun to tip the scale in favor of a greater estrogen ration.
The following is a list of symptoms that women experience that may be linked to a hormonal imbalance:
- mood swings (irritability/depression/anxiety)
- mental cloudiness, foggy thinking, and memory problems
- irregular menstrual cycles/heavy periods
- decreased sex drive
- fibrocystic breast disease, breast tenderness
- weight gain/fat gain in abdomen
- trouble sleeping/insomnia
- bloating/water retention
- premenstrual syndrome
- unexplained fatigue
- gastrointestinal disorders (digestion problems)
- osteoporosis
- Thyroid dysfunction
Before ending this portion of the discussion, we will review other potential factors that may also contribute to elevated estrogen levels in the body.
1. Commercial food products - many animals are fed estrogen-like hormones as well as growth
factors that are passed on to humans when consumed. Also fruits and vegetables may be treated with
pesticides that may affect hormone levels. Some pesticide residues have chemical structures that are similar to estrogen and act as estrogen in the body.
2. Xenoestrogens (foreign estrogens) - many chemicals found in everyday products (nail polish, paint removers, plastics, dry cleaning products, fuels, and car exhaust) have chemical structures similar to estrogen and act like an estrogen in the body.
3. Synthetic Hormone Replacement (HRT) -
One interesting source of xenestrogen is from synthetic estrogens (birth control pills/HRT); they are excreted in the urine of women, flushed down the toilet, and eventually make their way back in to the food chain.
3. Over production of estrogen - may be caused by estrogen secreting ovarian cysts/tumors
4. Stress - stress causes adrenal fatigue and decreased production of progesterone
5. Obesity - fat tissue contains and enzyme that converts other body hormones into estrogen
6. Vit B6 and/or Magnesium deficiency - both are required by the liver to break down estrogen in the liver
7. Caffeine consumption - drinking as little as 2 cups of coffee/day can increase estrogen levels. Women who consume 500mg or caffeine per day have been found to have estrogen levels 70%
higher than those who consume less than 100mg. This includes all sources of caffeine, including, coffee, tea, fat burners, and energy drinks.
8. Foods high in saturated fat - ie, high-fat meats, cookies, pastries, fried foods, etc, have all been linked to higher levels of circulating estrogen.
There are many sources of estrogen found in common everyday things we encounter. If you think that you may have a hormonal imbalanve that is affecting your health and impeding your weight loss efforts, it is impotant to identify the things that you may be using that can be contributing. By making the appropriate changes in your diet, assessing the products that you use, and possible adding hormone replacement, you can achieve an overall balance in your health and untimately achieve a healthier desirable weight.
Thank you for reading my article. In the next two additions, we will look into the testing and treatment options for balancing hormones and end with a review of how you can use your diet to assist with having appropriate estrogen levels.
Please feel free to leave comments and any questions that you may have.
As always, this article is purely informational and does not replace the evaluation and treatment of your own physician.
Shyrlena L. Bogard, MD
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