6 Supplements for Low Estrogen
Estrogen is a growth hormone responsible for the development and maintenance of the female reproductive system. It is released in high amounts during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle which is the first two weeks leading up to ovulation. Estrogen is released from the ovaries, fat tissue, and adrenal glands. The main functions include building up the uterine wall for the menstrual cycle, stimulating the growth of the egg follicle, developing breast tissue, stabilizing bone density, and controlling the metabolism of glucose and lipids. All of our hormones are connected somehow, so if one is low, this will affect all other hormone levels. Specifically, if estrogen is low, our cortisol, progesterone, and testosterone levels can go out of balance. It is essential to identify the signs and causes of low estrogen before diving into what ar supplements for low estrogen.
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Symptoms of low estrogen:
Low libido
Bone loss
Short periods
Fatigue
Night sweats
Vaginal dryness
Mood swings
Infertility
Poor memory
Causes of low estrogen:
Diminished ovarian reserve
Menopause
Undereating
Breastfeeding
Overexercising
Hypopituitarism
Here are 6 supplements for low estrogen:
1. Maca
Lepidium peruvianum or Maca, is a root plant originating in Peru, but is now distributed all over the world for its medicinal value and is one of the supplements for low estrogen. Though Maca is not a phytoestrogen, it is an adaptogen that contains plant sterols that help support endocrine function by balancing hormone levels like estrogen. It does this by stimulating the hypothalamus and the brain’s pituitary gland to support all hormone functions. In a woman with low estrogen, Maca powder can naturally increase estrogen due to its hormone balancing properties shown in research.
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2. Black Cohosh
Cimicifuga racemosa or Black Cohosh originated in North America, and it is a well-known herb used for hormonal benefits, making it one of the supplements for low estrogen. A study found that the black cohosh successfully decreased estrogen receptors, which would make the estrogen levels increase in circulation. This research provides evidence that black cohosh can be beneficial for increasing estrogen levels naturally.
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3. Magnesium
Magnesium is another one of the supplements for low estrogen. Many of us have low magnesium levels, but it goes unrecognized in clinical medicine because levels are rarely evaluated. You can think of magnesium as our calming and relaxing mineral. It helps to loosen tight muscles, maintain our muscles’ health (including our heart – the most important muscle), prevent migraine headaches, balance blood sugar, ease anxiety due to its role in our stress response, and ease menstrual cramps. This mineral can improve our hormone levels through its many functions in the body and as a result, magnesium can raise estrogen when it is low.
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4. Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays an important role in the detoxification of estrogen. It has regulatory properties to either increase or decrease estrogen levels depending on the original levels, so in the case of low estrogen, it can inhibit the detoxification process which will increase the free estrogen levels. Vitamin E also has many anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, reducing the internal stress levels from high cortisol. This is why vitamin E is one of the supplements for low estrogen.
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5. Ginseng
Ginseng originated in China and has been used for over 2 million years as a natural medicine remedy. It is consumed as a herbal tea that has many claimed health benefits, one of which is increasing estrogen naturally, making it one of the supplements for low estrogen. Supplementation of ginseng was found to upregulate estrogen production in the uterus, ovary, breast, bone, fat tissue, and in liver. Additionally, a study found that ginseng may cause estrogen to counteract stress in the brain by utilizing antioxidation, which is also beneficial to increase estrogen because stress can negatively manipulate hormone levels.
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6. Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 is one of the important water-soluble vitamins that is one of the supplements for low estrogen. Some of the main functions of vitamin B6 cognitive development, gluconeogenesis, lipid metabolism, and protein metabolism. B6 can also help balance estrogen and progesterone levels and adrenal function, regulating cortisol, our stress hormone. Homocysteine is an amino acid produced when proteins are broken down, but at elevated levels, it is called hyperhomocysteinemia which is damaging and induces stress. These high levels are not good for the body because they can degrade the arterial lining. Evidence shows that b vitamins especially B6 aids in reducing them. This shows that if stress levels are a root cause of your low estrogen levels, B6 can increase estrogen back up to stable levels.
