Estrogens and Overweight

Normally, Androgens(male hormones), Estrogens (female hormones), Progestins (maternal hormones) are all present in the body of both male and female, yet it is the balance state of the three sets of hormones that dictate which effect will predominate . When Estrogens predominate, it causes accretion of fats in different body parts, and you can see for yourself when you compare the changes occurring in the body contours of a girl at puberty, and compare it with the body of a boy at the same age.

During the past 70 years, with the advent of society and industrial state, our body has been subjected to unprecedented Estrogen predominance. In less than 100 years with commercialization of cattle and poultry, processed foods, and use of petrochemical derivatives, have been replaced whole fruits and vegetables,poultry and cattle raised on grass and natural organic feed, and creams crafted from honey, milk and beeswax.

Worse yet, feeds lucid with pesticides and hormones, both of which have or induce estrogen activity, are routinely given to animals, and then passed to humans. Women whose diets are whole food based, seldom suffer a deficiency in progestins and the the signs of Estrogens dominance manifested as menopausal symptoms.

12 most common causes of Estrogen dominance:

1- Commercially raised cattle and poultry:

The animals are fed estrogen-like and Growth hormones. They are also given antibiotics-specially the poultry- which in turn disrupt the normal hormonal balance through inducing more enzymes that convert an androgen to estrogen.When humans eat the meat of these animals more estrogen is deposited in their bodies. As that is said, fish body is less contaminated -specially the small, non-coastal, non-shellfish - as one fish consumes1 pound of feed to produce 1 pound of edible fish, compared to 4/1 in poultry and 60/1 in cattle. You can trim fat from meat , and skin from poultry and fish you eat to reduce the amounts of pollutants.

2- Commercially - non-organic - grown fruits and vegetables containing pesticides:

In the past 100 years several hundred billion pounds of pesticides have been released into environment. Approximately, 5 billion pounds of pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides are being added to the world each year. Pesticides either have similar chemical structure to Estrogens, or induces liver enzymes that converts androgen to estrogen, favoring Estrogen dominance in our bodies. Produce with the most pesticides include Strawberries,bell peppers, Peaches, Apples, Apricots and Spinach. Foods with the least amount of pesticides include Avocado, Corn, Onions, Sweet Potatoes, Bananas, green onion, Broccoli, and Cauliflower.

If you are eating non-organic fruits and vegetables, discard the outer leaves of leafy vegetables and peel and wash all with diluted vinegar.

3- Petrochemical compounds found in general consumer products :

Such as creams, lotions, soaps, shampoos, perfumes, hair spray , nail polish, nail polish remover, and room deodorizer. We all involuntarily consume car exhaust, industrial waste such as PCBs and dioxins!

4- Industrial Solvents :

Some common organic solvents including alcohol like methanol, aldehydes like acetaldehyde, glycols like ethylene glycol, and ketones like acetone(nail polish remover).

Solvents are present in cosmetics, adhesives, glues, paint remover,dry-cleaning chemical, varnishes and other types of finishes, cleaning products, carpet, fiberboard, and other processed wood.

5- Sewage :

"Hormone Replacement Therapy ( HRT ) & Birth Control Pills".

Synthetic chemical Estrogens present in HRT and Birth control pills are metabolized in the body of women taking them, and excreted in their urine which is flushed down the toilet, and eventually found its way into the food chain, and back into the body. They are likely non-biodegradable.

6- Stress :

Stress causes adrenal gland exhaustion and reduced progesterone output. This tilts the estrogen to progesterone ratios in favor of estrogen. Excessive estrogen in turn causes insomnia and anxiety, which further taxes the adrenal gland. This leads to a further reduction in progesterone output and even more estrogen dominance. After a few years in this type of vicious cycle, the adrenal glands become exhausted. This dysfunction leads to blood sugar imbalance, hormonal imbalances, and chronic fatigue.

7- Obesity :

Fat has an enzyme that converts adrenal steroids to estrogen. The higher the fat intake, the higher the conversion of fat to estrogen.Studies have shown that estrogen and progesterone levels fell in women who switched from a typical high-fat, refined-carbohydrate diet to a low-fat, high-fiber and plant-based diet even though they did not adjust their total calorie intake. Plants contain over 5,000 known sterols that have progestogenic effects. People who eat more wholesome foods have a far lower incidence of menopausal symptoms because their pre- and post-menopause levels of estrogen do not drop as significantly.

8- Liver Overburden :

It is found that in some liver diseases like cirrhosis and fatty degeneration accompanying virus hepatitis B&C, or excessive alcohol intake, the liver capacity to convert androgens to Estrogens is increased. This same effect is presented by some drugs like phenobarbitone, phenytoin, carbamazepine, meprobamate...etc.

9- Deficiency of Vitamin B6 and Magnesium :

Both of these are necessary for the neutralization of estrogen in the liver. Too much estrogen also tends to create deficiency of zinc, magnesium and the B vitamins. These are all important constituents of hormonal balance.

10- Increased Sugar, Fast Food, and Processed Food :

Intake of all of these leads to a depletion of magnesium.

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11- Excessive Intake of Caffeine :

Caffeine intake from all sources was linked with higher estrogen levels regardless of age, body mass index (BMI), caloric intake, smoking, alcohol, and cholesterol intake. Studies have shown that women who consumed at least 500 milligrams of caffeine daily, the equivalent of four or five cups of coffee, had nearly 70% more estrogen during the early follicular phase than women who consume no more than 100 mg of caffeine daily, or less than one cup of coffee. Tea is not much better as it contains about half the amount of caffeine as compared to coffee. The exception is herbal tea like chamomile which contains no caffeine.

In absolute terms, we are bathed in a continuous sea of Estrogen, the more the developed is the country, the more is its surge. Yes, we all have hormonal imbalances, and specifically Estrogen dominance.