All women have oestrogen and we need it in order for our bodies to function, however too much or high levels of oestrogen inhibits our weight loss goals.
High oestrogen may increase the risks of high blood pressure, ovarian cysts, endometriosis, depression, PMS as well as breast, ovarian and uterine cancer.
Most women who have high levels of oestrogen tend to hold weight around their thighs and lower section hence the phrase ‘pear shaped’ body. Another indicator of high oestrogen is cellulite.
I came to learn that oestrogen dominance was apparent in my body. Always struggling to lose the weight from my thighs and around my butt.
Why Oestrogen causes weight increase
An imbalance of oestrogen in our body can be caused by many different factors and will depend on your age and lifestyle.
One main cause that affects many women is the presence of xenoestrogens. Xenoestrogens are oestrogen mimickers and are found in many foods, cosmetics, household items such as plastics, insecticides, pesticides.
Don’t despair, it is possible to lower your oestrogen levels.
Go Organic
Switch to organic produce. The worlds population has increased, so too has our demand for food. To keep up with this demand, crops are heavily sprayed with various pesticides and this wreaks havoc on our bodies. Going organic is the answer but with organic prices being extremely high, sometimes it’s difficult. If you can’t afford it across all your fresh produce, then go organic on certain ones which are heavily sprayed such as broccoli. I’ve provided a list below to help.
Say no the plastic
Ditch the plastic bottle ladies, even the ones that says BPA free. Drinking from plastic bottles, particularly when we reuse it over and over again, even the BPA free ones, eventually leach plastic into our food. Plastic increases oestrogen in our bodies.
Use glass or aluminium where possible when storing and consuming food and drink. If you need to heat food in the microwave, use glass and place a paper towel over the top rather than in a plastic bowl covered in plastic.
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Produce with the most pesticides |
Produce with the least pesticides |
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Broccoli |
Avocados |
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Apples |
Sweet corn |
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Peaches |
Pineapples |
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Nectarines |
Cabbage |
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Strawberries |
Sweet peas (frozen) |
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Grapes |
Onions |
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Celery |
Asparagus |
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Spinach |
Mangoes |
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Sweet bell peppers |
Papayas |
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Cucumbers |
Kiwi |
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Snap Peas |
Eggplant |
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Potatoes |
Cauliflower |
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Carrots |
Bananas |
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Grapefruit |
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Cantaloupe |
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Sweet potatoes |
No to Soy
Soy milk raises oestrogen in your body, so switch to coconut or almond milk. I love coconut milk in my smoothies and home made muesli.
Insulin & Oestrogen
If your insulin levels are high it not only inhibits fat burning (as you now know), it also inhibits oestrogen metabolism.
By eating a diet low in carbs and sugar and higher in fats, protein and vegetables will help to reduce oestrogen.
Choose paraben-free / organic cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
Vanilla Happy & Berry Cleanse
Both of these superfoods help to cleanse the liver and when the liver is cleansed it helps to metabolise your hormones better. Not only that Vanilla Happy will keep you...well...happy! Its blend of superfoods help to elevate your mood as well as reduce stress and sleep better. When we get a good nights sleep the body feels better and I for one tend to opt for healthy foods.
Berry Cleanse is wonderful for maintaining gut health with its mix of diatomaceous earth, chia seeds and chlorella.
