Do you find your moods, energy and perimenopausal symptoms fluctuate wildly? Welcome to the estrogen rollercoaster – aka the nightmare ride that many get stuck on when transitioning to menopause.
Unfortunately, estrogen does not follow a slow, gradual, gentle decline. Instead, it spikes to higher levels than ever, only to suddenly crash to almost nothing. And in case that wasn’t enough, it does it again, and again, and again. So you can see why we refer to it as the estrogen rollercoaster!
Let’s take a closer look at this phenomenon and what you can do about it.
HOW PERIMENOPAUSE RELATES TO THE ESTROGEN ROLLERCOASTER
You know those classic perimenopausal symptoms?
- Breast pain
- Fluid retention
- Irritability
- Heavy, painful periods
All of these are caused by elevated estrogen (sometimes in combo with low progesterone). And then you’ve also got:
- Depression
- Night sweats
- Heart palpitations
- Hot flashes
These bad boys are caused by the sudden drop in estrogen.
When it comes to these fluctuations, the most concerning symptoms I hear clients are suffering from is rage and irritation. That’s completely understandable because who knows what you’re going to say next! Plus I’m pretty sure your workmates aren’t going to take it as well as your family does (oops!)
Your experience of these hormonal shifts depends on how well your body adapts to the fluctuations and the ‘new normal’. But the good news is that even if you’re struggling with it all, we can improve your body’s ability to handle these changes.
ESTROGEN-ADDICTED CELLS??
Yep, you heard that right. Our cells love estrogen, particularly our brain cells. This is part of the reason why we get shocking brain fog. When estrogen is low, insulin sensitivity drops. So we end up with a bunch of glucose roaming around the bloodstream, but our brain cells are starved of it.
As a result, they can’t do what they need to – like help you remember people’s names, your to-do list, why you came into this room… You know, the things we need every day to function!
That’s why we want estrogen to be like Goldilocks’ porridge – not too much, not too little, but just right.
HOW TO CALM THE ESTROGEN ROLLERCOASTER
Unfortunately, we can’t avoid getting on the rollercoaster completely. But we can smooth it out so there are fewer skyrockets and death drops on the journey. Here are a few simple tips for an easier transition throughout perimenopause.
REDUCE YOUR LIVER LOAD
Your liver has enough to deal with right now, especially when your estrogen is high. It’s your liver’s job to clear that excess – but if it’s juggling a dozen other burdens, estrogen keeps running around the bloodstream, causing utter chaos.
Tweak down the:
- Coffee, tea and caffeine (sorry!)
- Alcohol
- Added sugars
You can also add in some bitter greens to support liver function.
DITCH THE XENO-ESTROGENS
These fake estrogens just add an even greater burden and make the rollercoaster more extreme.
Now is the time to declutter the house and switch out products that include plastics, synthetic fragrances and perfumes. This is even more important if you’ve noticed you’re not tolerating fragrance and perfume – that’s your liver’s message to stop using them!
SUPPORT ESTROGEN ELIMINATION
We also want to make sure that you are eliminating estrogen from the body. And guess how you do that? Through regular pooping, of course!
I hope by now you know the basics for a good poo – but just in case:
- Eat more plants & high-fibre foods
- Drink plenty of filtered water
- Skip any known food intolerances that can lead to constipation
- Prioritise good sleep and stress management
DROP THE TUMMY FAT
Did you know your fat mass is an endocrine organ? Fat around the belly area can produce ‘bad’ estrogen – in fact, this is likely why your breast cancer risk is higher if you have excess body fat.
This can be a bit of a catch-22 as weight loss can be harder during perimenopause. But it’s far from impossible – I did it using personalised nutrition, and you can too!
SICK OF YOUR HORMONES DICTATING EVERYTHING?
If you are ready to feel calm, less stressed and able to put yourself first, book in for a free discovery call today. Together, we can explore how I can help you to support and nourish yourself – mind, body and spirit.
0 Comments