Menopause
Feeling like your own body is working against you? Despite your best efforts with diet and exercise, are you dealing with stubborn weight gain, intense cravings, bloating, or unpredictable moods? If this sounds familiar, you might be trying to solve a complex puzzle without all the pieces. The missing piece could be a common but often overlooked condition known as estrogen dominance.
At Berkley Wellness, we understand that hormonal imbalances can be frustrating and confusing. The key to finding relief is first understanding what’s happening inside your body.
What Exactly Is Estrogen Dominance?
The term “estrogen dominance” can be misleading. It doesn’t always mean your body is producing excessively high levels of estrogen. Instead, it describes a hormonal imbalance where estrogen levels are high relative to your levels of progesterone.
Think of estrogen and progesterone as a seesaw. For optimal health, they need to be in balance. Estrogen’s role is to build up the uterine lining (proliferative), while progesterone’s role is to stabilize and maintain it (protective). When progesterone is too low, estrogen’s effects become unopposed, or “dominant,” leading to a wide range of symptoms.
Are You Experiencing These Pieces of the Puzzle?
Estrogen dominance manifests differently in everyone, but common symptoms include:
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Unexplained Weight Gain: Particularly around the hips, thighs, and abdomen.
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Stubborn Belly Bloating: Feeling puffy and uncomfortable, often regardless of what you eat.
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Heavy or Painful Periods: A classic sign of a thick uterine lining built by unopposed estrogen.
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Mood Swings, Anxiety, and Irritability: Hormones significantly impact neurotransmitter function in the brain.
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Fatigue and Low Energy: Despite getting enough sleep.
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Breast Tenderness: Especially in the second half of the menstrual cycle.
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Fibroids, Endometriosis, or PMS: These conditions are often fueled by estrogen dominance.
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Headaches and Brain Fog: Difficulty concentrating and remembering details.
If this list resonates with you, you’re not alone. The next step is to ask: why is this happening?
Finding the Causes: Assembling the Clues
Several modern lifestyle factors can disrupt our delicate hormonal balance:
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Xenoestrogens: These are foreign, synthetic compounds that mimic estrogen in the body. They are found in plastics (BPA), pesticides, herbicides, conventional beauty products, and household cleaners.
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Chronic Stress: When you’re stressed, your body prioritizes producing the stress hormone cortisol. The raw material for cortisol is progesterone. This means high stress can “steal” your progesterone, leaving estrogen unopposed.
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Poor Liver Detoxification: Your liver is responsible for breaking down and metabolizing excess estrogen. If it’s overloaded with toxins, alcohol, or processed foods, estrogen can get recirculated back into the body.
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Digestive Health Issues: A lack of beneficial gut flora or constipation can prevent excess estrogen from being properly excreted from the body, allowing it to be reabsorbed.
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Body Fat Percentage: Fat tissue produces estrogen. The more excess body fat one has, the more estrogen is produced, creating a cycle that can be difficult to break.
Solving the Puzzle: Foundational Steps to Regain Balance
Before considering any hormone replacement therapy (including BHRT), it is crucial to build a solid foundation. Often, addressing these core areas can significantly rebalance your hormones naturally.
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Support Your Liver: Love your liver! Eat cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts) which contain a compound called DIM that helps metabolize estrogen. Stay hydrated and consider milk thistle or dandelion root tea.
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Prioritize Gut Health: Eat a fiber-rich diet with plenty of vegetables and fermented foods (like sauerkraut, kefir, or kimchi) to support healthy elimination and a diverse microbiome.
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Manage Stress: This is non-negotiable. Incorporate daily stress-reducing practices like walking in nature, meditation, yoga, or deep-breathing exercises to help preserve your precious progesterone.
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Reduce Toxin Exposure: Switch to glass or stainless-steel water bottles, use natural cleaning and beauty products, and choose organic produce when possible to minimize exposure to xenoestrogens.
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Move Your Body: Regular exercise helps with stress management, healthy weight maintenance, and promotes efficient detoxification. Aim for a mix of cardio and strength training.
Your Wellness Journey Starts Here
Hormonal balance is a journey, not a destination. Understanding estrogen dominance is a powerful first step toward taking back control of your health. By addressing your lifestyle and environment, you can start to rebalance your hormones and find relief from those frustrating symptoms.
Are you ready to solve your hormonal health puzzle? The team at Berkley Wellness is here to guide you. We believe in a holistic approach that looks at the whole picture—weight loss, mental health, and hormonal balance—to create a personalized plan for you.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward feeling like yourself again.
Phone: (254) 212-8014
Website: https://www.berkleywellness.net
Address: 102 E 6th Street, Breckenridge, TX
