Gut health and Hormones
Hormone balance needs a healthy gut (and liver)…
Estrogen is a hormone molecule that has an important role in the body. It is a messenger that once connected to an estrogen receptor, provides information to a cell. Once estrogen has delivered its message it is done and is ready to be processed out of the body. The liver begins this process with phase 1 and phase 2 (will explain that process in a future post), the final process, phase 3, occurs in the gut, more precisely in the colon.
When the gut is happy and healthy, it provides a supportive environment for hormone balance. The estrobolome; which is a collection of bacteria residing in the gut, are capable of metabolizing estrogen and assisting in the homeostasis of estrogen in the body. Once estrogen has completed its process through the liver, it either leaves through urine or moves to the colon for the final farewell and departure through feces (aka poop).
To provide a picture of this, I want to share a story that I think may help explain. This story is a choose your own ending (loved those books when I was a kid). One ending has E (estrogen) having a good time and leaving the party. The other ending has E trying to leave the party only to become Estrogen Gone Wild and returns to drink all the drinks, eat all the chips, and cause mayhem.
The story begins with E at a fun party (in this story, party=you, your body) where it mingles and socializes, having a great time (progesterone is a chaperone at this party- it has its own story too). Eventually, E has chatted with all the receptors it wanted to and is now ready to leave the party. E goes to Phase1 and Phase 2 (in the liver) where it gets help putting on its coat (conjugation). Once the coat is on, it moves towards the door to go—where all excrements go. Heading down the hallway to leave (aka the gut), E moves down the hallway, passing by the bacteria and others that like to hang out in this space to chat and have a good time. It is a party after all.
The hallway is where you can choose the ending for E.
Ending 1: the gut (aka- the hallway) is wonderfully kept. E can easily pass through without falling into a crack in the floor, or trip on a loose floor board. The bacteria that are hanging out there are dancing, chatting, enjoying the scene, and doing their thing. They happily support the host of the party (that would be you) with guests and help those ready to leave the body and send them on their way. Some bacteria compliment E on her nice conjugation coat and wish her well as she leaves the colon, along with others that are leaving the party. The party remains in a balanced flow, and fun times continue for all.
Ending 2: The gut (aka- the hallway) has some issues with loose floor boards and a few cracks in the floor here and there. E finds the space to be a challenge to get through. The bacteria that hang out here are overcrowded, and some have become a bit aggressive and opportunistic in their behavior. The beta-D-glucuronidase (BG or GUS) that tags along with the bacteria that are hanging out has become a bit surly and unruly. E, as it tries to pass through the hallway and make it to the door, is approached by one of these unruly members that are now loitering in the hallway with, “hey E, where are you going? No, you should stay? Don’t leave the party, stay here and hang out longer. Let me take your coat.” BG/GUS removes E’s coat (deconjugating) and E decides to go back into the party and be with all the other E’s that are still at the party. This time, E is free. Free E can do what it wants with wild abandon, as there aren’t enough chaperones to make sure Free E is not affecting the others Es that are sharing their message, or taking over receptors that the current Es are trying to connect with. Free E becomes Estrogen gone wild. The party turns into a hormonal college dorm party, balance is replaced by moments of chaos and confusion, and fun times turn into drunken moments we all want to forget.
So, which ending did you choose?
Can these endings be changed? Can E be saved if she is in Ending 2? Can something go wrong in Ending 1? The answer to all of these is yes.
We can change the story endings for E through the choices we make with food and lifestyle. Like Herminie with her potions and spells, we can use foods to create potions to support E when it enters Phase 1 and Phase 2, and ward off any BG/GUSs that may occur in phase 3. We can use lifestyle practices of mindfulness, stress management, and intuitive practices as spells to keep E safe while it is at the party.
Depending on the party in its current state, and remembering all parties are different (no one party is the same as another party) will determine what ingredients will be helpful.
Some commonly used ingredients include:
· Cruciferous vegetables
· Broccoli sprouts
· Mustard powder
· Fiber-rich foods from whole grains and/or vegetables
· Omega-3
· Calcium D-glucarate
· Prebiotics
· Probiotics
· DIM
· Resveratrol
· Meditation/Mindful practices
· Stress management practices
· Low stress physical activity
· Intuitive practices
If you want to have a happy party and a happy ending for your E, book a free 20-minute discovery call with me @getplantedinhealth.com. I want you to have a happy and healthy party.
