by Paula Owens

 

WINNING FORMULAS TO REDUCE BREAST CANCER RISK

and LOWER ESTROGEN DOMINANCE

A Holistic Approach

According to the American Cancer Society, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every three minutes! Estrogen dominance affects women and men alike. There are numerous reasons why women predominantly experience estrogen dominance such as use of birth control, menopause and pregnancy. However, both men and women are increasingly affected by estrogen dominance.

Regarding breast cancer risk, one type of estrogen can increase breast cancer risk and another type of estrogen can decrease it. The estrogen compound 2-hydroxyestrone is considered the 'good' estrogen, and 16-alpha-hydroxyestrone is considered the 'bad' estrogen. All women have both of these estrogens, however the importance is the ratio of these two estrogens. This can be determined through a simple urine test, 2/16 OH estrogen.

Consuming non-organic foods, particularly animal fats from dairy and meat, increase estrogens known as xenoestrogens. As Dr. Harry Eidenier, Jr., Ph.D., says, "We are swimming in a sea environmental xenoestrogens (xenobiotics)."

The longer these foreign substances stay in your body the more opportunity they have to do damage. The bottom line is that your body has to detoxify these xenoestrogen chemicals every day, and over time this can become a burden.

Estrogen in general tends to promote cell division, particularly in hormone-sensitive tissue (breast and uterine lining). Excess estrogens in your body not only lead to aromatization, but estrogen dominant health issues such as endometriosis, fibroids, ovarian cysts, and estrogen dominant cancers such as breast and prostate cancers. Women are not the only ones being diagnosed with breast cancer - more and more men are being diagnosed.

Aromatase is an enzyme found in estrogen producing cells in the adrenal glands, ovaries, placenta, testicles, adipose or fat tissue and the brain. According to research from the University of Munster in Germany, when diets high in natural foods that inhibit the aromatase enzyme are eaten, breast cancers in postmenopausal women don't get a chance to start.

Factors That Raise Estrogen

Age increases aromatase activity

Carbohydrate intolerance and insulin resistance - This affects the adrenals and all other major hormone levels. (The hormone you have the most control over is insulin - this is controlled through your diet. Hormones do not act independently.)

Certain herbal ingredients such as lavender and tea tree oils

Consuming a diet of processed soy and non-organic foods loaded with xenoestrogens, pesticides, antibiotics, etc.

Heavy metal toxicity (arsenic, barium, cadmium, lead, cobalt, aluminum and mercury).

Liver congestion and function changes - Elevated AST and ALT values

Obesity - High estrogen is present in most obese people of all ages. Obesity in males = 25% body fat or greater. Obesity in females = 30% body fat of greater

Overuse of marijuana and alcohol - This equals higher blood sugar, triglycerides and estrogens.

Plastics, pesticides, soaps, emulsifiers, skin care products, cosmetics and household cleaning products containing xenoestrogens, pesticides and other chemicals.

Prescription drug side effects - especially diuretics, anti-depressants, birth control pills and liver activity drugs

Zinc deficiency. Low levels of zinc have been linked to enlarged prostates and less than desirable levels of testosterone.

Symptoms/Conditions Associated with Increased Estrogen

Allergies

Breast, prostate and cervical cancers

Decreased libido

Depression

Early menstruation cycles for young girls

Endometriosis, fibroids

Fat gain around the hips, thighs and waist

Fatigue

Infertility

Miscarriage

Moobs (Known as man boobs)

Osteoporosis

Water retention

For women battling fibrocystic breast disease it is important to eliminate any and all sources of caffeine from their diet. Some women can drink all the coffee they want and not have fibrocystic breast problems, but unfortunately, women with fibrocystic breast problems are always caffeine-sensitive. Women with fibrocystic breast disease and other estrogen dominant conditions are often deficient in iodine and often require more iodine than others do.

Both the thyroid and breast have high concentrations of iodine, other factors suggest iodine deficiency increases one's risk for breast disease. Breast cancer and thyroid diseases are most common in post-menopausal females. Women with breast cancer are more likely to have enlarged thyroid glands. And, Japanese women have one of the lowest risks for breast cancer in the world, especially when compared to women in the U.S.

WINNING FORMULA CANCER PREVENTION STRATEGIES WITH THE FOUR POWERS: NUTRITION, LIFESTYLE, EXERCISE AND SUPPLEMENTS

The American Institute for Cancer Research says one-third of cancer could be prevented by healthy nutrition, consistent exercise and maintaining a healthy body weight.

NUTRITION

Include:

Alkalize your blood by eating approximately 80% of your diet from alkaline food. Cancer thrives in an acidic environment.

Consume organic foods versus conventional due to their abundance of synthetic pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, etc. Eat organic as much as possible. Eat grass-fed, free-range, hormone-free, antibiotic-fee meats. Organic fruits and vegetables contain 50-80% more nutrients than conventionally raised produce.

Cruciferous vegetables - broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, cabbage

Drink only purified water and green tea (at least 3 cups daily). The EGCG in green tea helps prevent breast cancer.

Include apples, onions, broccoli, berries, raw nuts, ground flax meal (lignans) and green tea in your diet

Keep insulin levels low.

Mushrooms - A study published in the International Journal of Cancer discovered that women who ate 10 grams of button mushrooms/day were 64% less likely to develop breast cancer.

Organic, ground flax seeds encourage progesterone production and inhibit estrogen production

Read the entire list of ingredients on all products. You'll be surprised at the number of chemicals, colorings and artificial ingredients.

Walnuts - the omega-3 fatty acid, phytosterol and antioxidant combination found in walnuts have been shown to prevent cancer.

Avoid:

Alcohol in excess

Artificial sweeteners and food additives

Caffeinated products (coffee, tea, chocolate)

Deli and luncheon meats, and anything else that contains sodium nitrates

Estrogen precursors such as non-organic meats and dairy products

Overcooked foods

Processed soy products

Refined carbohydrates, trans fats, HFCS and hydrogenated vegetable oils

Storing your food and beverages in plastic containers; the estrogen-like compounds in the plastic can make their way into the foods and liquids. Instead use Pyrex glass containers.

Sugar, high fructose corn syrup, white flour and all highly refined foods. Cancer feeds off sugar.

LIFESTYLE

Include:

Breastfeeding versus formula feeding. According to a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine, "women with a history of breast cancer are 59% less likely to reduce their risk of breast cancer simply by breastfeeding their child."

Reduce body fat

Determine your hormone levels.

o Suggested urine test:

2/16 OH estrogen (this inexpensive test measures estrogen metabolites. A low 2/16 indicates a high risk of estrogen sensitive cancers

o Suggested serum lab tests:

Female Hormone Profile: Pregnenolone, Total Estrogens, DHEA-S, Progesterone, Testosterone (total)

Male Hormone Profile: Pregnenolone, Total Estrogens, DHEA, Progesterone, Bioavailable Testosterone, Testosterone (total and free)

Both male and female should test - Thyroid panel: T3 Uptake, T4, T7 and TSH

Male: PSA (Test at age 50 for Caucasian; age 40 for African American)

Go braless occasionally. Bras restrict the flow of lymph.

Improve your mood naturally and get off antidepressants, which raise aromatase

Monthly breast self-exams and breast massage

Sleep between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. for 7-8 hours of restful sleep.

Sleep in complete darkness.

Spend time in a sauna at least once a week

Work a first shift.

Test for heavy metal toxicity

Thermograms over mammograms. Thermography uses an infrared camera, and is risk-free (no radiation) and painless. Thermograms can detect the possibility of breast cancer earlier, whereas mammograms cannot detect a tumor until it's been growing for years.

Avoid:

Conventional mammograms and opt for the safer, more effective Thermogram

Smoking

Estrogen precursors such as plastic bottles, chemical-laden cosmetics, lotions and cleaning products.

EXERCISE

Include:

Reduction in body fat

Exercise at least one hour daily

Lift weights three times per week. Higher levels of strength are associated with a decreased risk of cancer.

SUPPLEMENTS

Include:

These two supplements should be part of everyone's supplement protocol to prevent disease and improve health.

Omega-3 fish oils

Vitamin D - prevents and reduces 78% of all cancers.

o Vitamin D suppresses growth of breast cancer by blocking and enhancing signals that inhibit cancer cell growth and by altering gene regulators of the cell cycle.

According to Frank Garland, Ph.D. of the Department of Community and Family Medicine at UCSD, older women who skimp on vitamin D rich foods (fatty fish) are more likely to develop breast cancer. Dr. Garland finds that vitamin D prevents postmenopausal breast cancer in women over 50 years of age, but not in women who get cancer at younger ages.

Include (2 - 4 of the following)

Bioidentical progesterone decreased the risk of breast cancer. Bioidentical progesterone in combination with bioidentical estrogen (estriol) significantly reduces risk of breast cancer

Calcium d-Glucarate

Chrysin

Consider liver detoxification. Calcium d-glucarate supports liver detoxification of excess estrogen. The liver also needs B vitamins, particularly B6, to detoxify excess estrogen.

DIM

Ensure healthy gut flora with probiotics

Evening Primrose or borage oil

Green tea

Increase progesterone levels with herbs such as Chaste tree berry

Indole-3 Carbinol

Iodine/Iodide combination

Resveratrol

Tumeric

Natural Aromatase Inhibitors (natural estrogen blockers) - botanicals:

Chrysin

DIM

Green tea

Nettle root

Passionflower

Quercetin

Resveratrol

Avoid:

Synthetic prescription drugs

If you're using birth control pills or synthetic estrogens such as Premarin educate yourself on what these drugs do to your body, particularly your hormonal system, your gut and your immune system. Provera has been linked to blood clots, fluid retention, acne, rashes, weight gain, depression, certain cancers and other disorders.

Anti-estrogen drugs such as Tamoxifen, a selective estrogen receptive modulator. This drug comes with a number of side effects including blood clots, strokes, uterine cancer, dizziness, leg swelling, mood swings and vision problems according to The National Cancer Institute. New research shows tamoxifen increases the risk of the women developing a second and far more dangerous type of breast cancer by a stunning 440 percent published in the journal, Cancer Research.

Estrogen dominance is complex health condition, however by implementing and following the Winning Formulas above you can decrease estrogen dominance and reduce your risk of estrogen dominant cancers. Cancer may be caused from environmental factors, diet and genetics Diet and nutrition, stress management, exercise and sunlight are preventative measures for 90% of all health related diseases/conditions. Now is the time to take control and responsibility for your health with the four powers: Nutrition, Lifestyle, Exercise and Supplements.

Paula Owens 2009

Sources:

Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2009;18(5):1468-76

J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1996 Mar;81(30):937-41.

http://naturalhealthcenter.mercola.com/services/thermography.aspx

http://www.fhcrc.org/about/ne/news/...