Hot flashes are marked by sudden feelings of warmth, which may cause you to feel flushed, hot, sweaty, and then often chilled.  While a variety of hormonal conditions can cause hot flashes, most often they are the result of menopause, when hormone levels naturally begin to decline.

The good news is there are ways to reduce the frequency and intensity of hot flashes through natural methods.  See the suggestions below to help stay cool all summer long.

Avoid Triggers

Identifying what triggers your hot flashes is the first step in avoiding them.  This may seem like common sense, but it’s not as easy as it sounds!  The best way to begin to figure out what is triggering your hot flashes is to keep a journal for a couple of weeks.  Write down when they occurred, what you were doing before they occurred, and how long it lasted.  Common triggers include:

• Alcohol (especially before bed)
• Caffeine
• Stress and anger
• Diet pills
• Spicy foods
• Smoking
• Sugar

Women at higher risk for experiencing hot flashes include women who:

• Are physically inactive
• Are under weight or over weight
• Have experienced surgical menopause
• Have been treated with Tamoxifen or who have gone through chemotherapy

Eat Smart

A lot can be said for diet and its role in supporting hormone balance.  A whole foods diet, of course, is the place to start; that’s probably no surprise.  Making sure you are getting the right foods to support menopause, however, requires a little more specificity. There are several foods that are particularly helpful for minimizing hot flashes.  Ideal foods for women with no history of estrogen dominance include foods called phytoestrogens, which can actually mimic estrogen in the body.  Please note, these foods are NOT recommended for women who are/have been estrogen dominant.  They include:
 

• Soy (preferably organic/non-GMO) including:
  • Tempeh
  • Tofu
  • Soy milk
  • Edamame
  • Miso
  • Soy protein powder
• Flax seed
• Legumes

Other foods that will help keep you feeling cool and balanced this summer include abundant raw vegetables, fresh fruit and lots of water.  Coconut water is especially hydrating, and helps to promote electrolyte balance within the body.  If you know you’re going to be in hot weather, plan ahead and pack a thermos with ice water to help keep you cool.

Limiting hot or spicy foods can also be helpful, as spicy foods are “warming” to the body, and may promote or trigger a hot flash.

Breathe 

Studies have shown that deep breathing can dramatically decrease the frequency of hot flashes, and can help make the hot flashes that do occur shorter and milder.

Dress the Part

The right clothes can make all of the difference when it comes to staying cool while going through menopause.  Cotton can help keep you cool in warm weather.  You might also consider wearing clothing made from moisture wicking material to help keep you dry if a hot flash does occur.  In cooler weather, be sure to dress in layers, so that you can take some cloths off before you get too hot.  Natural wool bedding can keep you cooler and wick away moisture better that down or synthetic bedding.  You can find more information on wool bedding at organicwollduvet.com. You might also consider investing in a hand held electric fan to carry around with you on hot days, to ensure you’ll always have a cool breeze to keep your body temperature down.  

Keep Your Body Moving

Exercise is an important part of a hot flash management plan.  Exercise is helpful for managing hot flashes in large part because it raises endorphin levels, which drop during a hot flash.  It also promotes healthy circulation and strong muscles and bones.

Supplement

Providing your body with the additional supplements it needs can go a long way in relieving hot flashes. We suggest the following supplements for menopausal women experiencing hot flashes:

	ProFema This multi vitamin for women provides a complete array of vitamins and minerals. It is also a perfect bone support system, with an ideal balance of calcium and magnesium, and with every other nutrient needed for strong bones. It is a complete green food complex, so that you'll have more energy than you have had in years. And, of course, it provides the isoflavones and herbs you need to relieve your menopause related discomforts NOW. *
	Progesta-Care Plus Women in their peri-menopausal and menopausal years may find great relief from menopausal symptoms including hot flashes with progesterone and phytoestrogens. Progesta-Care PLUS contains natural bio identical progesterone and phytoestrogens for those who need both progesterone and estrogen supplementation.*
	Progesta-Care Natural progesterone is used to maintain a normal level of progesterone and a balanced ratio of estrogen to progesterone.  Natural USP progesterone is biologically identical to the hormone women produce, and offers an alternative to taking synthetic hormones.  Additionally, it protects against the undesirable side effects of excess estrogen.
	Almased Complete Protein Powder Almased contains pure soybean protein, skim milk yogurt powder and honey. From the basic ingredients in Almased to the way it is produced, every step ensures that the body will be able to absorb and use the protein.*

*Please note, ProFema, Progesta-Care Plus and Almased are not recommended for women who are estrogen dominant or who have a history of estrogen dominance.

Staying cool this summer is totally achievable.  Plan ahead, eat smart, dress the part, and supplement where needed.  We may not be able to control the weather, but we can certainly take steps to ensure we are comfortable in it!  Happy summer!

Well, yes. But, it comes down to more than just calories consumed vs. calories burned!

Most often, the blame for this epidemic gets placed on poor eating habits: Too many French fries, not enough vegetables. This philosophy is no doubt frustrating for people who are making lifestyle changes, eating better, exercising, and still not losing weight. Recent studies, however, may be able to shed some light on this. The White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity along with many research studies are now reporting that while eating a balance diet certainly plays a vital role in healthy weight management, there is also another critical factor that plays a part in how well our bodies can manage weight: Hormones.

Hormones are chemical messengers in the body that work much like a switchboard operator, transferring information and directing cells to do one thing or another. When hormones become out of balance (and there are many ways for this to happen), then weight control can become hard to manage.

How Do Hormones Become Out of Balance?

Hormones can become out of balance in several ways.

If your body is not able to adequately metabolize hormones, which is common today due to a myriad of factors including genetics, stress, and diet and lifestyle, then excess hormones may begin to circulate and get stored in your body. This would be considered an endogenous, or, internally influenced hormone imbalance, as it is caused by an insufficient internal biological function (detoxification). Long term circulation of hormones can lead to an excess of certain hormones, particularly estrogen, in the body tissue. We will further discuss estrogen’s role in weight management later in this article.

Additionally, if your body is exposed to exogenous, or, external hormones or hormone like substances, then this too, can throw your body off kilter. You may be surprised to learn that most of us are being exposed to many hormone like substances every day that may be directly contributing to weight gain and persistent poundage. These substances, which are actually able to mimic hormones in the body, are now being called “obesogens”, a term coined by biologist and UC Irvine professor and researcher, Bruce Blumberg. Obesogens may be a contributing factor in why so many people today are struggling with frustrating and stubborn weight gain.

Examples of EDCs/obesogens that many of us encounter every day include:

• Pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides found on conventional produce and in tap water. Instead, try to buy organic, or at least wash your produce thoroughly. Be sure to drink pure filtered water.
• Conventionally raised meat and dairy which often contain hormones and antibiotics.
  Instead, buy organic or hormone and anti-biotic free.
• Plastic cans and bottles, many of which contain Biphenyl-A (BPA). Instead, use glass jars or metal (try to avoid aluminum) water bottles. Avoid leaving plastic water bottles in the sun or exposing to heat, especially microwaves.
• Non-stick Pans (Teflon pans), which contain Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Instead, use cast iron or hard anodized aluminum (processed so that aluminum cannot leech into food).
• Vinyl products and air fresheners, which contain Phthalates. Instead, use natural products.
• Creams and lotions containing estrogenic ingredients like parabens. Instead use natural products and oils. See Energetic Nutrition’s all natural EDC free RegenaCell anti-aging cream.
• Common cleaning chemicals which omit toxic fumes. Instead use natural, non-toxic formulas. You can even make your own cleaning supplies.

Why Do Obesogens Make Us Fat?

Blumberg and other researchers have concluded, following much study on endocrine disrupting chemicals/obesogens, that they are actually able to disrupt normal function of metabolic hormones. Metabolic hormones are produced in the endocrine system, and are responsible for a wide range of functions in the body. Metabolic hormones do everything from regulating hunger, to deciding where and how body fat is stored and/or burned in the body.

The endocrine system consists of:

• The hypothalamus and pituitary gland, also known as the “master glands” because they control much of the other endocrine gland functions.

• The thyroid gland, which regulates metabolism, temperature, and weight.

• The adrenal glands, which moderate mental and physical stress.

• The reproductive organs or, gonads (testes/ovaries), which produce sex hormones including testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone.

• The pancreas, responsible for blood sugar regulation and enzyme production.

• The pineal gland, responsible for secreting melatonin, the “sleep” hormone.

Obesognes affect the endocrine system in several ways.

According to Blumberg’s study, obesogens are actually able to target signaling proteins to tell a growing fetus (yes, it really does matter what you eat and what you are exposed to while pregnant) to make more fat cells. This can have lifelong consequences, and increase the likelihood of body fat accumulation as a person ages. It can also make it more difficult for a person to lose excess weight. This may be a key factor in the rising childhood obesity epidemic.
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals can promote weight gain and obesity in that they increase the number of fat cells a person has. This can change the amount of calories burned at rest, affecting energy balance and the metabolisms of ghrelin and leptin, the chemicals which control hunger and satiety.

Estrogen and Weight Gain

Many Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals/obesogens, including those listed above, can also be known as xenoestrogens, or substances that mimic estrogen in the body. Xenoestrogens work by docking onto estrogen receptor sites in the body, and in doing so, can actually mimic estrogen. This can create a circumstance of too much estrogen, also known as estrogen dominance. It is important to note that both women and men can be estrogen dominant. Estrogen Dominance can occur as a result of too much estrogen, or as a result of insufficient progesterone, or both. Read more on estrogen dominance here. Symptoms of estrogen dominance include:

• Thyroid dysfunction
• Adrenal fatigue
• Excess weight, particularly in the abdomen and chest
• Fibrocystic breasts
• Uterine fibroid tumors
• Endometriosis
• Estrogen positive cancers
• Prostate problems
• Fibromyalgia
• PMS and/or painful cramping
• Irregular or heavy menstruation.

Estrogen dominance can play an important role in stubborn weight gain, and likewise, weight gain plays an important role in estrogen dominance. Excess weight, particularly around the abdomen, thighs, and the back of the arms are common in people who are estrogen dominant. When a person is overweight, often excess estrogen is produced by a process in which an enzyme called aromatase converts adrenal steroids (hormones) into estrogen. Then, in a cruel twist of biological fate, that estrogen prompts the formation of more fat cells, and the cycle perpetuates itself. This can be especially troublesome for men and women in middle age, as hormone production shifts from the gonadal glands to other parts of the body, including the adrenal gland and adipose (fat) tissue. Because the body is trying to find ways to maintain adequate hormone production as we age, we will often hold on to body fat, as body fat can synthesize hormone production. So, if a person is overweight, then likely they have excess estrogen in their tissues, which as we now know, promotes the creation and storage of more fat.

Stress Plays a Part

Also important to consider is stress. Cortisol, the primary stress hormone produced by the adrenal gland, blocks weight loss. This is a basic biological function intended to protect us from starvation. When we experience high levels of stress, we produce high levels of cortisol, and our bodies store fat, sort of like an emergency backup plan. So if you’re leading a high stress lifestyle, and wondering why you can shed those pesky pounds despite your best efforts, finding a way to de-stress is a must.

Creating Hormone Balance to Support a Healthy Weight

There are many components to a successful weight management program, including a healthy diet, exercise, stress management, and hormone balance. If EDCs/xenoestrogens and/or poor biological estrogen metabolism are contributing to hormone imbalance and excess fat storage in your body, then ensuring you take the steps to restore hormone balance is a must. This means eliminating xenoestrogens from your everyday life, limiting phytoestrogens, and supplementing with high quality products designed to support healthy estrogen metabolism and hormone balance.

Products to Support Healthy Estrogen Metabolism

	DIM is a phytonutrient found naturally in cruciferous vegetables. DIMPRO, an exceptional bioavailable form of DIM, promotes beneficial estrogen metabolism and healthy hormonal balance for both women and men. This optimizes the ratio of estrogen metabolites that is crucial for breast, uterine, cervical, and prostate health, and for healthy weight management. Dr. Michael Zeligs reports that DIMPRO reduces the levels of estrodiol (the problem or “active” form of estrogen) and promotes its conversion into more healthy estrogen metabolites that can actually burn fat.
	Myomin is a Chinese herbal blend suitable for both men and women. Myomin has been shown to help metabolize unhealthy estrogens and promote proper hormonal balance within the body. Studies show that Myomin can effectively inhibit aromatase, an enzyme that converts androgens (testosterone) into estrogen.Additionally, Myomin competes with estradiol at estrogen receptor cites, and may therefore be especially effective for estrogen-dominant conditions including hormone related weight gain.
	Calcium D-Glucarate is a relatively common nutrient found in many fruits and vegetables. Many believe that this nutrient aids the body in the elimination of many harmful substances and helps to lower abnormally high levels of steroid hormones including estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone.One tablet (500 mg.) of Source Naturals Calcium D-Glucarate is equivalent to the phytonutrient activity found in 82 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables. This nutrient is currently the subject of numerous clinical studies and is proving to have great potential for addressing various health concerns.Supplementing with Calcium D-Glucarate can help support healthy estrogen metabolism and detoxification, thus promoting healthy and sustainable weight loss.
	Natural progesterone like that found in Progesta-Care is used to maintain a normal level of progesterone and a balanced ratio of estrogen to progesterone. It is especially helpful for those who are estrogen dominant due to a deficiency of progesterone. Symptoms of progesterone imbalance include: Moodiness Hot flashes Depression Weight gain Bloating Low libido Breast tenderness Premenstrual syndrome Menopausal symptoms  In the right amount, bioidentical progesterone can help: Have a calming effect Enhance moods Normalize sleep Increase sex drive Use fat for energy Regulate fluid balance Reduce symptoms of fibrocystic breasts Decrease the risk of osteoporosis Stabilize blood sugar, thyroid function, and mineral balance
	Cleansing is an important component of weight loss, as we now know how accumulated toxins can affect the body. The Complete Body Cleanse Kit offers a 14 day program that is designed to help improve your health by dealing with the toxins that accumulate in your body. It not only supports the body's own detoxification mechanisms, but at the same time enhances them, while addressing the areas of greatest concern, including the liver and gastrointestinal tract.

The Role of Diet in Balancing Hormones and Losing Weight

It is important to note the critical link between insulin (a hormone produced by the pancreas to bring glucose into cells and balance blood sugar) and body fat. Many people today are on a low fat, high carbohydrate diet that includes an abundance of processed foods like bread, pasta, crackers, etc. When we consume more carbohydrates than our body can burn, our blood sugar rises. Over time, this creates what is known as insulin resistance. Insulin resistance promotes fat storage and long term “communication damage” to insulin receptor sites, meaning that if you have become insulin resistant, even the best diet will likely not be enough to shed the pounds. To counter insulin resistance, a low carbohydrate diet high in non-starchy vegetables, lean protein, and a moderate amount of good quality fat, along with moderate daily exercise is recommended.

Ketsumeisei, a proprietary herbal blend, has been formulated to improve metabolic and microcirculatory disturbances like those associated with Type II diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance.Ketsumeisei has been found to help maintain stabilized blood sugar and improve insulin resistance by helping to lower free fatty acid in the body, according to clinical studies.Insulin resistance and free fatty acid have been identified as being contributing factors to the onset of diabetes. Our rapidly changing modern lifestyle has also resulted in a sharp increase in the incidence of Type II diabetes mellitus, which is now a major problem for society.

Weight loss can be a very complicated and frustrating topic. As we begin to understand the important roles that hormones play in weight loss, however, it becomes easier to better tackle the increasing problem of obesity in America. If you are dealing with frustrating weight gain and can’t seem to shed the extra pounds, take comfort in knowing that you are not alone. Then, take the information provided above, and put it to good use! Diet, exercise, and healthy hormone balance, along with avoiding those substances known to disturb hormones and health, will go a long way to living a happy, healthy, energetic lifestyle.

References:

Connelly, A., Zeligs, M, . (2000). All About DIM. New York: Avery a Member of Penguin Putnam Inc.

Lee, J. (2004). What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause. New York: Time Warner Book Group.

Mercola, J. (2011). Complications Regarding Progesterone Cream. Mercola.com. April First, 2011
http://www.mercola.com/article/progesterone/cream.htm

Pick, M. (2005). Estrogen Dominance- Is It Real? WomenToWomen.com. April 1st, 2011.http://www.womentowomen.com/menopause/estrogendominance.aspx

The Endocrine Society. (2009). Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals. The Endo-Society.org. April 1st, 2011
http://www.endo-society.org/journals/ScientificStatements/upload/EDC_Scientific_Statement.pdf

University of California, Irvine. (March 2009). Endocrine Disrupters as Obesogens. PubMed Central. April 1st, 2011.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2713042/

U.S. Surgeon General. (2003) The Obesity Crisis in America. Surgeongeneral.gov. April 1st, 2011. http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/news/testimony/obesity07162003.htm

White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity. (May 2010). Solving the Problem of Childhood ObesityWithin a Generation. Let’s Move.gov. April 1st, 2011. http://www.letsmove.gov/sites/letsmove.gov/files/TaskForce_on_Childhood_Obesity_May2010_FullReport.pdf

Fibroids do not develop until the body begins producing estrogen during the onset of menstruation. During the reproductive years, hormonal imbalance can cause fibroids to form and grow. Hormonal imbalance occurs when estrogen and progesterone are not present in the proper proportions, often referred to as estrogen dominance. The most common imbalance that causes fibroids is low progesterone in ratio to estrogen.

Progesterone production decreases during the 30s and 40s.  When additional estrogen, such as the type found in birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy, and plant and environmental estrogens is brought into the mix, hormonal imbalance occurs.  Additionally, fibroid tumors may grow very quickly during pregnancy when the body is producing extra estrogen.

Primary Types of Uterine Fibroids

Uterine fibroids can be so tiny that you need a microscope to see them. However, they can grow very large. They may fill the entire uterus, and may weigh several pounds. Although it is possible for just one fibroid to develop, usually there are more than one.

There are four primary types of uterine fibroids, classified primarily according to location in the uterus:

Addressing Uterine Fibroids

Often, women are told that a fibroid condition is not medically addressed unless they become bothersome. However, at this point invasive procedures, such as surgery, hysterectomy, myomectomy, and embolization are generally the only options offered.  Therefore, it is a good idea to try and resolve this condition before they become too large or problematic. In many cases, if they have become large and problematic, but are not a threat to your health or vital organs, then you should still be able to attempt to shrink them naturally. 

Furthermore, uterine fibroids often shrink and disappear after menopause when the body stops producing as much estrogen.  However, if a woman has used hormone replacement therapy for many years, there is a possibility that she may have an excess of stored estrogen that can prevent fibroids from shrinking after menopause. A woman will almost never develop fibroid tumors when they are postmenopausal.

Please read our fibroid tumor website page where you can learn more about this condition, as well as a variety of natural dietary supplements that have helped many women shrink their fibroids.  The links on the left navigation bar offer educational information, products, and support. Our on-staff nutritionist is available to answer your questions by phone, email or LIVE CHAT.

Evidence is steadily growing that xenoestrogens and other hormone mimicking substances are implicated in a wide range of human and wildlife health problems. Estrogen dominance from these environmental hormone disrupters are causing an imbalance of hormones, creating a host of estrogen dominance symptoms in both sexes.

Phytoestrogens and Xenoestrogens

Phytoestrogens (phyto meaning plant) are naturally occurring estrogenic compounds that are found in a variety of plant foods such as beans, seeds, and grains.  Their chemical structure resembles estrogen. Phytoestrogens that mimic estrogen may affect the production and/or the breakdown of estrogen by the body, as well as the levels of estrogen carried in the bloodstream. These mimickers can either have the same effects as estrogen or block estrogen's effects.  These compounds are generally weak estrogens, in comparison to real estrogen, synthetic estrogen (HRT), and xenoestrogens.

Following are some of the strongest phytoestrogen containing substances:

• Soy
• Black Cohosh
• Chasteberry
• Dong Quai
• Red Clover
• Flaxseed
• Caffeine

Xeno literally means foreign, therefore xenoestrogens means foreign estrogens. Some of the 70,000 registered chemicals for use in the United States have hormonal effects in addition to toxic effects.  Scientists have suggested that environmental estrogens might be reducing sperm counts in men and causing breast cancer, fibroids, and other reproductive diseases in women. Xenoestrogens can be found in many of our meats and dairy products in the form of chemicals and growth hormones that are given to the animals.  These can be quite powerful, and should be avoided where possible.

How to avoid some of the environmental sources of estrogen we are exposed to:

• Avoid all pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides. Wash your food well to rid the pesticides.
• Bathe washed vegetables and fruits in a produce wash or ozonated water for 20 minutes before using.
• Use only organic based whole foods when you can. Buy hormone free meats and dairy products where possible.
• Have a good water filter for your source of water.
• Avoid plastic goods – they leach into the environment.
• Do not microwave food in plastic containers, and especially avoid the use of plastic wrap to cover food when microwaving.

Read More in our Environmental Estrogens Page

Getting Back to Balance

By learning how you can change and/or maintain your health, you can alleviate many of the symptoms associated with hormone imbalances.

Balanced hormones allows women and men to move through the stages of hormonal ups and downs with the help of adequate nutritional support, natural hormone replacement, exercise, herbs, and vitamin and mineral supplements.

Without a proper understanding of how hormone imbalances can adversely affect us, women and men, are often prescribed synthetic hormones, anti-depressants, and a host of other drugs to relieve the symptoms without addressing the underlying causes.

What works to support healthy hormonal balance?  We make the following suggestions:

• Hormonal support with a natural progesterone cream for women and for men
• Nutritional supplements such as the Life Essence and One n Only to ensure your body has the nutrients it needs to make and balance its hormones
• DIM and/or Myomin to metabolize excess estrogen
• Detoxification assistance with supplements such as Calcium D-Glucarate

Now is the time to take charge and educate yourselves about the negative impact that hormone imbalances can have on your overall health and what you can do naturally to help regain and maintain hormonal balance.

According to the University of Maryland, “the risk of dying from breast cancer may be significantly less for those who eat large quantities of omega-3 from fish and brown kelp seaweed (common in Japan). This is particularly true among women who substitute fish for meat.” 

The American Institute for Cancer Research says, “Many studies suggest populations that eat more fish have less cancer.  The Inuit Indians, who consume an extraordinary amount of fatty fish, have less cancer than other populations. Similarly, the Japanese, for whom fish is a staple, have less breast and prostate cancer than people living on a typical western diet.  The results of such population studies sent researchers to the laboratory to see exactly what it is in fish that reduces cancer risk. Research conducted in test tubes or with laboratory animals showed that the omega-3 fatty acids, so plentiful in cold-water fish, impede the development of cancer in several ways.”

Furthermore, preliminary research from the University of California, Los Angeles, suggests that omega-3 fatty acids may help maintain healthy breast tissue and prevent breast cancer.  While more studies need to be conducted, many researchers speculate that omega-3 fatty acids may help prevent or aid in the treatment of breast cancer, especially when taken in combination with other nutrients, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, selenium, and coenzyme Q10. 

Fish Oil vs. Flaxseed Oil

Fish oil contains two omega 3 fatty acids otherwise known as EPA and DHA.   The highest concentrations of these omega-3’s acids are found in coldwater fish, such as sardines, salmon, herring, tuna, cod, mackerel, and halibut.

Flaxseeds contain ALA, another type of omega 3 fatty acid that can be converted to EPA and DHA in the body, but only in very small amounts.  All three fatty acids are an essential part of any diet.  

Flaxseeds and flaxseed oil can be a good alternative to fish oils for those on vegetarian or vegan diets.  However, the lignans in flaxseed and high-lignan oil contain phytoestrogens (plant estrogens) and may not be suitable for those at risk for estrogen dependent breast cancer or for those who are estrogen dominant. 

Read more about this condition in our article: Estrogen Dominance in Women and Men. 

The best sources of omega 3’s (DHA and EPA) are from deep cold water fish, as mentioned above.  Unfortunately, eating fresh fish has become more of a health concern due to the high levels of mercury and other environmental pollutants. Research on farm-raised salmon (the most popular farm-raised fish) found that it had higher levels of toxins (other than mercury) than fish caught in the wild.  Taking fish oil supplements can help you get more omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA) in your diet, especially if you do not consume fresh cold water fish and seaweeds.  However, it is important that you take a high quality fish oil that is free of contaminants, such as mercury and PCP’s.  For example, Source Naturals Arctic Pure Fish Oil, supplement, which is available in capsules or liquid.   

 Read our article: Omega 3 and Omega 6 Fatty Acids: Balancing the Good Fats

Further Reading

University of Maryland – Omega 3’s

Medline Plus – Omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil, alpha-linolenic acid

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition – A Case Controlled Study

Alternative Health Journal – Omega 3 Fatty Acids May Benefit Breast Health

Men too can suffer from estrogen dominance. Phytoestrogens from plants and xenoestrogens from environmental sources can produce hormonal stimuli that can contribute to inappropriate growth of mammary tissue cells, resulting in a problem society is calling “man boobs.”  Some theorize that estrogen dominance in men is contributing to hair loss, atherosclerosis, prostate problems, lowered libido, weight gain, and impotency.

Symptoms of estrogen dominance in women and men:

Correcting Estrogen Dominance

What assists in correcting estrogen dominance in women and men?  Alternative health care makes the following suggestions:

• Hormonal support with a natural progesterone cream for women and men
• DIM and/or Myomin to metabolize excess estrogen
• Detoxification assistance with supplements such as Calcium D-Glucarate
• Dietary and environmental changes to rid yourself of phytoestrogens and xenoestrogens
• Lifestyle changes to manage the stresses in your life
• Nutritional supplements to ensure your body has the nutrients it needs to make and balance its hormones.  These nutrients tend to be low when estrogen is high:
  • Magnesium
  • Zinc
  • Vitamin B Complex
  • Vitamin E 400 IU for breast tenderness and fibroid inflammation

Please be sure to review the links provided above for full product descriptions, suggested uses, and brands.  This important information can help you regain balance for a healthier life.

Fibroids may grow as a single nodule or in clusters and may range in size from 1 cm to more than 20 cm (8 inches) in diameter.  They may grow within the wall of the uterus or they may project into the interior cavity, or toward the outer surface.  In rare cases, they may grow on stalks or peduncles projecting from the surface of the uterus. These are known as pendunculated fibroids. 

While many women do not experience any problems, symptoms can be severe enough to require treatment, and are the most common indication for surgery, including hysterectomy, myomectomy, and uterine fibroid embolization.

Our website contains extensive information about uterine fibroids , estrogen dominance, and
hormonal balance.  Our on-staff nutritionist is available to answer your questions by phone, email, LIVE CHAT, or on our Message Boards.

We offer these and other natural supplements to help shrink fibroids:

• Vitalzym
• DIM
• Myomin
• Natural Progesterone
• Calcium D-Glucarate
• Vitamin A