Why does Estrogen Dominance Cause Weight Gain?

Estrogen plays an important role both in how your body distributes fat and in the way it burns fat.  Because the tissues in your middle are  sensitive to estrogen, that hormone tends to accumulate in the cells in your abdomen, hips and upper thighs if you’re a woman or in the chest and abdomen if you’re a man.  When the estrogen enters those fat cells, it does what is genetically designed to do:  it orders those cells to reproduce and multiply and, in turn, those fat cells create even more estrogen.

Estrogen also helps control how our bodies burn up those fats and get rid of them.  When there is too much estrogen in those cells around the middle of the body, it becomes almost impossible to burn that fatty tissue away.  That’s why the fat accumulating in those areas is often called ’stubborn fat’.  No matter how much you diet or exercise, stubborn fat just refuses to go away.  It’s tenacious and clings to your body as stubbornly as barnacles on a ship.

Weight Gain Encourages Excess Estrogen

Okay, now you’re trapped in the middle of a cruel cycle.  You’re overweight because you have estrogen dominance and excess estrogen causes you to gain weight.  Those added  fat cells produce estrogen, making the problem even worse.  You know that carrying extra weight, particularly around your abdomen, causes health problems like type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance and even some cancers.  So how can you break the vicious cycle before it causes you to develop  serious health issues?

How to Break the Estrogen/Weight Gain Cycle

First, make sure that you really are estrogen dominant.  There are simple tests available that you can take to find out if you are suffering from this condition.  Learn more about these tests for estrogen dominance.

Once you have determined that you do have estrogen dominance, there are several steps you can take to help get your hormones back in balance.  The first is to learn more about what causes the condition and then you can find ways to help control it.  There are many helpful posts on this site that can help you educate yourself about estrogen dominance, it’s other symptoms, the importance of  getting your hormones back in balance, and steps you can take to accomplish that goal.

Unfortunately, estrogen dominance can create much more serious problems than weight gain, including potentially lethal illnesses such as breast cancer.  Controlling estrogen dominance could not only help you lose that stubborn fat around your middle -  it could save your life.

Related posts:

1. DIM: Control Estrogen with Cruciferous Veggies in a Pill
2. Symptoms of Estrogen Dominance in Women

5. Choose Organic Foods

One of the most common ways estrogen levels are raised in our bodies is by the consumption of xenoestrogens, or man made chemicals that mimic the estrogen our bodies produce.  They are in the pesticides used to ‘protect’ non-organic fruits and vegetables and are also in commercially raised meats and poultry.  Cattle, hogs and poultry are often  fed hormones, antibiotics and other additives to make them grow faster and larger.  Canned foods get xenoestrogens from the plastic lining in the cans.  You’ll find xenoestrogens in an abundance of processed foods, so the safest choice is to avoid those grocery items.

Instead, choose to eat organic foods that are not contaminated with pesticides and other chemicals.  Pick lean meats, fruits and vegetables that are certified organic.

4. Choose Cruciferous Vegetables

When your body metabolizes, or breaks down, estrogen to prepare it for elimination, it can make two forms of metabolites.  One is a form that is negative to our bodies and keeps estrogen levels high, the other is a positive form.  We want more of the positive form and cruciferous vegetables help us achieve that goal.  Cruciferous vegetables are tasty items like Brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower and several others.  But, if you’re like most people, you don’t get enough of these types of vegetables. Did you know you can get your cruciferous veggies in a pill called DIM?

3. Limit Your Consumption of Dairy Products

According to a study by the Harvard School of Public Health,  dairy milk is responsible for up to 80% of the estrogens we consume.  Why?  Probably because cows are milked frequently when they are pregnant and their estrogen levels are elevated, so the amount of estrogen in their milk is also high.  A healthier option is to opt for milk made from almonds or rice.

2. Cut Down on Alcohol Consumption

Estrogen is metabolized in the liver and alcohol can slow or impair the liver’s function.  The result is a buildup of estrogen in the body, increasing the risk for estrogen dominance.  You should limit your alcohol intake to one drink a day or, for best results, eliminate alcohol altogether from your diet.

1. Exercise More Often

A study conducted by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center provided convincing evidence that high intensity exercise at least 5 times a week could lower estrogen levels by as much as 7%.  In order to achieve that effect, you need to do exercises that get your heart pumping. Simple stretching exercises do not provide the same positive results.

Although there are other steps you can take to help lower your estrogen level, these are 5 simple changes you can make right away.  Not only will you be taking positive actions to control your estrogen dominance, you’ll be creating a lifestyle that has a number of other health benefits as well.

Related posts:

1. Foods to Avoid to Balance Your Hormones
2. Xenoestrogens and their Role in Estrogen Dominance
3. Estrogen Dominance in Men

You gain weight around your middle, you feel weak and depressed, and your body is rife with aches and pains.  You crave sweets and suffer with poor digestion, skin problems, low blood sugar and low blood pressure.  You get infections easily.  You’re anxious, irritable, have mood swings and are so tired you can barely function even though you had sufficient sleep.  Sound familiar?

If it does,  you’re probably suffering from adrenal fatigue syndrome.  Adrenal fatigue syndrome, though not yet openly recognized by some of the traditional medical community, is growing to epidemic proportions in the 21st century.  It has been estimated that up to 80% of Americans will be affected by adrenal fatigue at some point in their lives.  Although the condition is not as serious as actual adrenal diseases such as Addison’s or Cushing’s, adrenal fatigue can impair your health and well being.

So why are we writing about adrenal burnout in a guide about estrogen dominance?  Because the two conditions are closely intertwined.  Read on to find out how.

What is the Purpose of Our Adrenal Glands?

The adrenal glands are orange, walnut-sized endocrine glands that perch like tiny triangles on top of each of your kidneys.  Their job is to produce a variety of hormones, including steroid hormones such as adrenaline, estrogen, DHEA, testosterone and cortisol.  These hormones affect many different aspects of  your bodily functions. If the hormones being produced are  out of balance, your health is compromised.

One of the main purposes of the adrenal glands is to handle your body’s reaction to stress.  When the body signals it is feeling any sort of stress, the glands initiate the production of two hormones – adrenaline and cortisol.

Adrenaline is the fast acting hormone pumped into your system when you are faced with sudden stress, like danger, exercise or excitement.  It throws your body into immediate ‘fight-or-flight’ mode by increasing blood sugar, accelerating your heartbeat and  rushing blood to your brain and skeletal muscles.  Adrenaline is potent but short acting.

Cortisol, on the other hand, has longer lasting effects to help the body cope with ongoing stress.  It helps convert fats and proteins into glucose so there is enough to meet the increased demand brought on by stress.  When you experience continued stress, the adrenals  continue manufacturing cortisol.  In turn, persistently high levels of cortisol cause bone and muscle weakening, hamper metabolism and digestion, and increase the risk of heart disease.  The result is adrenal burnout and your adrenal glands become exhausted.

The Connection Between Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome and Estrogen

In the early stages of adrenal burnout,  the body continuously tries to reduce stress by releasing more and more cortisol.  The process of making cortisol uses the same building blocks as progesterone, so in order to make more cortisol, your adrenal glands  prohibit the production of progesterone. Low progesterone then causes an imbalance in the estrogen/progesterone ratio, leading to estrogen dominance. Then estrogen dominance interferes with the release of cortisol from the adrenal glands, making free cortisol unavailable to fight stress.  It’s a vicious circle.

Who is a Candidate for Adrenal Burnout?

Anyone whose body is under stress, whether it is physical stress from illness or emotional stress, can suffer adrenal burnout.   People are busy working, parenting, and trying to cope with financial problems and social obligations.  We  worry about how we are going to get it all done.  We compound the problem by eating poorly, by not getting enough rest, and through daily exposure to environmental toxins.  Is it any wonder that so many people are succumbing to the effects of chronic stress?  You could be one of them.  Here are the signs to look for.

What are the Symptoms of Adrenal Exhaustion?

Symptoms of adrenal burnout include:

• Chronic fatigue
• Depression
• Allergies
• Recurring infections
• Muscle weakness
• Back pain
• Sleep disturbances
• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Low blood sugar
• Low blood pressure
• Cravings for sweets and salt
• Difficulty concentrating
• Sensitivity to cold
• Hair loss
• Tendency to gain weight around your middle
• Decreased sex drive

What to do if You Suspect You have Adrenal Burnout

You can confirm whether or not you have adrenal fatigue syndrome by taking a simple home saliva test.  The tests are affordable and easy to take.  You can get a test kit from a number of online sources or at many pharmacies nationwide, with prices starting at about $150.

If you find you are suffering from adrenal burnout, and your quality life is being affected, there are steps you can take to correct the problem.  For more information about treating adrenal fatigue, see the insightful post  How to Treat Adrenal Fatigue.  And remember…don’t worry, be happy.  It’ll cut down on stress and is an important step towards relieving adrenal burnout.

Related posts:

1. How to Heal PMS

What is DIM?

Plant indoles, also known as glucosinolates, are found in cruciferous vegetables, which have proven to aid in prevention of several types of cancers and provide other health benefits as well.  One of those indoles is DIM, technically known as diindolylmethane.  DIM is  naturally occurring in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, bok choy, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, kohlrabi, mustard, rutabaga and turnips.

DIM is particularly helpful to people who have estrogen dominance because it stimulates the aerobic metabolism of estrogen.  It helps shift the production of estrogen metabolites away from 16-hydroxy, which is the bad form and believed to promote cancers, to 2-hydroxy, the beneficial form that is anti-carcinogenic.  This improves your estrogen metabolism ratio and,  in turn, makes you less estrogen dominant. For more information on the importance of estrogen metabolism, see The Link Between Estrogen Dominance and Breast Cancer.

Although the connection between plant derived DIM  and estrogen metabolism was discovered more than 10 years ago, scientists are just now beginning to grasp the important role it can play as an estrogen balancer for both men and women and also in reducing women’s fibrosis conditions such as fibrocystic breasts, uterine fibroid tumors and other related conditions.

DIM for Women

Women who suffer from estrogen dominance are faced with numerous symptoms ranging from PMS to breast cancer.  For a complete list of the problems women with excess estrogen may encounter, check out the post Symptoms of Estrogen Dominance in Women.  In order to bring these problems under control and prevent more from developing, getting your hormones in balance is an important step.  DIM is a healthy, efficient way to do that naturally.

DIM is also Beneficial for Men

Women are not the only ones who suffer from estrogen dominance.  Men can also experience the condition, particularly as they near middle age.  When a man is estrogen dominant, the body produces a protein that testosterone will bind to, so it is no longer in its ‘free’ beneficial form, but is considered ‘bound’.  Bound testosterone acts very similarly to estrogen and promotes excess weight gain, impotence, lowered libido, man boobs, depression and prostate problems.  Research  strongly suggests that estrogen plays a significant role in the development of prostate cancer, so it is crucial that men keep a healthy hormonal balance.    Taking DIM results in a healthy balance of testosterone and estrogen, allowing more free testosterone to circulate in the body.

DIM and Weight Loss

Since excess estrogen in the body contributes to weight gain in both men and women, particularly in the mid-section around the abdomen, thighs and hips, DIM could be helpful with weight loss as well.  When there is more ‘good’ estrogen metabolites and ‘free’ testosterone in the system, the body increases metabolism and releases fat cells it has been storing in those extra rolls of fat.  Of course, it works even better when paired with a healthy, low-fat, high-fiber diet and regular exercise. DIM also helps support lean muscle development when combined with weight training.

Does DIM have Side Effects?

There are a few concerns that should be taken into consideration before taking DIM.

If you are taking certain medications, such as Coumadin, theophylline, dilantin, tegratal or other anti-seizure medications, DIM should be avoided as it could alter the medicine’s clearance.

DIM may also reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives.  It should not be taken by women who are pregnant or nursing.

Occasionally individuals taking DIM  may experience nausea and headaches, though those problems are usually eliminated when the dose is lowered.

Anyone taking prescription medications or who is pregnant should consult their physician before taking DIM or any other supplements.

How to Take DIM

DIM is taken in an absorbable formulation, like liquid gel caps.  It is recommended that women start with a daily dose of  15 mg actual DIM in that absorbable formulation and that men start with 30 mg per day.  The dose can be increased up to 3-4 times that amount if necessary.

Where to Get DIM

There are numerous sources for DIM.  You can order it from many sites online or check at your health food store for a local supply.  You can get a bottle with 120 tablets (a 60 day supply for women taking 2 capsules a day) for around $30.

Maintaining a healthy hormonal balance is vital to your health.  So would you rather eat the two pounds of broccoli everyday or take DIM?

Related posts:

1. Five Natural Ways to Lower Your Estrogen Levels
2. Estrogen Dominance in Men
3. Excess Estrogen and Weight Gain

Balance your Hormones through Diet

Eating foods that help you balance your hormones should not be thought of so much as a diet for yourself, but rather as putting estrogen on a diet that restricts its over development.  This is not a plan that limits calorie intake or is meant to reduce your weight, though that can be a happy side effect.

There are many foods you eat that naturally encourage estrogen to multiply and many more foods that contain xenoestrogens, or f aux-estrogen, that trick our bodies into believing they are the real thing.  These are the foods you want to avoid.

Xenoestrogens – Chemicals that Mimic Estrogen in Food

One of  the biggest contributors to estrogen dominance is xenoestrogens, which are man made chemicals that mimic estrogen.  These chemicals are polluting our food and water supplies,  flooding our bodies everyday  with  estrogen-like substances.

Pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides, and fungicides carry xenoestrogens into the soil. Then rain runoff from landfills and agricultural lands wash them into our water sources.  In return fish, animals, and crops absorb the chemicals. When we eat those food products we ingest the xenoestrogens, causing hormonal havoc within our bodies.

How do we avoid xenoestrogens when they are so abundant?  The best way is to avoid commercially prepared beef, chicken and pork, canned foods, commercial dairy products, and processed foods.  Many meat producers give their livestock xenoestrogens to make them grow more quickly and help fatten them up, resulting  in greater profits.

Food cans have plastic linings, another source of xenoestrogens, and processed foods often contain additives that are xenoestrogens.  Even fruits and vegetables have been tainted with pesticides that have xenoestrogens.

Plastic is heavily laced with xenoestrogens as well.   Cooking or storing foods in plastics  should be avoided.  Do not cover food you are microwaving with plastic wrap.

Dairy Products are a Rich Source of Estrogen

According to the Harvard School of Public Health, dairy milk is a leading source of estrogen.  In fact, it may account for up to 80% of estrogens consumed.  One reason is because most cows are dosed with growth hormones and are ripe with xenoestrogens.  Another possible reason is that cows are often milked when they are pregnant, when estrogen levels are at their highest. A better option is to choose a non-dairy milk such as rice or almond milk.

Other Foods to Avoid to Balance Your Hormones

You should not drink alcohol if you are estrogen dominant.  Estrogen must be metabolized in the liver and drinking alcohol can cause the liver to become overworked, allowing estrogen levels to build up in your body.

Other foods to avoid include sugar, processed, and fast foods.  These foods have been linked to magnesium deficiencies, which in turn have been connected to high estrogen levels.

Chocolate, tea, coffee and other sources of caffeine and foods high in fats also contribute to estrogen dominance. Too much unfermented soy in your diet can lead to high levels as estrogen as well.

What Food Should You Eat to Help Balance Hormones?

Think organic.  Choose foods that have been grown without the use of chemicals and select hormone-free meats.   Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables that are certified organic.  A diet rich in fiber also plays a big part in maintaining a healthy hormonal balance. Eat plenty of whole grains and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, kale, collard greens, and turnips.

Eating the  right foods and avoiding the wrong ones can make a major difference in balancing your hormones.  Although it may cost a little more and require more careful shopping and food preparation, your efforts will be rewarded with a healthier life.

Related posts:

1. Xenoestrogens and their Role in Estrogen Dominance
2. Estrogen Dominance in Men
3. Five Natural Ways to Lower Your Estrogen Levels

The 2/16 estrogen metabolism test could save your life.

Yes, it’s a fact.

The 2/16 estrogen metabolism test is a simple urine test that scientists feel predicts your chances of developing breast cancer.  If you know you have risk factors for breast cancer, there are steps you can take now that can reduce those odds.

Estrogen and Breast Cancer

Even if there is no history of breast cancer anywhere in your family, you could still be at risk.  Did you know that only 20%-30% of the people who get breast cancer each year have any family history of the disease?  Every year  150,000 women  in the United States are diagnosed with breast cancer.  That means around 110,000 of them  had no history to serve as a warning that they were a likely breast cancer victim.

Now research has discovered a strong connection between breast cancer and estrogen.   Based on this knowledge,  the 2/16 estrogen metabolism test should be considered a vital step in preventing breast cancer.

For more information about the research findings, see The Link Between Estrogen Dominance and Breast Cancer.

How the 2/16 Estrogen Metabolism Test Predicts Breast Cancer

Estrogen, like other hormones, needs to be expelled from the body after it has done its assigned task.  The liver is the main organ that breaks the hormone down into bits called metabolites.  These metabolites are excreted from the body through bile and urine.

Estrogen is broken down into two main metabolites called 2-hydroxyestrone and 16-hydroxyestrone.  Like the two forms of cholesterol, one is considered ‘good’ and one is considered ‘bad’.  In this case, the 2-hydroxyestrone is the good guy, or anti-carcinogenic.  The metabolite 16-hydroxyestrone is pro-carcinogenic, or, in other words, is the one believed to stimulate cells to reproduce, including cancerous cells in the breast.

When a person’s urine is analyzed in the 2/16 estrogen metabolism test, laboratory technicians evaluate the balance of the two types of estrogen metabolites and figure the ratio.  A ratio of 2.0 or higher seems to indicate a lower risk of getting breast cancer.  A lower ratio indicates your chances for developing the disease is higher.

Must You See a Physician to Do a 2/16 Estrogen Metabolism Ratio Test?

Although you do collect an early morning urine sample at home, at this time you do need a prescription from a physician to have the test conducted.  When you visit your doctor, tell him that you want a 2/16 estrogen metabolism ratio test.  In fact, insist upon it.  The more you know about your own body, the better equipped you are to take care of it.

The 2/16 estrogen metabolism test is not meant to replace the mammogram, but is meant to work in conjunction with it and to give people an earlier warning if they are at a high risk of developing breast cancer.

The best part is that when you have that knowledge, you can take steps to lower your your bad estrogen, thereby decreasing your chances of developing the condition.  Oftentimes, forewarned is forearmed, as the old saying goes.  Insist that your doctor order a 2/16 estrogen metabolism ratio test as soon as possible and find out if you have a high risk of developing breast cancer and what you can do to help prevent this from occurring.

Related posts:

1. The Link Between Estrogen Dominance and Breast Cancer
2. Why You Need to Test for Ovulation (Even if you don’t want to get pregnant)
3. DIM: Control Estrogen with Cruciferous Veggies in a Pill

Why the Saliva Test Instead of a Blood Test?

For many years, a blood test was the only tool commonly used to evaluate hormone levels, but now many doctors think the saliva test is  more accurate .

The saliva hormone test is not only less invasive and less expensive than a blood test, it measures the levels of  biologically active hormones in your system.  Hormones in your body are in two forms – ‘bound’ and ‘free’. The bound hormones, which make up 95-99% of your hormones, are already being used for specific purposes; they are ‘bound’ to carrier proteins and already on a targeted mission.  Free hormones, or biologically available hormones, are hormones that do not yet have an assignment and are free to do other work in your  body.

Blood tests measure the total amount of hormones in your system.  What you need to know, however, is the amount of the  free hormones you have.  That is what is deduced through saliva testing.

How Do You Take a Saliva Test for Estrogen Dominance?

One of the simplest parts of taking a saliva test for estrogen dominance is that you can do it in the comfort of your own home.  You can order test kits yourself, no prescription is necessary,  or many doctors provide them if  they feel hormone testing is needed.

Many tests will examine five different hormones in women, including estradiol (the primary form of estrogen), progesterone, testosterone, cortisol and DHEA.  Some kits will test for only estradiol and progesterone.

Hormone saliva tests are available for men as well, who can also suffer from estrogen dominance.  The hormones tested in men are testosterone,  androstenedione, estradiol, progesterone and DHEA.

There are several sites available where you can buy the test kits online and then return the collected saliva to that lab for analysis.

• ZRT Lab
• hormoneprofile.com
• ladytobaby.com
• testsymptomsathome.com

Prices vary depending on how many hormones you wish to test, but basic kits start at around $65 to test two hormones and range up to about $200 for a more comprehensive test covering five hormones.

Menstruating women, non-menstruating women and men are directed to take the test in different manners.  If you are still having your period you need to do the test on the 19th-21st day of your cycle, counting from the first day of your period, when progesterone levels are highest.  Women who are postmenopausal or have had a hysterectomy or men can take the test any day of the month.

The test itself is simple.  You just swab your mouth or spit into a collection vial, whichever your test kit provides.  Some tests may involve taking multiple samples at various times of the day but saliva is very stable and can be safely stored for up to a week before reaching the laboratory for analysis.  When the lab is finished with the test, they will send the results to you or your doctor.

The saliva test for estrogen dominance  is one of the simplest ways possible to tell you if a hormonal imbalance could be the cause of your symptoms.  Once you have that answer, you’ll be in a better position to take steps to correct the situation.

Related posts:

1. Why Transdermal Hormone Creams Work the Best
2. Estrogen Dominance in Men
3. Progesterone Cream and Prostate Cancer

In a post by Dr. Steven Hotze, he explains the results of a study conducted  by John Hopkins University’s School of Public Health.  The study was originally set up to research infertility in a group of women who were having trouble conceiving.  The group was divided in two;  those whose fertility issues were caused by non-hormonal reasons and those who were deemed infertile because of progesterone deficiency and estrogen dominance.  For more than 30 years, the researchers also recorded the cases of breast cancer among the women.  The end result?  The premenopausal women with estrogen dominance turned out to have a whopping 540% greater risk for developing breast cancer than the other women.  This is just one of many studies that have linked estrogen to breast cancer.

Estrogen Receptors and Breast Cancer

So what role does estrogen play in breast cancer? Let’s take a closer look at what is known about how estrogen is involved.

Hormones like estrogen are needed in multiple areas of the body so they travel through the bloodstream looking for their matching hormone receptors.  Hormone receptors are special protein molecules attached to many cells in your body.  They act like an on-off switch for certain cell activities.  When the matching hormone comes along, it fits into the receptor like a key into a lock and turns on a specific activity.

One of the jobs of estrogen is to stimulate cell growth in breast tissue, so there are estrogen receptors located there.    When the estrogen fits into the estrogen receptor, the estrogen signals the cells to divide and multiply.  The estrogen cannot tell the difference between healthy cells and cancerous cells and attaches to estrogen receptors in both types of cells.  Cancer cells are already prone to multiplying very rapidly and they are stimulated even more by estrogen.

Estrogen can also direct cells to make receptors for other hormones, including progesterone, which is another hormone that instructs  cells in the breast to multiply.  So estrogen can actually play a double role in encouraging the growth of cancer cells.

Do all breast cancer cells  have hormone receptors?  No, but doctors do know that about 75% of cancerous breast tumors are estrogen-receptor positive and 65% are progesterone-receptor positive.  There are tumors with receptors for both hormones and some that do not have any hormone receptors.

Can Controlling Estrogen Metabolism Prevent Breast Cancer?

Scientists are working diligently to see if they can help prevent breast cancer by controlling estrogen metabolism in the body.

Here’s what many scientists think might be happening. They believe that it’s not just about how much estrogen is in your system, but how that estrogen is broken down, or metabolized, that may be an important factor.  Estrogen creates a ‘good’ metabolite called 2-hydroxyestrone that is correlated with a decreased risk of breast cancer  and a ‘bad’ metabolite called 16-hydroxyestrone that is associated with a high risk.

There is now a test available to help predict your breast cancer risk.  The 2/16 estrogen metabolism test  is a urine test that measures the ratio of those two important estrogen metabolites.   An estrogen metabolism ratio of  2.0 or higher seems to mean that you are less likely to get breast cancer.

Why not talk to your doctor about an estrogen metabolism 2/16 test?  The estrogen metabolism ratio can and does change throughout your life.   If you do find that your risk for breast cancer is high, there are simple steps you can take to improve your estrogen metabolism ratio and as as result, defend yourself against this deadly disease.  Take a look at the post “Your Breast Cancer Defense” to learn about some of the ways  to improve your estrogen metabolism ratio and decrease your risk of breast cancer.

Related posts:

1. Insist on the 2/16 Estrogen Metabolism Test
2. Breast Tenderness and Estrogen Dominance
3. Progesterone Cream and Prostate Cancer

Manufacturer’s Claims for Progesterone Naturally

The manufacturer of this creme claims that women who suffer from PMS or menopause symptoms will find relief with regular use of Balance Progesterone Naturally All Natural Body Creme.  The package contains application instructions for women in each phase of their life.  The expected result is a lessening of mood swings and emotional turmoil, fewer hot flashes, diminished night sweats and lessening or elimination of other symptoms.  The pump is designed to dispense the  precise amount needed for a single application.

One of the ingredients in Balance Progesterone Naturally is grape seed extract. Grape seed extract is rich in antioxidants and also promotes skin elasticity.  Other kind-to-the-skin ingredients include Shea butter, aloe vera gel and sunflower oil.  The ingredients list also includes several essential oils such as evening primrose, tea tree, and oil of rosemary.

Reviewers’ Opinions of Progesterone Naturally Creme

After studying reviews of this product at several different sites, it seems that the majority of customers have been very satisfied with the results of using Balance Progesterone Naturally All Natural Body Creme.  Several happy users claimed that their life had been changed substantially after a few months of regular applications.

Many stated that their cramps are not nearly as painful as they were before using Balance Progesterone Naturally.  They also reported that their emotional state was elevated.  One writer said ” This product really made a difference in my well being. I don’t feel like I’m on a constant roller coaster anymore from month to month. If you are low on progesterone this product is amazing!”

Her enthusiasm was matched in nearly review I read.  Many women reported their skin had cleared up and their acne was vanishing.  Others stated that they had tried other, less expensive progesterone creams but experienced disappointing results.

It seemed nearly every reviewer approved of the pump dispenser.  They stated that it took the guesswork out of the application.  The cream is easy to apply on a rotating schedule and the instructions were clear.

From all reports, Balance Progesterone Naturally All Natural Body Cream seems like a winner.  This is one product that has been soundly approved by reviewers.

Related posts:

1. Finding the Right Dose of Natural Progesterone
2. The Wild Yam Scam

Symptoms of Perimenopause

There are a myriad of symptoms you could be experiencing during perimenopause, ranging from PMS to hair loss.  Weight gain, especially around the abdomen, hips and thighs, is not unusual.  You may have hot flashes, night sweats, irregular or heavy bleeding or any  number of other unpleasant symptoms.  Mood swings, depression and anxiety attacks occur.  Some women suffer from insomnia or constant fatigue and others face even worse consequences, such as breast cancer.  So many parts of your life are effected, it can seem as if your own body belongs to a stranger.

Until fairly recently, perimenopause wasn’t talked about much, but we are finding out more about it now.

Estrogen Dominance Aggravates Perimenopause

One of the things we have learned is that estrogen dominance can make perimenopause worse than it needs to be.  During this period of a woman’s life, her hormones are fluctuating.  Sometimes she doesn’t ovulate regularly.  Since ovulation signals your body to begin the production of progesterone to balance out the estrogen in your system, your progesterone level falls dramatically and your body just keeps on making more estrogen.  This creates estrogen dominance.  In return, estrogen dominance creates all those nasty, life-hampering symptoms you’re experiencing.

Can you ease the discomfort you’re feeling during perimenopause?  Yes, you can.  There are a variety of options available to help you control your hormone imbalance.  Some work and some don’t.  Naturopathic doctors, however,  have proven quite successful at helping women achieve and maintain a balanced hormone system.   The first step is to visit a naturopathic doctor to have estrogen dominance confirmed and look for advice.

At this site we’re going to learn about many of the treatment options.  We’ll discuss diets, progesterone creams and other methods that will help you create a healthy body and a happier life.  We’ll also learn about other women’s experiences with perimenopause and how estrogen dominance has effected them.  Your comments are always welcome.

Related posts:

1. Symptoms of Estrogen Dominance in Women
2. Breast Tenderness and Estrogen Dominance