On my last post Estrogen and Breast Cancer, you've learn that high levels of estrogen can stimulate the development of breast and other sex organ cancers especially in woman. But what factors can cause estrogen levels to rise?
- Synthetic hormones from Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and birth control pills
- Environmental xenoestrogens
- Diet
- Excess body fat
In the past doctors were giving menopausal women estrogen without the progesterone to balance the stimulating cell-growth effect of estrogen. But nowadays, the medical community accepts that is not safe to prescribe estrogen alone to women so they added progesterone as well. This safety regulation would work if the hormones (estrogen and progesterone) were all natural, but they aren't. So what is the difference between a synthetic and natural hormone? Since the pharmaceutical industry cannot patent natural hormones which would not give them great profits, they decided to synthesize the hormones by changing the natural hormone molecule in some way so it is no longer the exact same molecule to natural hormone. But this change makes a huge difference on how they work in the body. For example, natural progesterone activates the p53 gene, which inhibit the uncontrolled cell-growth caused by Bcl-2 gene activation by estrogen. On the other hand, synthetic progesterone, also known as, progestins, do not activate the p53 gene. Synthetic progestin can also bind to receptors for a longer period of time, impeding the binding of natural progesterone, therefore, blocking the action of natural progesterone that the woman's body is still producing. This can make estrogen levels to rise and increase the risk for uncontrolled cell growth. Unfortunately, synthetic progestins are still the progesterone-like hormone in all birth control pills and conventional hormone replacement therapy for menopause used nowadays!!!
Environmental xenoestrogens:
Xenoestrogens are petrochemically derived compound that are estrogen-like, which most poeple are exposed to on a regular basis. They produce estrogen activity in our bodies. They are present in:
- pesticides used on crops
- garden sprays or insect sprays
- car exhaust and smog
- contaimined water
- non organic meat and dairy products from livestock fed estrogenic drugs
- solvents, soaps and plastics
Diet:
Phytoestrogens or plant estrogens are natural compounds found in plants that have a weak estrogen-like activity in humans. They are part of the larger family of compounds known as phytochemicals that are very important for a healthy diet and living. They are found in fruits, vegetables, legumes, seeds and grains. The phytoestrogens bind to estrogen receptors in the body and therefore, compete with our own estrogen hormones for the same receptors. This is very helpful for women battling high levels of estrogen, because the weaker plant estrogens block some of the activity of the excess, stronger human estrogen.
The seven subgroups of phytoestrogens are: isoflavones, coumestans, flavanones, flavones, flavanols, lignans and chalcones. The isoflavones and coumestans are the most powerful of the phytoestrogens. Isoflavones ans coumestans are mostly found in legumes (beans), especially soybeans! The isoflavones help to alleviate many PMS and menopause symptoms, as well as fighting cancer properties. They fight cancer by inducing normal cell death (apoptosis) and inhibiting new blood vessel growth to cancer cells (angiogenesis). In addition to their direct anti-cancer properties, isoflavones are diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidants, improve cardiovascular health and improve the immune system. So women who have diets low in fresh fruits, vegetables and legumes are deprived of many of the hormone-balancing nutrients these foods can supply. Soy is a great source of phytonutrients, but as I cited on a previous post Tofu and Vegetable Pie , unfermented soy products contain some anti-nutritive agents such as phytic acid that are somewhat harmful to the body. Thus, the healthiest way to consume soy and get their isoflavones is by eating fermented soy such as miso, tempeh, natural soy sauce, and tofu. And vary on the type of legumes you eat such as lentils, chickpeas and other variety of beans.
Excess Body Fat:
Another reason why women in the modern western world have more problems with hormone imbalance beside of having a highly processed diet is that they tend to be overweight. Fat cells produce estrogen, therefore the more fat a woman has, the more estrogen she is likely to be making in her body, even after menopause.
Source: Outsmart Your Cancer by Tanya Harter Pierce
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