Hormonal Health Guidelines

Hormones, the messengers of the body, are very subtle and therefore sensitive to internal and external influences such as stress, pollution, chemicals, drugs, and dietary deficiencies or excesses. Hormones affect how we feel every day, influencing energy levels, emotional stability, sex drive, fertility, weight, and immunity.

Phyto oestrogens

Phytooestrogens act to protect against more potent oestrogens by engaging oestrogen receptors (therapeutic in breast cancer, endometriosis or  fibroids), in post menopausal women they are more potent than their own oestrogen and so act to increase their oestrogen pool and improve menopausal symptoms.

Xeno-oestrogens/hormone disruptors

Are chemical which imitate oestrogen which come from herbicides, pesticides, chemical cleaners, plastic containers and the lining of tin cans. They are found throughout the food chain and accumulate in fatty tissue and so will be found in animals at the top of the food chain or animals continually eating food exposed to these chemicals. Food wrapped or stored in plastic, especially soft plastic and plastics that have been heated, especially with fat containing foods will release xeno-oestrogens. They can also be breathed in through contaminated air from industry or burning plastics, or drunk in contaminated water. Xeno oestrogens are cumulative and persist in the body for decades, interfering in healthy hormonal function in men and women.

Too much oestrogen

Studies comparing hormonally healthy and unhealthy women show that a diet high in carbohydrates, low in fibre and high in saturated fats increase the risk of oestrogen dependent conditions including cancers. This is because:

• fats stimulate the enzyme in gut bacteria to convert and reabsorb more oestrogen
• obesity provides more peripheral androgens to be converted to oestrogen increasing the risk of breast cancer, fibroids and endometriosis
• B6 deficiency makes tissues in the uterus and breast more sensitive to the stimulation of oestrogen increasing the risks of cancer
• Dietary fibre reduces oestrogen levels in blood and urine
• Culture milk products and yogurt reduce the enzymes in gut bacteria, increasing eliminated oestrogen

Therapeutic guidelines

Consume Phytooestrogens

Take medicinal herbs

Cabbage family increase the rate the liver eliminated oestrogen

Higher protein intake improves metabolism of oestrogen in the liver, the best sources are grains, nuts and seeds, legumes and low fat meat

Bitters help liver clearance of oestrogens

Foods high in methionine (beans, legumes, onions, garlic) assist in the methylation of oestradiol to oestriol a less potent oestrogen

Increased fibre helps transport oestrogen out of the body

Exercise helps oestrogen clearance

Progesterone imbalances

Are implicated in PMS, dysfunctional bleeding patterns, cyclic breast disorders and some infertility, and in so called relative progesterone deficiency.

When you fail to ovulate you don’t produce progesterone, this is normal after childbirth, miscarriage, a termination, stopping the pill or while breast feeding, but if chronic is seen in Dysfunctional Bleeding Patterns, after stressful events and menopause.

Luteal phase defects caused by faulty corpus luteum, non rupture of ovarian follicle or hypo-thalamic pituitary dysfunction, contributes to PMT, benign breast changes and endometriosis, infertility and miscarriage.

This can be treated with herbs for hormones and the nervous system, managing weight, adjusting diet and increasing exercise

Vitamin B6 and E, evening primrose oil, magnesium and omega 3 fatty acid

General Eating guidelines for hormonal health

• eat a varied and interesting diet
• drink plenty of fluids
• eat fresh and organically grown foods where possible
• stay on therapeutic diets only until desired result is achieved
• have at least 5 to 7 different types of veg and 3 pieces of fruit daily
• eat unrefined carbohydrates
• ensure adequate fibre
• eat good fats, ie nuts, linseeds and fish
• include dairy products in moderation
• include phyto-oestrogens
• adequate protein
• develop awareness of important minerals
• eat seasonal foods
• do not over eat
• avoid foods that make you feel bad, cause digestive upsets
• limit sugar and salt
• limit caffeine and alcohol
• be aware of foods that reduce or increase cancer risk