Excess Estrogen Symptoms

Just as devastating as the effects of hormone imbalance created by low estrogen levels is the discomfort caused by having too much estrogen in your body.

Too much estrogen multiplies the effects that this hormone normally has on a woman's body. An overload of estrogen may lead to retaining of fluids and bloating in the breast area or all over the body. The hormone imbalance as a result of estrogen levels that are too high may cause high blood pressure, serious headaches or migraines, and breast swelling. Because estrogen can stimulate breast tissue, fibrosistic breasts may also be the result of excess estrogen.

And it doesn't stop there. Estrogen may create a craving for sugar, leading to weight gain. You may feel jumpy as though you have had too much caffeine and have difficulty sleeping. The thyroid may also be affected when estrogen levels are too high.

Estrogens are Hidden Dangers Throughout our Environment

Many of the foods we eat everyday are harbingers of estrogen. Chemicals we clean our homes with, plastic bottles, pesticides, fuels and drugs all mimic the effects of estrogen. When these sources combine, we can be attacked by the effects of estrogen, creating hormone imbalance and symptoms of hormone excess. Men are also affected by unwanted xenoestrogens from chemicals and phytoestrogens created from food and plants and may experience hair loss, atherosclerosis, prostrate problems, lowered libido, and impotency as a result.

Everyone is exposed to xenoestrogens every day of their lives. If you have a problem with high estrogen levels, you should plan to avoid xenoestrogens as much as possible. Xenoestrogens are commonly found in canned food, plastics such as bottles and plastic wrap, styrofoam cups, pesticides, herbicides, paint, solvent, and commercially raised meat for example.

If you are experiencing hormone imbalance with excess estrogen, phytoestrogens, or estrogens created in plants and foods, should also be avoided. Substances containing the highest phytoestrogen levels are soy, the lignans in flax seed, red clover, black cohosh, chasteberry, and dong quai. Soy can be found in soybeans, soy milk, tofu, tempeh, textured vegetable protein, roasted soybeans, soy granules, soy-based protein bars and soy protein powders.