How Low Blood Sugar Contributes to Estrogen Dominance
Estrogen dominance is a condition in which the balance of estrogen and progesterone is off, causing symptoms such as mood swings and breast tenderness. Although there are many factors that contribute to estrogen dominance—including genetics, stress levels, diet and lifestyle choices—one factor that often gets overlooked is low blood sugar.
The liver’s role in hormone balance
The liver is the primary detoxification organ in the body. It is responsible for making glucose for energy, as well as cholesterol and bile acids which help with digestion. The liver also helps to regulate blood sugar levels. It's responsible for storing glycogen—a stored form of glucose that can be broken back down into glucose when blood sugar levels are low.
high cortisol can contribute to high estrogen levels
Estrogen is primarily produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands, but another vital contributor in the production of estrogen is the liver.
Prolonged states of high cortisol can increase estrogen production as cortisol stimulates cells to take up and use glucose for energy. This means that if you have a lot of cortisol in circulation (because you are stressed), then those tissues will be using up all their available glucose stores instead of making more insulin or glucagon – two hormones that help regulate blood sugar levels. The more cortisol there is around, the less able your body will be able to regulate its own blood sugar - leading directly into low-insulin/high-cortisol states where excess estrogens could arise from increased stress hormones circulating throughout our bodies' systems.
Cortisol’s impact on estrogen levels
When you have low blood sugar, cortisol is released as a response. Cortisol is a stress hormone and also helps regulate fat storage. In other words, cortisol can cause you to gain weight and store more fat or make it more difficult for you to lose weight.
In addition to releasing stored energy when your body needs it most, cortisol can also affect estrogen levels in women. When there's not enough glucose in your system (which is why we tend to crave sugar when we're low on energy), cortisol surges to trigger the liver to release or create glucose and pump in back into the bloodstream. Excess cortisol can cause what is called a pregnenolone steal, where progesterone essentially gets sequestered to become cortisol. If progesterone is stolen to become cortisol, this can cause low progesterone and high estrogen. This imbalance can lead to PMS symptoms such as bloating and mood swings as well as PCOS symptoms such as acne and unwanted hair growth.
Low blood sugar and thyroid function
Let's look at the thyroid gland, which is responsible for metabolism. When glucose is low and the liver is unable to compensate because it has low glycogen stores (remember glycogen is stored glucose), cortisol will do this for you. However, with continued and persistent stress (i.e. elevated cortisol) it signals to the body that there is an issue that needs tending to, which causes our T4 hormone (the inactive form of thyroid hormone) to convert into Reverse T3 instead of T3 (the active for) - which effectively slows metabolism..
Maintaining blood sugar levels balances your hormone levels
Maintaining blood sugar levels is essential to keeping your hormones in balance. If you want to avoid estrogen dominance, diabetes, and other conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), it's vital that you keep your blood sugar stable throughout the day. The best way to do this is by eating three meals and two snacks every day.
Keep your meals balanced by including protein (like eggs or chicken), healthy fats like olive oil or avocado, and complex carbs such as whole grains or beans in each meal. Include a piece of fruit at each meal as well; this will give you an added boost in energy without causing a spike in blood sugar levels later on. If possible, avoid foods that are high on the glycemic index (GI) scale because they cause rapid spikes in insulin production which can lead to long-term health issues if left unchecked over time.
The Takeaway
If you feel like your hormones are out of balance and you want to try something new, consider the possibility that low blood sugar could be contributing. The first step is eliminating sugar and processed carbs from your diet, as well as other foods that cause blood sugar spikes. Then, once your body has adapted to this new way of eating, work on balancing your blood sugar levels with regular meals that include protein and healthy fats. You can also try supplementing with some herbs or vitamins such as inositol (which is found naturally in many fruits and vegetables), zinc (found in oysters or beef), magnesium (found in spinach or dark chocolate), vitamin D3 (found primarily in fish oil).
Please always consult with your physician before incorporating any of these recommendations or contact our office if you would like to work directly with Dr. Kayla Ring for a personalized treatment plan.