Hormone Balance & Help with Breast Cancer Prevention

Estrogen Dominance is a condition in which there is too much estrogen, especially the stronger estrogens, estradiol, estrone, and chemical estrogens in proportion to the balancing Phytonutrients and progesterone. These estrogens and many of their metabolites initiate and stimulate breast cancer cells. The following recommendations help to balance hormones and will help in protecting you from estrogen related cancer.

Exercise: Women who increase there heart rate during exercise for around 30 to 45 minutes minimum  3-5 times per week have a 40-60% less risk of breast cancer. Exercise can lower the amount of estrogen and dangerous estrogen metabolites.

Stress Reduction: Chronic stress is a huge risk factor not only for heart disease, high blood pressure, ulcers, and depression but also cancer. Breast cancer frequently follows a period of severe, constant stress…a bad marriage, the death of a loved one, abusive conditions, and financial problems. Cortisol, the stress hormone increases estrogen dominance. Getting rid of stressors, consciously acknowledging them, and altering your response to those stressors is critical in disease prevention. Walk, talk, meditate, laugh, and BREATHE! People who ‘go with the flow' and ‘let it go' rarely get cancer. Release the anger, and learn to forgive.

Low Carbohydrate Diet: Elevated insulin levels from a diet high in sugar and refined carbohydrates, increase ‘estrogen dominance' by increasing the amount of free estrogen and stimulating the estrogen receptor directly.

Whole food, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds: Much of what you need to prevent cancer is a gift from the earth. It's your choice. The more refined the food, the less nutrition, the more chemicals. Fruits, vegetables (including whole soy foods), nuts, and seeds contain Phytonutrients, which can naturally balance your hormones. They contain usable minerals, vitamins, and fibers which also can lower the estrogen burden and create healthy estrogen metabolites.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids: Essential fatty acids (flaxseed and high quality fish oil capsules) inhibit breast cancer cell proliferation. Flax seed (2 Tbsp. /day) has been shown to reduce the size of breast cancers between the time of diagnosis and surgery. Flaxseed also increases the good estrogen metabolites and binds to the estrogen receptor directly preventing the strong and chemical estrogens from stimulating the cell.

Fiber: Fiber lowers the amount of estrogen and estrogen metabolites which are available to stimulate the breast tissue. It also lowers insulin and glucose levels which feed tumor cells.

Limit Alcohol: Limit alcohol per week if you have breast cancer. Alcohol is not only toxic to the cell but increases the amount of estrogen made in the fatty tissue.

Avoid obesity: This will lower the amount of estrone, a stimulatory estrogen, made in the fatty tissue.
Sleep: A low melatonin level has been associated with an increased risk of breast and other cancers. Poor sleep affects the immune system. Hormone imbalance affects sleep.

These are a few ideas to help you reach a healthier you.