Estrogen Dominance = Metabolic Dysfunction
Estrogen dominance occurs when there’s too much estrogen in your body compared to other hormones like progesterone or testosterone.
While estrogen is important for both men and women, having too much of it—whether estrogen levels are actually high or simply too high in relation to other hormones—can cause problems.
So, you can have low estrogen - but still be estrogen dominant - and this imbalance can affect metabolism, which is how your body produces and uses energy.
Conditions Linked to Estrogen Dominance:
Anxiety & Mood Swings: Estrogen dominance disrupts the nervous system, worsening anxiety and irritability.
PCOS: High estrogen and low progesterone contribute to irregular cycles and stubborn fat.
Painful Periods & PMS: Bloating, fatigue, and heavy bleeding are common with estrogen dominance.
Endometriosis: Estrogen encourages tissue growth, worsening pain and inflammation.
Menopause: Estrogen imbalance with progesterone can cause weight gain, fatigue, and mood swings.
How Estrogen Dominance Affects Metabolism:
Insulin Resistance: Estrogen dominance reduces insulin sensitivity, making it harder to burn sugar for energy and leading to weight gain, especially around the belly.
Increased Cortisol: Elevated estrogen boosts cortisol, the stress hormone, which slows metabolism and hinders fat burning, and cause poor sleep.
Thyroid Interference: High estrogen, even during menopause when estrogen is lower overall, can still be too high relative to progesterone or testosterone, disrupting thyroid function. This imbalance can cause fatigue and weight gain.
Fat Storage: Estrogen promotes fat storage, particularly around the hips, thighs, and belly. For men, excess estrogen can lead to chest fat and gynecomastia (man boobs).
Energy Slump: Imbalanced estrogen impairs mitochondrial function, leaving you feeling sluggish and low on energy.
Why Does It Happen?
Hormonal Imbalance: Too little progesterone often caused by poorly balanced diet, stress, poor liver function and toxins disrupts the balance.
Poor Detoxification: The liver may fail to eliminate excess estrogen, leading to a build-up.
Environmental Toxins: Chemicals like plastics and pesticides mimic estrogen, contributing to dominance.
Chronic Stress: High cortisol lowers progesterone and testosterone, promoting estrogen dominance.
Aging & Menopause: As estrogen drops, it can still be disproportionately high compared to progesterone, causing imbalance.
So. Estrogen dominance doesn’t always mean high estrogen levels; it can also mean estrogen is too high relative to other hormones.
The good news? The body wants balance.
With enough energy and the right nutrients, your hormones can recalibrate faster than you think.
