Over the last couple of weeks, you’ve probably come to know a little bit more about PMS and the factors that can influence it. You might remember Estrogen being mentioned as a powerful influence in your hormonal cycle. This hormone is a powerful and charismatic friend but too much of this hormone is a bad thing. And for this post written by a Ballarat naturopath, let us talk about your this hormone affecting PMS.
If you end up with excess estrogen, then your estrogen levels are too high. When this happens, you will experience PMS and breast tenderness. Depending on how your other hormone levels are, you can also experience an estrogen crash. This happens when high estrogen levels drop to low. One of the consequences of this is depression; the duration of which depends on how severe the crash was.
PMS & Estrogen – Diet and Lifestyle
If any of this sounds like it might be happening for you, there are things that you can do to help metabolise this hormone and thus control your levels, including:
- Reducing alcohol intake as this helps support estrogen metabolism and detoxification.
- Maintaining healthy gut bacteria as good gut bacteria help eliminate excess estrogen but bad bacteria reabsorb it into your body.
- Maintaining a healthy body weight as fat cells can make a type of estrogen that increases your hormone levels.
- Reducing inflammatory foods like sugar, cow’s dairy, and wheat to support health metabolism of this hormone.
Supplements
In addition to these lifestyle changes, you can talk to a naturopath for further advice. If you are near Bendigo and Ballarat, you can check these naturopaths here. They will have some additional suggestions tailored to your specific presentation. Additionally, they may make suggestions for supplements, or other herbs, which may include the following:
- Iodine: helps to stabilise and downregulate your estrogen receptors.
- Calcium d-glucarate: aids the liver and gut bacteria with elimination of this hormone.
- Probiotic supplement: to help support healthy gut bacteria and, in turn, elimination of this hormone.
If you want to schedule an appointment with our Ballarat naturopath, just click here.
And don’t forget to check the latest articles we have prepared for you about women’s health.
