Estrogen is one of the most important female hormones. But when the estrogen levels in women are low, an estrogen deficiency occurs. This usually happens when a woman experiences menopause. But sometimes, it may also arise even before a woman’s menopausal stage. An estrogen deficiency disrupts the menstrual cycle which may lead to further disorders. There are also cases when women experience early menopause, even before they reach 40. This also leads to estrogen deficiency or lowered estrogen levels. Avoiding the occurrence of this deficiency is important. This is because estrogen is essential. It’s needed for a lot of vital functions of the body. Therefore, an estrogen deficiency is very serious. You must prevent it or treat it immediately.
Try to follow an anti-inflammatory diet
This is one of the best ways to prevent or even treat an estrogen deficiency. Try keeping processed foods and “bad fats” out of your daily diet. Instead, you can consume more non-starchy vegetables and low-glycemic fruit. These fruits include limes, lemons, berries, grapefruit, Granny Smith apples, avocados and more. If you want to eat meat, go for the organic variety. You should also try including sources of “good fats” in your diet. You can find these “good fats” in olives, olive oil, salmon, and others. Also, add an abundance of herbs to your diet as well as tonics and fermented foods. All these may help improve the estrogen levels.
Exercise regularly
Just like with any disorders and deficiencies, exercise is crucial. When you move your body, it keeps the perspiration and respiration outlets active. It also helps to stimulate the body’s fat stores where a lot of toxins may reside in. When this happens, the toxins get circulated into the system, and they have a chance to get expelled. If you’re a person who doesn’t exercise at all, you can still improve your estrogen deficiency. You can start with low-intensity daily exercises. Such activities include walking, dancing, bike riding, some recreational sports, and others. When you get used to exercising, you can increase the intensity gradually.
Consume soy products
Most soy products contain genistein. This is a plant product which mimics estrogen’s effects in the body. When you consume a lot of these products, it may reduce any symptoms of menopause. However, soy products may not really make a difference in your hormone levels. They will help ease the symptoms of estrogen deficiency though. If you want to consume more soy products each day, you have a lot to choose from. You can drink soy milk or eat different soy-based foods. These include tofu, tempeh, edamame, miso (but not too much), and soy nuts.
Consume flax seeds
Aside from soy products, you can also eat more flax seeds. These seeds have huge amounts of phytoestrogens in them. For you to get the most out of this food, you would have to eat about half a cup of flax seeds each day. You can eat them straight or mix them into your dishes to help with your estrogen deficiency. Aside from helping with the deficiency, flax seeds also have other health benefits. They are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. This component is essential too. It may reduce the risk of diabetes, heart diseases, and even cancer. Incorporating flax seeds into your diet is easy. You can mix it into your breakfast oatmeal or into some healthy smoothies.
Limit sugar and carbohydrate intake
Too much sugar in the diet may result in a hormone imbalance in your body. Instead of eating foods rich in sugar, try going for whole-grain options. For instance, instead of using white counterparts, choose whole grain flour or pasta. You can also increase your estrogen levels by increasing the minerals in your diet. Try avoiding too many carbohydrates too. Instead, you should find food options which carry a lot of protein and zinc. These components may help heighten your estrogen levels. The best types of food to consume are vegetables, fruits, and some types of grains.
Take some herbal supplements
Herbs can also help you out if you’re suffering from an estrogen deficiency. If you don’t consume enough herbs in your diet, you may also take some herbal supplements. These supplements can be very helpful in reducing the effects of low estrogen levels. Some herbs contain huge amounts of phytoestrogen. These include licorice root, cohosh, quai, and others. Try to find an herbal supplement which contains these components. They would be very helpful to you and would increase estrogen levels in your body.
Drink tea
There are many kinds of teas which may help increase the levels of estrogen in your body. This may help reduce the symptoms of other conditions associated with estrogen deficiency. You may try drinking green and black tea as they contain a lot of phytoestrogens. If you’re looking for more uncommon teas, you can try red clover or dong quai. Another effective tea is spearmint. It’s a wonder in terms of increasing estrogen levels. If you’re suffering from estrogen deficiency, drink 2 cups of this tea regularly. Do this to increase estrogen levels. Aside from this, you can also take other supplements.
Drink coffee
Studies show that women who drink 1-2 cups of coffee each day may have increased estrogen levels. This is as compared to those who don’t. Although caffeine increases estrogen levels, it doesn’t do the same for fertility. It’s best though if you can find organic coffee to drink. A lot of coffees out there contain artificial chemicals. These may be quite detrimental to your health. Of course, just because it’s healthy, that doesn’t mean you should go crazy with your coffee intake. Drinking 1-2 cups of coffee each day is already beneficial. So, you don’t have to drink more just to keep your estrogen levels high.
Estrogen therapy
If these tips don’t help you out with your situation, then you can seek treatment from your doctor. First, there’s estrogen therapy. Administering the treatment depends on the severity of your estrogen deficiency. The doctor may recommend different ways of taking the estrogen. You may take it topically, orally, vaginally or through an injection. There are cases when you may need long-term treatment. You would need to continue with the therapy even when your estrogen levels normalize. In such cases, you the doctor may administer estrogen therapy over a period of time. You need this so that your estrogen levels don’t decrease again.
Hormone replacement therapy
Finally, ask your doctor if you need to have hormone replacement therapy or HRT. This treatment boosts the natural hormone levels of your body. Usually, doctors recommend this therapy for women approaching menopause. Just like with estrogen therapy, the doctor may administer HRT in different ways. Topically, orally, vaginally or through an injection.