Estrogen is an important hormone in both men and women. It plays a vital role in reproduction and development of female sexual characteristics, in women. And it also has a role in the male reproductive function.
But excess estrogen in women or men is bad. It can cause weight gain, increase risk of diseases like cancer, thyroid disorders and so on. Before you apply the tips below, find out if your body has excess estrogen. Here are the symptoms and signs of high estrogen.
Don’t worry if you suspect your estrogen levels are high. You can get rid of excess estrogen naturally, without taking synthetic drugs. You only need to make a few diet and lifestyle changes.
1. Eat Mushrooms
(Aaron Amat/Shutterstock)Most mushrooms are known to reduce the production of aromatase, an enzyme whose primary function is to produce estrogen. Consume different types of mushrooms like, portobello, crimini, button and shiitake.
You can add raw mushrooms to your salad or cook them. It’s a good idea to buy mushrooms, wild-picked ones can be poisonous unless you are an experienced forager.
2. Reduce or Eliminate Milk Intake
In this article about male fertility, Dr. Michael Greger, explains that milk is the highest source of estrogen in our diet. Cow milk is high in estrogen, especially when they’re milked during pregnancy.
You can reduce estrogen intake by more than 50 percent by simply eliminating milk from your diet and replacing it with a delicious alternative.
3. Drink Less Beer
Most alcoholic drinks are highly estrogenic. But beer is known to raise more estrogen than other alcoholic drink. So drink it in moderation or avoid it if your estrogen levels are already high.
Note that Spanish and Sardinian wines have antioxidants that actually reduce estrogen.
4. Lose Body Fat
Estrogen is stored in fat cells, so the more body fat you have, the more estrogen you carry. Gaining fat increases levels of aromatase which consequently increases the production of estrogen.
Change your body composition by increasing muscles mass and losing fat to balance estrogen levels.
5. Avoid Plastic Containers and Bottles
Most plastic products contain Bisphenol-A (BPA), a compound which activates estrogen receptors. In fact, research has associated BPA with weight gain.
BPA is usually found in certain plastics and canned foods. Here’s how to avoid it.
6. Eat Red Grapes
(PublicDomainPictures/Pexels)Red grapes contain resveratrol and proanthocyanidin, chemicals which hinder the production of estrogen.
These chemicals are found in the seeds and skin, so make sure you consume the whole thing. Eat red grapes as a snack or add them to your salad.
7. Consume Cruciferous Vegetables
Cruciferous vegetables include broccoli, kale, cabbage, collards, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. These vegetables contain phytochemicals that prevent the production of estrogen.
By eating cruciferous vegetables you’ll be able to increase veggies intake and lower estrogen levels at the same time.
8. Eat Organic Foods
The chemicals and pesticides in foods activate estrogen receptors when absorbed in the body. Eating organic goods will reduce toxins in the body and lower estrogen levels.
These diet and lifestyle changes should help reduce excess estrogen in the body. But don’t hesitate to talk to a doctor for more advice.
This article was originally published on www.Care2.com. Read the original here.
