Anti-oestrogenic diet

An anti-estrogenic diet is a diet with the purpose of wholly or substantially reducing estrogen levels in men and women.[1] High estrogen may be environmentally induced through chemicals and hormones found in food, also called xenoestrogens and phytoestrogens.[2] Certain genetic conditions may also be the cause of high estrogen in men, such as klinefelters syndrome.[3] The diet seeks to lower estrogen levels by reducing foods with phytoestrogenic content and endocrine disrupting effects. Some foods have also been found to have chemicals that change the way estrogen is metabolized, such as the compound Indole-3-carbinol in cruciferous vegetables which may help in lowering excessive estrogen levels.[4]

Reason and purpose

Estrogens (AmE), or oestrogen (BE) is the female hormone. Its presence in the male and female body has increased since 1950 and particularly since 1980. This increase is partially due to the increase of use of the female contraceptive pill. Some of the estrogen contained in these pharmaceutical products is eliminated in the urine and excrements.[5] The relative decrease in testosterone, the male hormone, causes for men an increase in female characteristics while it can perturb the female menstrual cycle. As it influences muscular development,[6] an anti-estrogenic diet has a particular popularity with bodybuilders. In fact, it is a natural part of the aging process that can, however, be fought. Estrogen has also proven to have a significant influence on mood [7] and an anti-estrogen diet might help increase emotional well-being.

Concerns have been raised that estrogenic foods contribute to illness and obesity.[8]

Stages and composition of the diet

Cruciferous Vegetables.
Citrus fruits.

There are three steps of an anti-estrogenic diet in general. Organs such as the liver and the kidneys are the main actors of the detoxification program. The first phase is detoxification, allowing liver and kidneys to be cleansed and refined by taking fruits and vegetables in order for organs to function better. The second phase is the main phase, its purpose being to absorb the anti-estrogenic foods, such as organic vegetables or cruciferous vegetables that do not contain pesticides. Eating these anti-estrogenic foods should lower the level of estrogen in the body. The third step is the reintroduction of other foods such as meat, fish, or pasta for evening meals only.[9] Oestrogenic foods such as soy, beer (alcohol), licorice, clover and some foods in plastic should be avoided[10] The diet only allows absorption of natural anti-estrogenic foods such as citrus fruits, cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, avocado, nuts, eggs, organic milk products, coffee and tea.

Main effects

The anti-estrogenic diet brings crucial benefits to a person’s health. The first step of the diet consists in a detoxification of the liver by consuming aliments rich in crucifers such as broccoli.[11] The liver cleansing has positive effects on a person's overall health, mainly: weight loss due to the amount of liquids, vegetables and fruits ingested.[12][13] A “boost” on the immune system is another effect of the detox. Many harmful waste products are easily eliminated from the body, as it helps to filter the blood in a more efficient manner.

The second phase of the diet consists of consuming food rich in anti-estrogenic hormones such as testosterone in the case of males and progesterone in the case of females. The importance of consuming anti-estrogenic hormones is due to their effect in bone formation, muscular strength and a person's overall mood. The diets helps people to handle high stress circumstances by modifying the overall mood and improving the mental capacity by providing a big source of energy. This phase of the diet is vital for reducing constant fatigue, improving the overall emotional well being, gaining muscle mass, avoiding the decrement of the sex drive and burning fat.[14]

The third phase of the diet incorporates meats, breads and pastas at the evening. This will balance the proteins and will provide all the extra minerals needed for a healthy diet.[15] It will provide the proteins needed and the fuel needed to have a complete and successful completion of the diet. Eating the largest meal in the evening will help you improve your metabolism because it is the part of the day with the most stress.

In an overall view the anti-estrogenic diet can help a person's health in many aspects. The diet might increase the libido and the sperm count. It might also help women with their pre menstrual cycles and the menopausal effects. Furthermore it can help with prostate disorder, chronic fatigue and makes it easier to burn abdominal fat. On a longer perspective it can help prevent obesity, diabetes, metabolic disorders and Breast cancer/prostate cancer. It also helps keep the organism away from pesticide infected food and introduce organic food to a person's life style.

Other

Anti-oestrogenic diets may have certain applications for transgender people. For example, a trans man may want to minimize the amount of estrogen that he receives. The anti-oestrogenic diet can be used as a supplement to hormone therapy.[16]

References

  1. ↑ "Anti Estrogenic Diet". everydiet.org. Retrieved 2012-11-04.
  2. ↑ "Xenoestrogens and How to Minimize Your Exposure". organicexcellence.org. Retrieved 2012-11-04.
  3. ↑ Raboch, Jirí; Pietrucha, Slavomír; Raboch, Jan (September 23, 2003). "Serum testosterone levels and coital activity in men with somatosexual disorders" (PDF). Neuroendocrinology Letters 24 (5). Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  4. ↑ Meng, Q; Yuan, F; Goldberg, ID; Rosen, EM; Auborn, K; Fan, S. (December 2000). "Indole-3-carbinol is a negative regulator of estrogen receptor-alpha signaling in human tumor cells.". Long Island Jewish Medical Center 130 (12): 2927–31. PMID 11110848.
  5. ↑ Dery, Luke. "Troubled Waters: Removing Estrogen from Our Water Supply" (PDF). Scientia Review (The Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science): 15. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  6. ↑ Hofmekler, Ori (2007). The Warrior Diet: Switch on Your Biological Powerhouse For High Energy, Explosive Strength, and a Leaner, Harder Body. Blue Snake Books. p. 312. ISBN 978-1583942000.
  7. ↑ Inger, Björn et al. (2003). "Increase of Estrogen Dose Deteriorates Mood during Progestin Phase in Sequential Hormonal Therapy" (PDF). The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 88 (5). Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  8. ↑ Hofmekler, Ori (2007). The Anti-Estrogenic Diet: How Estrogenic Foods and Chemicals Are Making You Fat and Sick. Berkeley, California: North Atlantic Books. p. 208. ISBN 978-1-55643-684-0.
  9. ↑ Arthurton, Deneice. "How Does the Anti-Estrogenic Diet Work?". Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  10. ↑ Tarr Kent, Linda. "ESTROGENIC FOODS TO AVOID". Anti-estrogenic diet. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  11. ↑ Hubbard, Sylvia. "The Anti-Estrogen Diet Could Change Your Life". Anti-estrogenic diet. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  12. ↑ Lampe, Johanna W (1999). "Health effects of vegetables and fruit: assessing mechanisms of action in human experimental studies1,2,3". The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  13. ↑ Michael Yeh, Kirsten B. Moysich, Vijayvel Jayaprakash , Kerry J. Rodabaugh, Saxon Graham, John R. Brasure and Susan E. McCann , (11 December 2008). "Higher Intakes of Vegetables and Vegetable-Related Nutrients Are Associated with Lower Endometrial Cancer Risks". Journal of Nutrition 138: 317–322.
  14. ↑ Reil, Kevin. "High Testosterone Foods". Anti-estrogen diet. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  15. ↑ Poliquin, Charles. "10 Ways To Lower Estrogen Toxic Load". Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  16. ↑ "Transgender zone, hormone replacement therapy". Retrieved 4 November 2012.

Bibliography