7 Tips To Flush Out Excess Estrogen From The Body

Do you struggle with breast tenderness, headaches, or irritability before your period? Do you have endometriosis or fibroids? Are you dealing with heavy or irregular periods, moodiness or brain fog? If this sounds like you, you may be dealing with estrogen dominance.

Here is what estrogen actually does, what happens when it gets out of balance, and seven practical ways to support your body in clearing excess estrogen naturally.

What Does Estrogen Do For You?

Estrogen is an incredible hormone. You can think of estrogen as the hormone of femininity because it’s responsible for the physical features that we associate with being female. It's the hormone that helps us feel in flow and energetic. But it also helps with regulating many bodily processes, including supporting your metabolism, libido, skin, bone, heart and brain health. Maintaining a healthy balance of estrogen is essential, and even though this hormone has some amazing benefits, it is possible to have too much of a good thing.

What Is Estrogen Dominance?

Estrogen dominance is a type of hormone imbalance related to the ratio of estrogen to progesterone. Essentially, your body continually produces estrogen in excess compared to progesterone.

Estrogen dominance can look like this:

→normal estrogen, low progesterone

→high estrogen, normal progesterone

→high estrogen, low progesterone

Estrogen dominance is also one of the driving forces behind weight gain and symptom changes in perimenopause. Here is what is actually happening hormonally and what to do about it.

Symptoms of Estrogen Excess:

If you experience any two or more of the following symptoms, you may have estrogen dominance.

• Constant headaches or migraines

• Water retention and bloating

• Gaining weight in your lower body

• Ovarian Cysts

• Oily hair and skin

• Fibroids

• Acne

• PCOS or Endometriosis

• Tender and painful breasts

• Hair loss

• Random mood swings

• Heavy flow during periods

• Painful cramps before and during periods

• Irregular periods

Many of the symptoms of estrogen dominance overlap with the early signs of perimenopause. If you are in your late 30s or 40s and recognize yourself in this list, the free Perimenopause Symptom Guide breaks down what is driving each symptom hormonally and how to start feeling better right away.

7 Tips To Flush Out Excess Estrogen

Here are some steps you can take to help flush out excess estrogen and help support a healthy balance of estrogen.

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Love Your Liver:

The liver is responsible for filtering blood, removing toxins, and balancing your hormones. It plays a big role in helping remove excess estrogen. To support liver health, avoid foods high in processed fat, sugar and salt and focus instead on fresh, whole foods and foods that are rich in fibre. Foods that are rich in vitamin C, sulphur, and B vitamins are also great for liver health. Eating this way helps the body naturally detox and can be part of your path back to balance.

Ditch The Toxins:

We are exposed to hundreds of chemicals and toxins on a daily basis, and this exposure can impact the balance of estrogen. Try to use products that are clean and free of harmful chemicals. Whether it be makeup or skincare products, try to use organic products made from natural ingredients. Minimize your exposure to estrogen-mimicking chemicals called xenoestrogens.

Manage Your Stress:

When you are chronically stressed, your body produces more cortisol. Excess cortisol elevates estrogen levels by encouraging the conversion of testosterone to estrogen. It also impacts the production of progesterone. When stressed, the adrenals will convert progesterone to cortisol and this leads to an imbalance in the ratio of estrogen to progesterone. I include stress relief strategies like Epsom salt baths, meditation and journaling to help keep stress levels in check.

Exercise:

Daily exercise will help flush out excess estrogen. Exercise is important for lymphatic flow in the body. We need good lymphatic flow to help eliminate the xenoestrogens we’re being exposed to on a daily basis. Aim to get 30 minutes of daily movement from walking, cardio or strength training.

Support Your Gut:

Good gut bacteria are needed to help metabolize estrogen. Eat a diet rich in prebiotic and probiotic foods.

Get Enough Sleep:

When we aren't getting enough sleep, it impacts our stress hormones, and this has a ripple effect in the body that can lead to imbalanced estrogen in the long run. Aim to get between 7-8 hours per night.

Eat A Whole Foods Diet:

Your diet can go a long way in helping to reduce the symptoms of estrogen dominance naturally. Include plenty of whole foods, fibre, and cruciferous vegetables to support your liver.

If you're dealing with estrogen dominance symptoms and feel like your hormones are running the show, this is exactly what I work through with clients inside Nourish to Thrive. We look at what you're eating, how you're supporting your liver and gut, and build a plan that's specific to what your body needs right now.