Estrogen

Estrogen: A real powerhouse.  Estrogen occurs in men and women.  Men make sufficient estrogen for their needs.  That is not the case for women, particularly as they head toward and enter those menopausal years.

Estrogen is proven beneficial for libido and secondary sex characteristics, collagen production, vaginal/bladder tissue elasticity, heart-valve health, menses regulation, electrolyte and nitrogen metabolism, pregnancy maintenance, reproductive tissue, skin, breasts, brain health, artery lining protection and HDL (good cholesterol) production.

Estrogen is also shown to be a powerful antioxidant, helping combat free radicals and their effects on the aging process.

Like testosterone, the pituitary gland produces gonadotropic hormones to regulate estrogen and progesterone.  In women, these are follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin.

There are three naturally occurring estrogens: estradiol, estrone and estriol. For men, estradiol begins in the testes as well as through extra-glandular conversion of androgens.  In women, the estrogens are produced primarily in the ovaries (90%).  Smaller amounts are produced in the adrenals, liver and kidneys.

• Estradiol:  The primary and most active estrogen in a woman’s reproductive years.  Produced in the ovaries, estradiol’s beneficial properties include protecting against osteoporosis and heart disease enhancing cognitive functions, relieving menopausal maladies and increasing serotonin and endorphin levels for better emotional health and restful sleep.

• Estrone:  More prevalent in “post” menopausal women. Derived from stored hormones in body fat, estrone’s functions mirror estradiol with weaker effects.

• Estriol:  Seen as “weakest” of the three estrogens.  Yet, it adds much to combining menopausal symptoms and aging effects, such as wrinkles and diminished skin texture.  It also is beneficial in the vagina, cervix vulva and urethra, as well as providing protective properties against cancerous cells.

Balance is key.  The right estrogen levels prove good for your health.

Estrogen aids in memory, promotes brain and nerve cells, protects the heart, increases HDL (the good cholesterol), stimulates skeletal growth and maintains healthy bones, among other benefits.

A majority of scientists believe by-products of estrogen dominance could influence health issue in both men and women, including prostate and breast cancers.  An estrogen dominance can also accelerate the aging process and lead to weight gain and bloating, reduced libido, fibrocystic or sensitive breasts, migraines, foggy thinking, fatigue, mood swings, insomnia, fibroids and ovarian cysts.  Also it has been linked to autoimmune disorders and allergies, as well.

Conversely, diminished estrogen levels could produce undesirable effects:  vaginal dryness, urinary concerns, hot flashes loss of skin elasticity and bone loss, as well as potentially hastening dementia.