How do broccoli sprouts (sulforaphane) can lower estrogen levels?
One of the most common hormonal imbalance is estrogen dominance. You might have symptoms of estrogen dominance if you experience:
- Irregular or heavy periods
- Breast tenderness
- Mood swings
- Fatigue
- Weight gain
- Water retention
- Decreased sex drive
- Fibrocystic breasts
- Headaches
- Insomnia
Do you want to check your level of Estrogen?
You can take this quiz to have a view of your level of estrogen. Good news is you can balance your estrogen levels naturally. Some steps include using the right foods, herbs and some supplements if needed.
Common factors that may contribute to estrogen dominance include:
- Stress: Stress increases cortisol levels. Consistently high levels of cortisol can deplete progesterone levels, with a knock-on effect on estrogen.
- Alcohol consumption: A high alcohol intake raises estradiol levels and makes it harder for the body to process estrogen.
- Dysbiosis: Intestinal dysbiosis is when there are too many harmful species of bacteria, or not enough beneficial species, in the large intestine.
Block Estrogen Increase: Consume Broccoli Sprouts.
Different researches recommend taking broccoli sprouts in order to shrink estrogenic breast cancers and other cancers in women because sulforaphane acts as a killer of cancer stem cells.
Sulforaphane or sulphoraphane is a compound within the isothiocyanate group of organosulfur compounds. It is produced when the enzyme myrosinase transforms glucoraphanin (a glucosinolate) into sulforaphane upon damage to the plant (such as from chewing or chopping during food preparation), which allows the two compounds to mix and react.
Sulforaphane is present in all cruciferous vegetables. Some food sources include:
- Broccoli
- Brussels/ Broccoli Sprouts
- Cabbage
- Kale
- Bok choy
However, among cruciferous vegetables, the highest concentration of glucoraphanin, the precursor to sulforaphane occurs in broccoli sprouts.
While various sulforaphane nutritional supplements are available, consuming it in its natural plant form is considered the most effective. The recommended daily average dosage of broccoli sprouts is ½ cup
You can research how to create broccoli sprouts or check this video.
The benefits of sulforaphane
- Maintaining a healthy, active immune system
- Protecting cells from oxidative stress
- Fighting cancer: Inducing apoptosis (death of cancer cells) and suppressing cancerous cell cycles
- Improving gut health: It’s effective in treating Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium responsible for stomach ulcers and even stomach cancer.
- Lowering risk of developing many types of cancer since estrogen imbalances have been linked to cancer.
- Boosting liver detoxification: It induces phase II detoxification enzymes and the synthesis of glutathione.
The liver detoxification process is especially crucial for maintaining estrogen balance. Below, you can see the phases needed for detoxification and how sulforaphane is crucial.
Other steps to flush excess estrogen levels:
- Avoid sugary and processed foods.
- Avoid using plastic containers which include BPA. BPA is a weak synthetic estrogen found in many rigid plastic products.
- Include supplements if needed: FDFCalcium-d-glucarate and indole-3-carbinol may reduce estrogen levels in the body.
- Increase fiber-rich foods: Fibers can reduce your body’s estrogen level by encouraging the excretion of hormones through fecal matter.
- Increase consumption of omega-3 fatty acids, which play a role in balancing hormones in the body.
- Consume Bitter greens: Greens such as arugula, dandelion & radicchio
- Minimize caffeine consumption.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulforaphane
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulforaphane
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2862133/
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41523-022-00402-4
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0753332219352576
https://www.letsgetchecked.com/articles/estrogen-dominance-symptoms-and-signs/
