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We live in a world of estrogen dominance and this is a leading factor in many of the health problems people face today. To investigate this we’ll discuss what estrogens and androgens are, the many effects of estrogen dominance, how we become overloaded with four bad kinds of estrogens, and lastly what you can do about it.
This article is important for both men and women. Women have much more estrogen than men. Men have many more androgens then women. But both genders have both. And both are affected by the modern day environment to become estrogen dominant in a way that undermines their health and performance.
Table of Contents
Different Types of Estrogen
There are many hormones in the body, in fact, there’s over 240 of them. For this discussion we need to dive into a few of these varieties. Estrogen is not just one hormone, but a class of several different forms.
- Estrone (E1) – One of the worst estrogens appears to be 16 alpha-hydroxy-estrone. However, there are also good estrones like 2 hydroxy-estrone.
- Estradiol (E2) – Excessively elevated levels of estradiol are the most common of the “bad” estrogens.
- Estriol (E3) – Of all the estrogens, estriol appears to have the best health producing effects.
The conversion of many hormones including the androgens and estrogens
So its important to note that while all estrogens are necessary in both men and women, especially women, their effects will depend on the ratio and amounts of them.
As we’ll discuss in more depth, estrogen dominance is an overburdening of excess estrogens, especially of the “bad kinds”, leading to all sorts of health issues.
The Androgens and their Effects
- Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) – A “weak” androgen with very low biological potency as far as male sex effects, but many other important anti-aging roles in the body.
- Androstenedione – The precursor to testosterone with roughly 20 percent of its potency.
- Testosterone – The most well known of androgens, because of its strong effects.
- Androsterone – A breakdown product of the androgens with one-seventh the strength of testosterone.
- Dihydrotestosteone (DHT) – A metabolite of testosterone, with excesses of it playing a role in male pattern baldness and prostate issues.
Having your androgenic hormones working properly will allow you to build and retain muscle mass better, support weight loss, enhance sex drive and function, increase “zest and vitality” and a sense of well-being in life, and even support cognitive function.
In addition to these effects for both sexes, androgens serve as the precursors to estrogens. So the androgens are required as precursors to some of the hormones they need and must be converted.
The Bad Effects of Estrogen Dominance
So just what will estrogen dominance do to you? Here’s a list of a variety of illnesses and problems it can contribute to.
- Weight gain (especially being unable to get rid of “stubborn” fat)
- Lack of Sex Drive
- Impotence
- Bone loss and osteoporosis
- Cancer, especially breast in women and prostate in men
- Diabetes
- Breast enlargement (early development for girls, and also “man boobs” or gynecomastia for guys)
- Acne
- Foggy Thinking
- Insomnia
- Impaired athletic performance
- Immune system compromise
- Low energy and “mid-day slump”
- Slow healing
- And more
Estrogen dominance can lead to many health problems and “cosmetic” issues like cellulite and “man boobs”.
Three Additional Hormonal Problems
Age Related Decline
Unfortunately, after puberty our “healthy” hormones, in both men and women go on a decline that appears to last the rest of our lives. It appears we’re made to become men and women, and be able to pass on our genes, peaking in our 20’s, then it’s a slow decline from there.
Eventually, this leads to menopause in women and andropause in men. Both of these occur when the hormones have suffered enough to lead to some massive changes in the body.
While this is a natural process it can be “put off”, and certainly become an easier transition, by taking the right steps to support your hormones. The whole field of anti-aging is largely about keeping your hormones at the healthful levels of your youth.
Aromatization
Aromatase is an enzyme that converts androgens to estrogens. While necessary, this can become a problem especially in men if it is being done too much. If so, this takes all the hormones that would give you health and vitality and convert them into something that does the opposite.
A variety of factors, like too much toxicity and impaired detoxification can contribute to increased aromatization.
Aromatization is the conversion of health androgens into often unhealthy estrogens.
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin
SHBG, as the name suggests, is a protein that binds to androgens making them unavailable for use in the body. This and other binding molecules are the difference between total and free testosterone. The sad fact is that testosterone can’t deliver its benefits if it’s bound up. While SHBG serves its role in the body, once again, too much can contribute to estrogen dominance.
Our Overly Estrogenic Environment
As previously mentioned the modern day environment is the biggest contributor to estrogen dominance and all of the problems that it brings. Here we’ll explore just how prevalent these estrogens are in our everyday lives.
The different types of estrogens can be classed in a number of ways.
Xeno-estrogens
From pesticides, chemicals, plastics and more. Common sources include:
- Bovine Growth Hormone
- Tap water
- Laundry detergents
- Chemicals in sunscreens
- BPA found in most plastic
- Food coloring like Red 3
- Parabens found in cosmetics and shampoos
- Insecticides like DDT, DDE, indane (banned in Europe but still in use in the USA), methoxychlor, etc.
A heavy dose of estrogenic pesticides and insecticides.
Phyto-estrogens
These estrogenic compounds are found in nature. If we lived in a “natural” world these probably would not be a problem, but in combination with the other estrogens it is best to avoid these completely.
- Soy – Soy is touted for its benefits as a widely consumed component of Oriental diets. However, they almost always eat it in fermented forms (miso, tempeh, natto) that break down estrogenic compounds in it. It is best to avoid processed soy foods like soy milk and tofu completely.
- Hops – Found in 99.99% of beers. After the German Beer Purity Laws it was discovered that the women who collected hops for beers experience earlier menstrual periods. Also men suffered from reduced libido and feminization.
- Flax seeds – Touted as a health food for its omega-3 content, this may lead to estrogen problems. A much better similar food is chia seeds. Although defatted flax seeds appear to help pull out excess estrogen from the body.
- Licorice root – A common harmonizing herb in many Chinese herbal formulas. Unfortunately it also has very strong estrogenic effects.
- Coffee – One study found it to increase estradiol levels.
It’s not just the calories that contribute to a beer gut, but estrogenic hops causing fat accumulation.
Metallo-estrogens
While many people in the field of health are aware of the problematic effects of heavy metal toxicity it is not well known that these metals contribute to estrogen dominance. Heavy metals contaminated products include:
- Fish (farmed fish is even higher in heavy metals than wild caught)
- Most tap water supplies
- Household cleaning agents
- Cookware
- White Flour
- Deodorants
- Pharmaceuticals
- Pollution (simply breathing in major cities causes consumption of lead and other heavy metals)
- Mercury Dental Fillings
- Vaccines
- And much more
A healthy dose of Omega-3’s, but an unhealthy dose of Mercury, PCB’s and more.
Myco-estrogens
These toxins are from various fungi that contaminant many foods.
- Aflatoxins found in peanuts, cotton, corn and other grains.
- Ochratoxins found in beer, wine, coffee, and much more.
- Most cheeses and coffee are full of various sorts.
- Black molds and other hidden dangers within your home.
- If you suffer from candida overgrowth your body may be producing excess estrogens from within.
- And many more
Do you know what’s growing on your coffee?
The best thing you can do is limit your exposure to all of the above. But because these things are everywhere that’s a tall order even for the most health-conscious of people.
The Superfood of the 21st Century
Because of all of the estrogens in the environment our androgens, for both men and women, need support.
Even if we do everything we can, and let’s face the truth, that very few people are, avoiding estrogens is like a losing a war against an over-whelming enemy.
So let’s bring in the CAVALRY.
Earlier we discussed phyto-estrogens. These are estrogen mimicking compounds in various plant foods. While some may serve a purpose, the problem is with all the other estrogens, it is probably best to avoid these as much as possible.
Many people in the field of health are aware of these. But most are not aware of phyto-androgens. Part of this reason is that these are far more rare.
Luckily there is one substance that is fully loaded with them, the pollen of pine trees. (As a side note, pine nuts do contain some androgens, but in much smaller amounts.)
As part of the reproduction of pine trees, pine pollen is loaded with phyto-androgens which the human body can benefit from.
Pine pollen, as the male reproductive part of a pine tree, has many phyto-androgens.
Pine pollen contains gibberellins which are structurally very similar to testosterone. In fact, they have been found to actually connect with testosterone receptors in the human body. Basically, they can mimic testosterone in the body and, as Stephan Harrold Buhner tells us in his book The Natural Testosterone Plan, “because of their adrenal and pituitary actions, they stimulate androgen production in the body; energy levels increase.” They act as prostate regulators, upregulating when the prostate is too small (one study had castrated rats keep their prostates from shrinking) and down regulate when the prostate is too big and inflamed. They are also anticancerous and anti-inflammatory in the rest of the body.
Pine pollen also contains over 30 different kinds of brassinosteroids. Two of these brassinosteroids are used in the mechanism through which the liver safely removes xenoestrogens and other chemicals from the body. They have strong antiviral actions and are, “considered to be highly novel steroidal compounds with unique anticancer actions while possessing very low toxicity.”
Pine pollen has substances that are similar to testosterone, DHEA, androstenedione, androsterone and more. And that’s not all. Its chock full of nutrition with over 200 bioactive antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other super nutrients.
Understand that this is not like hormone replacement therapy. These are small amounts of hormones, but combined with the intelligence of all the necessary co-factors found in pine pollen. This doesn’t boost your hormones to unsafe levels, but instead helps to educate your body towards a more normal or optimized function.
Sources:
Wolfe, David, Longevity Now
Buhner, Stephen, The Natural Testosterone Plan: For Sexual Health and Energy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Androgen
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estrogen
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aromatase
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_hormone-binding_globulin
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC164220/
http://stopdrinkingalcohol.com/beer-hops-estrogen/
http://www.evenbetterhealth.com/heavy-metal-poisoning-sources.php
http://www.naturalnews.com/027227_cancer_breast_estrogen.html
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Hi Logan
Thanks for putting up this website. Really interesting and useful.
However, I have a question. I have purchased T.Ali and P.Pollen, but did not seem to get the effects that were being talked about.
I have read further articles from you and need your input regarding this PDE5 business.
My woman, a great girl, gets me hard and then it just goes away all by itself!!! I am guessing that this is due to the PDE5 being stronger than the CMG.
Is there anything that you might recommend to overcome this? I am late 50’s, non-smoker, hardly ever drink, proper weight and walk quite a bit. Do not do any resistance work due to lower back problems, but am about to start again.
Medication is for an underactive thyroid and take 150mg Levothoroxine every day.
Your input or feed back would be most welcome.
Thanks
Steve
Just going off of what you wrote here’s a few things to investigate:
1) Hypothyroid causes some ED issues. Could also be the levothyroxine as some people appear to report that. My suggestions would be to aim to fix the underlying issues causing hypothyroid, and see if that helps.
2) If PDE5 is the culprit, then specifically test out Horny Goat Weed to see if that one helps you. You could also try our Thor’s Hammer formula, which contains that among other things, to see if that helps.
hi.. i’ve been buyng your products for like a year or so, 3 or 4 purchases already. Really Good stuff.
My mother’s been taking he shou wu.. shes in remission of breast cancer, i hope your fo-ti helps her feel better, but i was thinking about giving her nettle root extract, but i’d like your opinion on this subject, could this lead her to more problems? she has constant headaches and ocasional high blood pressure….. thanks and sorry for my english
Celso
Sorry, for the late reply Celso!
The he shou wu should be fine. I am not that sure about using nettle root after cancer. I don’t know many women that use nettle root period though I am sure there are benefits in certain situations.
I would highly recommend some medicinal mushrooms to clear out any toxins or dead tissue from the body. Reishi or Turkey Tail if you can find that. This link might cover your bases with those and this company is very good with their mushrooms just like ours: https://us.foursigmatic.com/products/5-mushroom-blend#search
Besides that, it would probably be better to ask you directly as I do not know if she’s on any prescriptions or what have you. I will contact you shortly. Good luck!
Hi dear guys of empire herbs. When i went to the endichronologist because of ed he suggests me to make the blood test to check if t-levels were good and to check at the same time other concerns as cholesterol, thyroid and others.! When the test was done and blood test results came out, the doc, told me that everything was good and even the urologist told me the same but im sceptic that that was’nt right because i was told that testosterone level was 17. And thyroid was 5.5. What do you think about this…!?? Guys…!?????
Testosterone level was 17!? I really hope that is a typo, Mario. Even if it was and it is 170, that is WAY TO LOW for a guy. I’m not as good with thyroid numbers. How is your lifestyle? I would be concerned why these tests are so skewed. Right away I would recommend some Tongkat to boost that T. Shilajit could help with the thyroid but I would recommend reading Logan’s function article on the thyroid
Sounds like T is measured in nmol/dl.
Sometimes. And sometimes it’s measured in ng/dl.
I just ordered Athena for my wife (she doesn’t know it yet, though) and the smaller Pine Pollen, so I can do the 3 shot morning wood test. If it works you’ve got a customer for life. I want to give both a thumbs up. I’ve hopped all over the place, trying this, then that. Hoping for a positive outcumm (pun intended). Right now I’m downing Chris Gordon’s ASOX9, and before that was Sam Robinson’s AlphaViral and Blood Flow Optimizer. Both not living up to what was promoted. The best I felt was a mild warmth in penis, but no pulsing veins or throbbing erections from a maximum of blood flow and the mimicking of PDE5 inhibitors. I hope that I am not disappointed again with Lost Empire Herbs.
I hope so too shorty but if all these things aren’t working for you then the problem could require much more then some herbs or supplements to address. Stress is a huge part to play in that which is why I recommend trying some adaptogens if that is the goal alongside the test. Don’t matter what company you get them from to us. We just want you to see success with becoming healthier shorty. Another option to consider is pine pollen tincture to the scrotum. Absorption through the very thin skin of the sac.
Does anyone know if shea butter is a phytoestrogen?
Thanks!
Not sure myself! Hopefully someone else knows?
Hey Dale,
It’s unlikely. Shea butter is a triglyceride (a type of fat) and is a derivative of stearic acid and oleic acid. In and of itself it’s probably fine, but I would want to make sure that other ingredients are neither phytoestrogens (plants) nor xenoestrogens (man-made compounds like BPA, PCBs, and phthalates). It’s hard to avoid all the franken-chemicals in our society today. So I’ve done a good job cutting back and just accept that fact that from time to time I will miss something.
Good Luck!
Would this product cause an allergic reaction(s) in people who have pine pollen allergies?
Hi Paul, yeah it might. I have heard from a few customers that have expressed that they have pine allergies yet didn’t have any problems ingesting it. That maybe being the case, since it is broken down in the stomach, it might not cause the reaction it does in the airways. Though there is always the risk of breathing it in (which sucks really hard, I have experienced it way to many times) and if you are allergic I imagine that could be traumatizing in the least!
Only way would be to test. You would start with very very little and see what happens. Caution should be advised though. Personally, I would probably just try some of the other herbs instead if I was really anxious about it.
What is there to eat for us men then dude? Shoud i starve to death?
Hi Diego, I’m pretty sure the article said to eat pine pollen as your only food source and you will be fine!
But I kid, I kid. There is so much you can eat. Just because most plants have phytoestrogens doesn’t mean you should avoid them. Actually having a good mix of raw, cultured and cooked plants as a mainstay of your diet is probably one of the healthiest things you can do. It is mentioned here primarily to eat those plants that are the highest in phytoestrogens, like hops and soybeans, only sparingly. Too much beer can result in boobies for us guys after all. Reason my brothers and I got into dry ciders.
Actually, for the most part, I wouldn’t avoid any whole food sources. Certainly some are better then others but the main thing is to stay away from manufactured foods which for some reason they love to add things like soy too. And since many of them have so many preservatives in them, you have to wonder at the estrogen load they are carrying. Plus many of them are wrapped in plastic.
You certainly don’t have to starve but fasting is a good activity to practice too so I won’t say not to do that. The general policy is, if you cook it yourself, its gonna be healthier for you then anything you purchase that is fast. Cooking also tends to get people to look for better sourced and better grown products since they taste better.
Whatever you decide to do, good luck in your endeavors.
Keith,
glad to hear you’ve been enjoying the herbs. Make sure to check out this e-book for recommendations on water filters and much more – https://lostempireherbs.com/product/upgrade-your-water/
Hi Logan,
As always very informative and much appreciated. Have been using your products and pine pollen for quite some time and have found that cycling in varying dosages seems to work with me the best. One of my biggest concerns as of lately is quality of water. I have ditched The Brita water filter pitcher because of its plastic contents and refused to drink bottled water for the same reasons. I now drink only tap water boiled in a glass picture however I am still concerned about the quality of the water. I live in the Chicagoland area and all our tap water comes from Lake Michigan but I still have concerns. Any suggestions of a good filter system or the best way I can get Pure Clean Water locally and fairly convenient?
As always thanks for your help.
The Yeti
How do I get it in Europe need to get it together soonest
We ship worldwide, including to Europe. Just email us at info@lostempireherbs.com before placing your order and we can expedite it.
A while ago I purchased your pine pollen. I did not feel a positive change. I wanted to check it out further, so I did the 3 teaspoon dose before bed. I did not experience the morning wood. Could this be due to aromatization? Would taking nettle root with the pine pollen help?
It could be due to aromatization. It could be it will take some time to balance out the hormones. It could be anything unfortunately. Pine pollen is like anything else, and might just not be right for you. Certainly, taking it for a time to see if anything happens eventually is a good idea in my book. Herbs are subtle too, so while you might not noticed something it could be 3 weeks from now you notice you are in a better mood and have more energy then you use too. Herbs can be fast and loud, but that is not how they normally work. After all, they are not pharmaceuticals so expecting them to work as fast as them is tending towards the misguided side.
Nettle root could help speed the process, certainly! Herbs are normally taken with supporting herbs in all traditions of herbalism. Perhaps your pine pollen just needs a little help to really get going?