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REDUCING ESTRADIOL The Natural Way!Marion Hauser, M.S.,R.D. These days there is a lot of talk about estrogen and whether or not it is good or bad for you. Obviously women need estrogen in order to have normal menstrual cycles, have babies, prevent osteoporosis and a number of other factors. The question is what kind of estrogen are we talking about. In normal non-pregnant females, estrogens are secreted in major quantities only by the ovaries. Only three estrogens are present in significant quantities in the plasma of the human female: B-estradiol, estrone, and estriole. The principle estrogen secreted by the ovaries is B-estradiol. The estrogenic potency of B-estradiol is 12 times that of estrone and 80 times that of estriol. Considering these relative potencies, one can see that the total estrogenic effect of B-estradiol is usually many times that of the other two together. Physicians who practice natural medicine will often perform a comprehensive hormone profile on patients with chronic diseases, particularly in women approaching menopause, but also in women with menstrual irregularities and those who are not feeling the best that they hope to feel. Blood hormone tests measure total hormone levels and therefore can document if a women levels are declining resulting in a need for hormone supplementation. However, what the blood hormone levels will also determine is if the woman is experiencing an imbalance in her levels of hormones. In other words, does the woman have too much estradiol and too little of the other hormones? Estradiol excess has many physiological and biological effects. Estradiol has been implicated to cause an increase in prolactin, aldosterone, insulin, histamine and prostaglandin levels while causing a decline in the liver's ability to detoxify, as well as a decline in activity of endorphins, neurotransmitters, and B vitamins. The consequences of these effects can cause women to suffer from acne and various skin lesions, constipation, allergies, moodiness, irritability, depression, water retention, chronic musculoskeletal aching and severe menstrual cramps. Perhaps even more importantly, these are the symptoms associated with conditions many women suffer from such as dysmenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, fibrocystic breast disease, migraine headaches, and chronic pelvic pain. Since estradiol excess may cause the symptoms of these conditions, it makes sense that normalizing the hormone levels, ie lowering estradiol and increasing the others may help many women get rid of these conditions. Estradiol's role in Cancer: On initial history, a woman with uterine, ovarian, breast, or cervical cancer commonly gives a history of having experienced one or more of the above conditions. Most women that we see for breast cancer have had a long history of menstrual irregularities, birth control use, migraine headaches and/or endometriosis. These conditions may all be tied to the same physiology: estradiol excess. Woman desiring to reduce their risk for female cancers, should work to reduce estradiol levels. If a woman wants to know if she has breast, uterine, or cervical cancer physiology, the first question we ask is "Do you have a normal menstrual cycle?" Most women answer yes, as long as they take oral contraceptive pills. Do you see the problem? A woman has estradiol excess causing PMS, painful periods (dysmenorrhea), or endometriosis and the gynecologist puts her on birth control pills. The doctor is felt to be a hero because the woman has no more PMS, painful periods, or endometriosis pain. Unbeknownst to the patient, continuing with an estradiol excess (given in the form of birth control pills) will continue to increase the risk of breast, uterine, ovarian, and cervical cancer. How to reduce estradiol? 1. The first step in reducing estradiol is for a woman to increase her intake of soy in the diet. Typically women are encouraged to eat one to three 16 ounce tubs of tofu per week. Women have been shown to create a significant positive impact upon their hormone levels and ratios by the inclusion of soy protein in their diets.(1-3) Please don't start emailing us about the dangerous effects of soy. We have done a lot of research on this and have come to the opinion that soy is truly beneficial. 2. Reduce simple carbohydrate intake. We have seen in our practice that often PMS patients are the ones who are consuming many simple carbohydrates such as sweets, soda, white breads and pastas. Studies reveal that women suffering from bad PMS symptoms consume 275% more refined sugar, 62% more refined carbohydrates, 78% more sodium, 79% more dairy products, 52% less zinc, 77% less magnesium, and 53% less iron than women without PMS. 3. Eat right for your Diet Type: As you have most likely read in some of our other newsletters, we find that first determining your appropriate Hauser Diet Type will help balance your overall physiology, often causing many symptoms to abate, just by eating the appropriate diet. You can never underestimate the power of food. 4. Take a good multi vitamin: In addition to this, we find that many women are not consuming adequate vitamins and minerals because they are not consuming real foods. Therefore, we often recommend that they supplement their diets with at least a good multivitamin/mineral supplement with iron (for pre menopausal women; and without iron for post). We use SuperVits from www.benuts.com which is one of the few multivitamins which has twice as much magnesium as calcium, which is exactly what is needed for balance and proper osteoporosis prevention. 5. Supplement with essential fatty acids and vitamin E: Many women are deficient in essential fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins. You may be asking, "how could this be if so many people are overweight and, essentially, fat?" Well, the answer is that most people (women included) are not getting enough of the good fats (Omega 3's), and are getting too many of the bad fats. (trans fats and Omega 6's). In other words, they are consuming fried foods, foods from boxes or mixes, margarine, OR they are following very restricted low fat diets eliminating all the good fats from their diets. Either way, women need fats for good hormone balance. I am a good example of this. Back 15 years ago now, I woke up one day with severe abdominal pain. It turned out that I had a bad case of endometriosis with a large cyst on one of my ovaries requiring surgery to remove it. After the surgery, the gyne surgeon wanted to put me on hormones, but I refused. Instead I did some research on the topic and found out that the very low fat diet (before I knew about Hauser Diet Typing) I had been following could have been contributing to the problem. I supplemented my diet with flax seed oil caps and natural Vitamin E, and added more good fats to my diet, including olive oil, avocadoes, and fish, and found that all of my symptoms abated. I continue to have a normal menstrual cycle to this day. Some of our patients type out to need a lower fat Hauser Diet, such as the Monkey or Giraffe Diets, so these people would benefit from taking supplemental fats in capsules, as well as fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) 6. Other supplements: Adding extra vitamin B6 supplements has been found to help with reducing the symptoms of PMS, dysmenorrheal, and severe cramping. We typically use daily doses of about 200 to 600 mg depending on the case. We use a highly form of B6 that is highly assimilated called pyridoxal-5-phosphate. High estrogen levels have been implicated as a cause of low B6 levels, which goes along with the conditions above. J Appl Nutr. 1984; 36: 103-117). Chasteberry: One of he more potent of the estradiol reducing herbs is Chasteberry. In vitro studies demonstrate that certain constiuents of chasteberry extract directly bind to dopamine receptors in the anterior pituitary. Dopamine is the physiological inhibitor of prolactin; thus, it appears this dopaminergic effect of chasteberry results in an inhibition of prolactin synthesis and release. For patients suffering from PMS and/or dysmenorrhea one of the most useful products we have used with success is Menstrual Support which contains a high concentration of Chasteberry. Beulah's DIM: Another supplement that we have found useful in lowering Estradiol levels is DIM. Beulah's DIM can help balance hormones naturally. It contains Indol-3-Carbinol which is contained in cruciferous vegetables, which converts to DIM. Putting it all together: As we have said before, never underestimate the power of food. First and foremost we recommend getting Diet Type in order to determine what diet is best for your individual body. After that is determined, follow it! If you find that your symptoms do not abate, then get your blood hormone levels checked. If you are on the birth control pill, it is our opinion that you should get off of it. In other words, remove any artificial sources of estradiol from your life. You may find that taking these steps makes you feel 100% better already. If you need a little extra help, well give that to you! Come on in and get checked out today. Don't just continue to feel bad when you don't have to! 1. Brinker, F. A comparative review of eclectic female regulators. J Naturopathic Med. 1997; 7: 11-25. 2. Hoffman, D. Phytoestrogens, receptors, and the phytotherapist. Protocol J Botanical Med. 1996; Spring; 1: 8-10. 3.Abraham, G. Nutritional factors in the etiology of the premenstrual tension syndromes. J Reprod Med. 1983; 28: 446-463. |
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