increased its production of embryos when exposed to elevated quantities of the hormone.
And that’s what was seen in those reared in the PET containers. Compared to snails cultivated in glass bottles, PET-housed ones produced more young — up to twice as many embryos.
The team notes that the “high activity” they witnessed “would seem in indicate we have a mixture” of hormone-mimicking pollutants.
So what does all this mean?
While it may not make men grow breasts or become “girly”, in men and premenopausal women, too much estrogen — a condition called estrogen dominance — causes toxic fat gain, water retention, bloating, and a host of other health and wellness issues.
As women age, there is a natural decline in testosterone and progesterone levels, leaving a relative excess of estrogen.
If you are a premenopausal woman with estrogen dominance, you likely have PMS, too much body fat around the hips, and difficulty losing weight.
Perhaps you have a history of gallstones, varicose veins, uterine fibroids, cervical dysplasia, endometriosis, or ovarian cysts. In both sexes, estrogen dominance is thought to be responsible for many types of cancers.
This particular hormone imbalance could be one of the leading causes of breast, uterine, and prostate cancer.
Here are four ways to correct estrogen dominance:
1. Watch Your Liver
Since the liver breaks down estrogen, alcohol consumption, drug use, a fatty liver, liver disease, and any other factor that impairs healthy liver function can spur an estrogen build-up.
2. Increase Healthy Bacteria
Bacterial imbalance in the gut, and other problems that compromise digestion, interfere with the proper elimination of estrogen from the body via the digestive tract. Try including a daily probiotic to your diet.
3. Boost Your Fiber Intake
Insoluble fiber binds to excess estrogen in the digestive tract, which is then excreted by the body.
A fiber supplement can also affect the composition of intestinal bacteria and reduce the build-up and re-absorption of free-floating estrogen.
Good sources include wheat bran, corn bran, rice bran, the skins of fruits and vegetables (apples, pears, berries, tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini and carrots), nuts (especially almonds), seeds (particularly sunflower seeds), soybeans, dried beans, and whole-grain foods.
4. Go Organic
Some dairy and meat products may contain hormone additives, so choosing organic dairy and meat may reduce your exposure to excess estrogen.