subject: How Are ‘Convenient' Everyday Products Affecting Our Health? [print this page] How Are Convenient' Everyday Products Affecting Our Health?
Oestrogen dominance describes a condition where you can have normal or excessive oestrogen, and consequently too little progesterone to balance oestrogen's effects in your body. Our society today has many exogenous components which all increase exposure to estrogens such as:
Pesticides, e.g. electrical transformers, varnishes, inks and cosmetics
Heavy metals eg. cigarettes, paints, plastics, batteries, dental fillings, cosmetics and plastics
Parabens e.g. deodorants, cosmetics and plastics
The list is exhaustive!
These products can cause disruption to our normal hormonal mechanisms by increasing blood hormone levels and affecting natural metabolism as well as the break down of these hormones.
Oestrogen dominance has many effects in our society such as declining sperm counts, infertility, premature labour, hormonal imbalances, weight gain and many others.
What can we do to protect ourselves?
Purify all drinking water to rid our water of heavy metals and toxins
Buy organically grown and fed foods - Poultry and other animals are given hormones to plump them up.
Eat deep-sea fish to avoid risking higher exposure to mercury and heavy metals.
Store foods in glass, ceramic or stainless steel containers and avoid heating food or liquid with plastic as this leaches toxins into our food
Use natural preferably organic skin care and cosmetics, environmentally friendly and chemical free cleaning products, and natural deodorants to avoid heavy metal and toxic exposure.
Having a diet high in essential fatty acids such as flaxseed oil, avocados, nuts and oily fish will also assist in reducing oestrogen dominance
Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, brussel sprouts and cauliflower also important for excretion of excess estrogens.
Soy products are best avoided in a case of oestrogen dominance and always ensure the soy product has been fermented e.g. soy sauce, miso and tempeh or at least soaked thoroughly e.g. legumes
Furthermore, supporting the digestive system and liver are very important to enable correct metabolism and clearance of excess hormones. Talk to your naturopath about a detoxification.
By making small dietary and lifestyle changes it is possible to rebalance your hormonal levels. For further assistance with balancing hormonal levels please contact your naturopath.
Discover Health is a Wellness and Rejuvenation Centre in Central Auckland. Our philosophy integrates healthy food, nutritional & herbal medicine that sustains a busy and active lifestyle whilst ensuring all body systems are functioning at Optimum
