I. - Protecting Yourself from Xenoestrogens
(By Steven Horne)

Read also: II.- Enhance Progesterone

Biologists, environmentalists and health care professionals all agree we are living in the age of excessive estrogen stimulation. Our food and water supplies are laden with xenoestrogens from herbicides, pesticides and petrochemical residues from plastics. Estrogen compounds are fed to chickens and cattle to increase meat, egg and dairy production. The common practice of microwaving food in plastic containers produces more xenoestrogens. They are even found in shampoo!

Since xenoestrogens are involved in numerous health problems (including uterine fibroids, fibrocystic breast disease, ovarian cysts, menstrual irregularities such as heavy bleeding and cramps, menopausal symptoms, breast cancer and cervical cancer), it is wise to both reduce your exposure to them and improve your body's ability to balance them and break them down at the same time.

 

Use Organically Grown Foods!
Meat, eggs and dairy foods can be a source of xenoestrogens. Estrogens are fed to dairy cattle to encourage more milk production and to chickens to increase egg production. Animals that are raised organically cannot be given estrogens. So choosing organically grown eggs, milk and meat not only reduces your own exposure to estrogens, it reduces the amount of estrogens released into the environment.

Pesticides are another source of xenoestrogens. So, eating organically grown fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts and beans will also decrease your exposure to xenoestrogens. Many pesticides are fat soluble and they accumulate in animal fat as they work their way up the food chain, resulting in reproductive problems in birds, fish and, of course, human beings. So, also avoid animal fat from non-organic animal foods as both xenoestrogens and other toxins tend to concentrate in the fat.

When you cannot get organically grown food, be sure to thoroughly wash your produce with water and Sunshine Concentrate Cleaner (or a similar natural cleaning agent) to remove pesticide residues.

Eat Foods Rich in Phytoestrogens
Many natural foods contain phytoestrogens, plant-based estrogen compounds that bind to the same estrogen receptor sites that xenoestrogens do. When a receptor site is already occupied by a phytoestrogen, xenoestrogens cannot attach to it.

The great thing about phytoestrogens is that they are generally much weaker in their estrogenic effects than xenoestrogens, or even the body's more potent natural estrogens. So, phytoestrogens, help to protect the body against excessive estrogen stimulation by binding receptor sites against more potent compounds with estrogenic activity.

Soy products, such as Phyto-Soy, are frequently touted for their phytoestrogen content, but all beans contain phytoestrogens. Other foods rich in phytoestrogens include many whole grains and dark green, leafy vegetables. So, add more legumes, whole grains and dark greens to the diet. Flaxseeds and FlaxSeed Oil with Lignan are also excellent ways to gain the protection of phytoestrogens in your diet. Lignans are a phytoestrogen.

Detoxify Xenoestrogens

Since the liver is responsible for breaking down excess hormones, environmental toxins and other substances for elimination; the liver is often overworked in today's world. It is also frequently malnourished, due to poor diet.

You can help your liver rid your body of xenoestrogens and other toxins by supporting it with appropriate herbs and supplements. All Cell Detox is a great formula for helping the liver get toxins, like xenoestrogens, out of the body. Enviro-Detox is another formula that may help.

You'll detoxify faster if you also take a fiber supplement like Psyllium Hulls Combination or Everybody's Fiber. Fiber binds toxins, including xenoestrogens, in the intestines and carries them out of the body.

Cruciferous vegetables, such as cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower, are also valuable in reducing levels of xenoestrogens because they contain compounds like indole-3-carbynol, which enhance the liver's ability to break down excess estrogens in the system. Indole-3-Carbynol is also available as a supplement.

Progesterone and estrogen compete for the same receptor sites and good reproductive health requires a balance between these two hormones. Since the scale in many women is tipped towards estrogen, a natural progesterone supplement, such as Resolve Wild Yam Cream is helpful for many women.
Don't overdo it with progesterone creams, however. You can also get too much progesterone.

Symptoms of progesterone overdose include headache, weight gain, fatigue, water retention and depression.
Consider getting a test to see where your current hormone balance lies. Wild Yam & Chaste Tree, taken regularly for several months, can help balance out estrogen and progesterone.

Consider getting a test to see where your current hormone balance lies.

Notes from Four Winds Nutrition and other sources Use glass or ceramics whenever possible to store food and water. Heat up your food using a glass or ceramic bowl covered with dish. When plastic is heated, it diffuses very rapidly into food. The Dartmouth University study showed that plastic wrap heated in a microwave in vegetable oil had 500,000 times the minimum amount of xenoestrogens needed to stimulate breast cancer cells in a test tube to grow. Use a simple detergent with less chemicals; Sunshine Concentrate Cleaner is a good choice for both laundry detergent and dish washing detergent. It is also a safe and excellent choice for body soap (add a touch of lavender) Organic Shampoo Use natural pest control not pesticides. Avoid Synthetic Chemicals Do not use herbicides; use a cup of salt in a gallon of vinegar instead. Buy hormone free meat. Buy "Organic" produce, produce grown without pesticides, herbicides or synthetic fertilizer or hormones. Use Natural Progesterone instead of HRT.

In general, the hormones taken orally are first pass metabolized by the liver 80%-90%. However, when these hormones are applied to the skin, the hormones are directly absorbed by the body. Thus, any skin dose is 10 times that of an oral dose.

Uterine Fibroids
(more info about Fibroids can be found here)

Uterine fibroids are growths made up of muscle cells and other tissue that grow in the uterine wall. They can cause pain during periods and heavy menstrual bleeding. They can also cause abdominal swelling and bleeding between the periods. Uterine fibroids are the number one reason for hysterectomies.

Because estrogen stimulates uterine tissue, uterine fibroids are a sign of problems with xenoestrogens and the inability of the liver to detox excess estrogen. If you have problems with fibroids, follow the tips for avoiding xenoestrogens and use some detoxifying supplements like Cellular Detox.

When there is heavy bleeding associated with fibroids, Menstrual Reg may be helpful. Yarrow is a single herb that can be very effective for fibroids. Yarrow not only helps control bleeding, it is a 'blood moving" herb that breaks up stagnation and helps the body dissolve the fibroids.


Endometriosis
The second leading cause of hysterectomies, endometriosis involves the growth of estrogen-sensitive uterine lining tissue outside of the uterus. This tissue sheds and bleeds with the monthly cycle and can lead to scarring and infertility. It can cause painful periods, pelvic pain, bowel disturbances and cramps.

Because of its relationship to the monthly cycle, problems with endometriosis naturally end with menopause. As with uterine fibroids, a good place to start with natural therapy for endometriosis is to reduce overload of xenoestrogens by avoiding them and enhancing liver detoxification.

False unicorn, which down-regulates estrogen and upregulates progesterone is also helpful for endometriosis.

Also consider black cohosh or Wild Yam & Chaste Tree for hormone regulation. Because it targets abnormal cell growth, Paw Paw Cell Reg has been helpful for some women in getting rid of the uterine tissue growing outside of the uterus. It can be taken with IF-C to reduce inflammation and pain.

If there is cramping, antispasmodic remedies such as Cramp Relief and/or Lobelia Essence may be helpful. Surgery may be necessary in some cases. If either fibroids or endometriosis have caused anemia due to blood loss, consider taking I-X or Chinese Blood Stimulator.


Ovarian Cysts

A cyst is a sac containing fluid or semi-solid material that develops somewhere in the body, in this case in the ovaries. Ovarian cysts typically occur where there are not enough hormones to properly mature eggs, so they don't get released. As a result, ovulation fails to occur and the body does not produce enough progesterone.

Ovarian cysts can be symptom free in early stages, but they can also cause absent or scant periods, pelvic pain and distention and excessive bleeding. While medical science does not know the exact cause, in natural medicine, cysts are considered a sign of toxicity and are created to store toxins the body is having trouble eliminating. So, taking supplements to enhance liver detoxification, such as All Cell Detox, is a good place to start when approaching this problem naturally. Pau d'Arco (tea or capsules) is also helpful for detoxification.

To ease pain and promote healing, you can apply Nature's Fresh and Helichrysum essential oil topically over the affected area. To help balance out hormones, consider taking Wild Yam & Chaste Tree for at least three to six months. Since diabetes and obesity are risk factors for ovarian cysts, cleaning up your diet by avoiding refined carbohydrates and eating more complex carbohydrates like fruits, vegetables and whole grains is also important.


Fibrocystic Breasts
This condition involves cysts that develop in the breast tissue and cause swollen, tender or painfal breasts. A common problem, over 30% of women between 30 and 50 develop breast cysts. Fortunately, they are usually benign and only 10% of fibrocystic conditions develop into breast cancer. Again, avoiding xenoestrogens and enhancing liver detoxification is the starting place for natural therapy. Because caffeine tends to aggravate this condition, it should be avoided. Essential fatty acids, like Super Omega-3 EPA are also helpful for cystic breasts, as are Vitamin E and Vitamin B6.

To reduce breast swelling and tenderness, it is important to improve lymphatic drainage by wearing correctly fitted bras. Lymphatic Drainage Formula and exercise will also help.

Additional Suggestions
Used with the tips for protecting yourself from xenoestrogens, the following practices can reduce your risk of feminine health problems, including breast cancer.

** First, consume good fats such as Super Omega-3 EPA, Flax Seed Oil, organic coconut oil and butter from grass fed animals.
** Second, avoid excess alcohol and caffeine. They can contribute to reproductive disorders.
** Third, reduce stress by filling your life with pleasurable activities.
** Fourth, pamper yourself regularly.
** Fifth, regular exercise will also help maintain both your reproductive and general health.

For additional tips and suggestions on maintaining feminine health, do not hesitate to ask questions by e-mail