Do you have symptoms of estrogen dominance including weight gain, painful periods, mood swings and anxiety – Are you wondering which herbs and supplements may balance your hormones?
Herbs are like nature’s ‘medicine’ and may support your liver eliminating toxins and hormones and supporting your hormonal balance. Natural herbs that may decrease estrogen levels include I3C, DIM, chaste tree berry, maca, resveratrol, milk thistle, and dandelion root. This is along with other supplements like vitamin B6, B9, B12, magnesium, Calcium D Glucarate, methionine, sulforaphane, glutathione and NAC. Herbs, spices, and supplements may also aid in weight loss.Â
In order to address which herbs decrease estrogen, we’ll look at how to lower estrogen quickly, which herbs and supplements decrease estrogen levels and which supplements may help you lose weight.
How Can I Lower My Estrogen Levels Quickly?
If you’re wondering How Do I Know If My Estrogen Is Too High Or Too Low, you may have increased adipose tissue around the midsection of your body as a female when estrogen is high. You may experience anxiety, bloating, PMS, mood swings and irregular periods.Â
Besides that, Does Estrogen Increase Fatigue? Yes, an imbalance in estrogen and progesterone may lead to fatigue and insomnia – but why does estrogen have such an impact on our wellbeing and is it possible to balance it easily?
In the above-mentioned articles, you can learn more about symptoms, causes and how to test estrogen levels.
Like many things in life, our hormonal balance is affected individually by lifestyle factors, age, stress, diet, toxin exposure, weight, liver function and certain diseases.
Estrogen-progesterone imbalance should be treated individually and depending on how you’re ‘affected’, there’s no such thing as a ‘quick fix’.
My general recommendation is to eat a diet containing lean quality protein, complex carbohydrates (fiber) and anti-inflammatory fats like cold-pressed flaxseed oil and coconut oil. Furthermore, lots of vegetables contain nutrients for our liver and digestion.
The liver and digestion have an important job in eliminating excess estrogen. The liver has the primary role in estrogen metabolism through phase 1 and phase 2 detoxification.Â
In phase 1 detoxification, the liver uses enzymes called cytochrome P450 to change toxic substances in order to make them less toxic. In phase 2, the liver neutralizes the byproduct of phase 1 detoxification by making the toxins water-soluble. From here, it’ll essentially be excreted through feces.
The liver needs nutrients like vitamins, minerals and amino acids for optimal liver function both through diet and supplementation. Lifestyle factors such as a diet high in sugar, saturated fat, coffee and alcohol may disturb how well the liver’s detoxification functions. This may lead to estrogen dominance along with increased body fat.
As a health coach, I personally recommend losing excess weight, eating an anti-inflammatory diet, managing stress levels and sleep, cutting out alcohol, moderate exercise and incorporating supplements and herbs to decrease estrogen levels.
What Herbs Are Estrogen Blockers?
Herbs and adaptogens are the ‘medicine’ of nature and may help in balancing hormones such as estrogen.
Natural estrogen blockers, such as herbs and adaptogens, may decrease estrogen levels. However, it’s worth considering that natural remedies may not have clinical evidence of being effective.
Disclaimer: If you’re suspecting hormonal imbalance, I’ll recommend you talking to your healthcare provider.
Natural herbs that may decrease estrogen:
- Indole-3-carbinol (I3C)
- Diindolylmethane (DIM)
- Chaste Tree Berry
- Maca
- Resveratrol
- Milk thistle
- Dandelion root
These herbs may not only decrease estrogen but may have multiple other benefits.
Herbs For Estrogen Dominance
Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) acts as a phytoestrogen, where it binds ‘bad’ estrogen to eliminate it through the body. Indole-3-carbinol is found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, cabbage, etc. When these foods reach the stomach it turns into Diindolylmethane (DIM).Â
Even though DIM is found in vegetables, it takes quite a lot to use it to decrease estrogen levels. However, both I3C and DIM may be beneficial as herbs to decrease estrogen levels, DIM may have better effects.
DIM supports phase 1 liver detoxification and works partially by breaking down and removing estrogen in the body. If only supporting phase 1 detoxification, there’s an increased risk of toxins and hormones may recirculate in the body, by not supporting phase 2 detoxification as well.
Supplements that support phase 2 detoxification include sulforaphane and Calcium D Glucarate.
Chaste tree berries may work by stimulating the pituitary gland responsible for estrogen and progesterone balance. This may help balance out estrogen dominance by increasing progesterone levels.
Maca is said to help our body cope with stress by lowering cortisol and balancing sex hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and DHEA.
Cortisol may affect other hormones, such as progesterone because cortisol is the precursor of progesterone. This means by decreasing cortisol, it may balance progesterone-estrogen levels as well.
There are different opinions about resveratrol. According to a post from Harvard University, high doses may boost estrogen activity, while in other cases it’ll block estrogen.Â
Resveratrol has been classified as a non-flavonoid polyphenol and is found in plant sources like grapes, apples, blueberries and plums. It is also found in red wine.
Resveratrol has multiple health benefits like anti-inflammatory, antiviral and acts as an antioxidant. Resveratrol has a similar structure as estradiol and may bind to estrogen receptors, why resveratrol is considered a phytoestrogen. Resveratrol is helpful in phase 1 liver detoxification and increases quinone reductase, which decreases the risk of DNA damage.Â
Milk thistle may stabilize hormones by decreasing estrogen levels. Milk thistle supports liver function and the cells, reduces liver damage and removes toxins. Milk thistle may have anti-aging effects and functions as an antioxidant and some may decrease risk of cancer by boosting the immune system and fighting DNA damage.Â
Dandelion root may help with balancing hormones by supporting liver detoxification, stimulating bile production and therefore eliminating estrogen.Â
Not only herbs are beneficial when it comes to decreasing estrogen levels – certain supplements support our liver and hormones as well.
Supplements To Lower Estrogen In Females
Herbs are nature’s ‘medicine’ and a natural way of supporting and nourishing our body – however, certain vitamins, minerals and amino acids are vital for supporting our body as well.Â
The question is What Supplements Get Rid Of Excess Estrogen? – This is my four steps on how to balance estrogen levels and which supplements help you decrease estrogen levels.
However, let’s dive into which supplements may help lower estrogen levels and why:
- Vitamin B6 (also called P5P)
- Folat/B12
- Magnesium
- Calcium D-Glucarate
- Methionine
- Sulforaphane
- Glutathione
- NAC
Do Amino Acids Make Estrogen? – Yes, amino acids assist our organs, muscles, hormones and neurotransmitters. Our liver needs amino acids for optimal function. This means in order to detoxify and eliminate excess estrogen properly.
NAC is used in both phase 1 and phase 2 liver detoxification. Methionine and glutathione are used in phase 2 liver detoxification. The amino acids may have a great impact in both phases to support optimal liver function.
Vitamin B6 is essential for producing progesterone and for the liver to metabolize and break down estrogen. The progesterone-estrogen balance may easily get out of balance, why progesterone support often is relevant in estrogen dominance. Vitamin B12 and folate support healthy detoxification and methylation as well.Â
Magnesium is a regulating mineral used in supporting liver detoxification. Magnesium deficiency may lead to estrogen dominance.
Calcium-D-Glucarate helps eliminate toxins and excess estrogen and may increase the risk of reabsorption of toxins in the body by supporting phase 2 liver detoxification.
Sulforaphane is used in phase 2 liver detoxification in the sulforaphane pathway, by elevating phase 2 enzymes.
A combination of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and herbs along with diet may have a great impact in decreasing estrogen levels and balancing hormones.
When balancing hormones, it may also have a great impact on balancing our weight – but which herbs may aid in weight loss?
Herbs To Balance Hormones For Weight Loss
Have you ever wondered if Lowering Estrogen Can Help You Lose Weight? – The answer is yes, lowering estrogen levels (due to estrogen dominance), may be helpful in losing weight.
According to a Danish Study, estrogen receptors may increase adipose tissue around hips, legs and arms.
Many factors are a part of the equation of weight loss such as hormones, diet, exercise, stress levels, etc., why losing weight isn’t always about calories in and calories out.Â
Some herbs and supplements that may help you lose weight include:
- Chromium picolinate
- CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid)
- Glucomannan
- Green tea extract
- Ginseng
- Cinnamon
- Cayenne pepper
- Ginger
- Turmeric
However, there are different studies on how well the herbs and supplements work as I believe an overall healthy lifestyle is necessary when it comes to losing weight.
Disclaimer: I’ll recommend talking to a healthcare professional when it comes to taking supplements and herbs in regard to any health concerns.Â
Final Thoughts
If you’re suspecting estrogen dominance, I’ll recommend you to test your hormones through a DUTCH test and talk to a specialist.
I personally recommend my clients to manage stress, lose weight if necessary, an anti-inflammatory diet and moderate exercise along with certain supplements.
