Unbalanced hormones can cause a number of issues and that’s one reason why estrogen balance is essential for the body to function as it should. This is the “female” hormone and throughout a woman’s life, estrogen levels can change. During menopause, women face with reduced estrogen production and most of them are aware of that, but what happens when too much estrogen is produced? What causes it?
In the puberty and pregnancy periods, it’s normal for estrogen levels to rise. The body can accumulate estrogen in two ways, by producing too much of it on its own or from our diets and the environment.
We are constantly exposed to estrogen, for example, the household products we use like detergents, cosmetics, furniture, and carpeting, contain endocrine disruptors, which are chemicals that mimic estrogen.
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Other causes of excess estrogen include:
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Stress
- Medications
- Diabetes
- High Blood Pressure
- Obesity
- Heart Disease
These are some of the signs that say you may have too much estrogen:
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You’re gaining weight and haven’t made any lifestyle changes
This is one of the main symptoms of excess estrogen. Gaining weight for no reason, particularly in the hip area is a serious sign that your body needs to be balanced in order to maintain an ideal weight.
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Your periods are irregular or abnormal
High estrogen is one of the many reasons your period can arrive early or show up late. Multiple hormones control your menstrual period, and if there is more of one hormone than the others, the entire process can suddenly become erratic.
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Your breasts are tender or swollen
During the monthly cycle, many women experience changes in their breasts and it’s because the breasts are very sensitive to hormone changes. if you experience somethign like this, probably your estrogen levels are too high.
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Breast lumps
Your breasts may become lumpy, in a condition referred to as fibrocystic if you have high estrogen levels. Remember to always consult a doctor if you notice a breast lump.
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Your mood and emotions are changing all the time
Estrogen is very important for your mental state and emotions and every woman has experienced its impact at some point- PMS. It is like you are on a mood roller coaster. When your estrogen levels are high you might experience depression, panic attacks, anxiety, and unexplained anger.
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You suffer from frequent headaches
When there is more estrogen in your system, it’s very common for headaches to develop. In women, excess estrogen is a major contributing factor in chronic headaches and menstrual migraines.
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You’re starting to lose your hair
Women suffer from hair loss, especially when they have too much estrogen and too little progesterone. You may start shedding hair more than you normally would when you are estrogen dominant. That can result in noticeable hair loss.
How To Fix This Issue?
Don’t worry, there are lots of things you can do to get your estrogen levels back under control and these are some of them:
- Limit or avoid alcohol consumption
- Eat organic
- Increase fiber intake
- Eat more probiotics
- Consume weaker phytoestrogenic foods
- Follow a balanced diet
- Use rosemary essential oil
- Avoid exposure to xenoestrogens
- Manage stress levels