possible link between oestrogen imbalence & arthritis (p

tamnwill

:idea:
After thinking there may be a link between these two I've done some searching, may help????
I get awful flare ups before a period and it may be due to something called oestrogen dominance!!! Perhaps?...........

Oestrogen is a perfectly normal, health-promoting hormone, which stimulates the growth of hormone-sensitive tissue in both men and women. In women, oestrogen makes the lining of the womb (the uterus) grow every month, ready to receive a fertilised egg in the event of pregnancy. It also stimulates the growth of breast tissue. However, when a healthy woman's body produces oestrogen it also produces progesterone, which keeps hormonally-sensitive tissue healthy. Oestrogen makes cells grow. Progesterone keeps them healthy. It's a double act.

Essential fats can reduce the symptoms of PMS and the menopause as well as allergies, arthritis, eczema, depression and infections. They are also needed to make the receptor sites - the 'ears' of body cells - to receive hormonal messages, so a good intake of essential fats is vital for maintaining hormonal balance. Symptoms of deficiency are dry skin or eczema, dandruff, frequent thirst, PMS or breast tenderness and inflammatory problems such as arthritis.

Hormones are very short lived in the body because the liver breaks them down. This is how the body prevents excessive levels of oestrogen accumulating. However, if a person's ability to detoxify is under par, oestrogens can keep circulating the body. If the liver's detox capacity is being used up by alcohol, oestrogens are likely to be in circulation for longer. The better your diet and intake of antioxidant nutrients, the more efficient your liver will be at clearing excess oestrogen.
v Don't drink more than 4 glasses of wine a week
v Eat at least five servings of fresh fruit and vegetables a day
v Supplement an all-round multivitamin and mineral, plus an antioxidant supplement including glutathione or n-acetyl cysteine.

Many phenolic compounds are like poison to the body, and can sometimes latch onto the oestrogen receptor sites on cells triggering abnormal growth messages. So, what can you do to minimise your exposure? Avoid the most harmful sources and switch to alternative foods, toiletries, household products and packaging.
The key chemicals to avoid are:
• Pesticides and herbicides - DDT, DDE, endosulfan, methoxychlor, heptachlor, toxaphene, dieldrin, lindane and atrazine
• Plastic compounds - alkyphenols, such as nonylphenol and octylphenol; biphenolic compounds, such as bisphenol A; and phthalates
• Industrial compounds - some PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), dioxin, plus those listed for plastics
• Cosmetics - parabens
• Foods - butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA, an antioxidant)
v Check your bathroom products, washing up liquid, dishwasher and washer detergents for the chemicals listed above. If you find them included, switch to a different brand. These very flexible plastics may contain the above chemicals.
v Buy and eat organic fruits and vegetables as much as possible.
v Avoid fatty foods, like cheese, wrapped in cling-film.
v Reduce your intake of animal fats (meat and milk) which are more likely to accumulate hormone-disrupting chemicals. Choose organic if you can.

The other food that consistently lowers risk is the pulse family, which includes beans, peas and lentils. Much of the attention has focussed on soya due to its high levels of 'phytoestrogens' (a naturally-occurring plant-based oestrogen), however other pulses, for example chickpeas, have high levels of phytoestrogens too. Since we've been trying to lower overall oestrogen load why would you want plant-based oestrogen? Unlike other oestrogen-like chemicals - from DDT to lindane, or oestrogen itself - these plant oestrogens are very, very weak. They still lock into the oestrogen receptors but, far from sending a strong 'growth message' they may lessen growth messages by blocking the receptors from receiving more powerful and disruptive oestrogen messages.
o Eat at least five servings of fresh fruit or vegetables every day
o Eat essential fats every day - a heaped tablespoon of seeds, or a tablespoon of oil a day, plus fish instead of meat
o Increase Phytoestrogens - eat some beans, lentils, chickpeas, or soya produce (miso, tempeh, natto or tofu)

If a woman doesn't ovulate, which is quite common after the age of 35 (and, of course, after the menopause) no progesterone is produced. This is because progesterone is produced in the sack that contains the ovum only if the ovum is released. Because of this, women are more likely to suffer from oestrogen dominance.

Also found for some info on herbs!

black cohosh: an estrogenic herb said to reduce cramps, congestion and hot flashes
wild yam: a medicinal herb containing anti-inflammatory properties that reduces the risk of menopausal arthritis
chaste tree: this herb helps to balance hormones, and can help ward off depression
dong quai: its purported healing properties include reducing estrogen deficiency
gingko biloba: decreases fatigue and depression and improves memory
sage: containing plant estrogens, sage can help reduce night sweats and hot flashes.

RIGHT AM OFF TO DISCOVER A NEW DIET AND RAID MY BATHROOM, LOL...........
Any thoughts?


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frogmorton

Very interesting!
Very complex!
What about the men though? Do they have the same hormones as us?
I don't eat meat anyway and try very hard with my fruits and veg and succeed in getting my 5 a day more often than not.
You have done a lot of research :shock:
I will watch this post to see what the others think, with interest.
Toni x

lindalegs

First of all Well Done Tam for all this research - you've certainly taken the bit between your teeth.

When I was first diagnosed I followed a 'special' diet which doesn't sound too diferent to what you're suggesting above. At first I thought it was working wonders but then I levelled off. I stuck to the diet for 4 months and lost a lot of weight in fact I went to below 7 stone :shock: so I stopped weighing myself. We then took the children on holiday and I decided to eat 'normally' just for a change - the shocking thing for me was that I felt more well eating 'normally' than I did following all the rules :roll: My arthritis didn't change much but I felt more energetic and less tired and I gradually went back to my ideal weight again.

I 'm not discounting your diet or theories at all because I do believe that they do work for some people and I really think anything's worth a try. For me, I found, it is better just to follow a balanced diet and maintain the 5-a-day fruit and veg.

I hope that's it's successful for you - please keep us posted.

Luv Legs