Estrogen detox diet and supplement?

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SarahsMom
SarahsMom Member Posts: 1,779
edited June 2014 in Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment
Estrogen detox diet and supplement?
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  • SarahsMom
    SarahsMom Member Posts: 1,779
    edited October 2012

    I was talking to a friend today about an estrogen detox diet and supplement. I was wondering if you wise ladies might know about this topic and offer advice? I am high risk with BC and ovarian in the family and have had a ductal excision, other biopsies and lumpy, dense breasts. Also developed ovarian cysts and uterian fibroids out of nowhere - Had an emergency hyster a few years ago at 43, but kept my ovaries to avoid starting on estrogen right away. I am also borderline hypothyroid but my doc doesn't want to start me in meds. The result is that I am gaining weight, especially around my middle which used to be the best part of my body, I miss my flat tummy :-(. Eating less, nothing fried and hardly any fat, don't care for candy, red wine only and occasionally, love veggies and fruit. Lots of good fish, lean meats, skim milk, etc. Exercise and active. Nothing has changed other than the scale and my shape :-(. Thanks for any advice!!

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  • lightandwind
    lightandwind Member Posts: 754
    edited October 2012

    Carpediem, I studied nutrition constantly, but didn't abide by what I knew for the last 8-10 years, had fibroid tumors in my uterus from exccess estro, body filled w/ candida overgrowth from too much carbs and sugar, got bc, and then I studied some more, geared my studies toward nutrition and bc, and am now doing everything that I can in my power in hopes to prevent a recurrance.  I wish I had been as smart as you and made my goal prevention of bc. Here are just some of the things I've learned. Milk Thistle is very important for metabolizing estrogen. Excercise, eliminate sugar entirely, get your sugars from fresh fruit and veggies only. Eliminate candida from the body- w/ probiotics, paudarco, capryl, garlic, etc. Do some research on Mushrooms- amazing history w/ the immune system with their high ORAC value, as well as some potential for inhibiting estro. I alternate days, but take chaga, reishi, maitke, shitake supps. Lots of cruciferious veggies every day will help you metabolize estro too-DIM and IC3, sulphurane, are supplements made from compounds in these foods. Berries, all of them, eatem. they contain ellagic acid. Vita D is very important for prevention. There is much research that connects vita d deficiency to bc, so w/ your risk, you might want start supplementing right away. I take Curcumin and Green Tea just because there's been enough research to indicate that they can disrupt the metabolic pathways of cancer cells to prevent tumorgenises. So if there were cancer cells roaming the body, they may help prevent them from cololnizing and forming tumors. Inflammation reducing herbs enzymes are also helpful, since chronic inflammation can be an outward sign that the body is not in a healing mode. I take wobenzym daily. I hope some of this helps. There are also now natropathic doctors that will help you keep a check on your hormone levels, which could help for prevention too. Keep reading there is tons of research and education from others you can get on this site, info that might prevent you from ever having to encounter what we are all going through. So good you are thinking prevention. You are doing the right thing.

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  • SarahsMom
    SarahsMom Member Posts: 1,779
    edited October 2012

    Thanks so much for the note and information!! I really appreciate your time and the lengthy informative post. I am going to get my diet under control and step up the exercise, as well.  I want to do all I can so I have no regrets - no one beats me up worse than me!

    Have a great day! 

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  • lightandwind
    lightandwind Member Posts: 754
    edited October 2012

    You're welcome! I forgot to mention iodine. I take 4-6 drops of lugol 2% everyday. I couldn't tolerate this at first, thought I was allergic, but I had too much toxicity to handle the healing symptoms of candida and bacterial die off. So i started w/ taking kelp tablets. they have iodine, then I worked my way towards the lugols. Potent stuff. For prevention though, I would just take the kelp.  That's just me. There's a lot of research on iodine and it's effect on bc. check it out and all the best to you!  

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  • Blessings2011
    Blessings2011 Member Posts: 4,276
    edited October 2012

    carpediem1965 - I was on birth control pills my whole life, then - just as I was entering peri-menopause - I developed GIANT fibroids with all the associated problems. Started hormone-replacement therapy when I was 46; had a complete hysterectomy when I was 47. I had my ovaries removed because I didn't want to worry about ovarian cancer...

    For the next ten years I took Estrogen. After a while, I felt I'd finally gotten through menopause, and took Estroven (OTC, herbal supplement) for a while. Then I took nothing.

    A year ago I was dx'd with invasive ductal cancer. Tests showed I was 100% ER+. After my bilateral mastectomy, I met with my oncologist, who prescribed an aromatase inhibitor for the next five years. I argued with her, saying that 1) I'd already gone through menopause, and 2) I'd had a hysterectomy, so there was no point in my taking that drug.

    I was 5'5" tall and weighed over 200 pounds. She very kindly told me "Estrogen is produced in body fat." (of which I had plenty) "Especially abdominal fat." Great.....Yell

    Diets never worked for me, and I had so many other health issues I couldn't exercise.

    But in March, I went on a medically supervised weight loss program through Kaiser. Basically, it was a four-month liquid fast. I was taken off all my medications. I was given mandatory exercises, had to meet regularly with the doctors, and meet weekly for weigh-ins and class/group support. In July, we transitioned to regular food...very small portions based on the American Diabetes Association diet.

    By then, I found out that my fibromyalgia pain had nearly disappeared thanks to the gluten-free diet, and that I actually loved to power walk, ride my bike, and do 90 minute water aerobic workouts in the therapy pool at our local rehab hospital.

    So far I've lost 56 pounds and more than 65 inches. I have about ten more pounds to go. I've missed a lot of exercise because I just had exchange surgery at the end of August with a few complications.

    I am down from 12 prescription medications a day to two. All my lab work is normal. My BMI is normal for the first time in my life.

    My oncologist says I have reduced my risk of recurrence by 23%.

    All I can say is you are not alone. That slowly growing spread in the middle just creeps up on you, and it seems there is nothing you can do. But for me, I couldn't do it myself. I had to join a program, and a serious one at that. I thought in the beginning that I would have to have a complete body tuck when I was done losing weight, but doing it slowly, and maintaining my exercise level meant that I won't need one!

    I am still on a modified diet....and will be for a while. As for estrogen blockers, I have decided to take the Anastrozole (generic Arimidex) that my MO prescribed for me. So far, so good.

    Hope you find something that works for you!!!

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited October 2012

    carpdiem, have you read the book The Anti-Estrogenic Diet by Ori Hofmekler?  It's not aimed at bc per se, but more at other health issues, including weight problems due to too much estrogen in our diets.  But his principals of detoxing from estrogen and then eating low estrogen foods I think are what your friend was suggesting.

    Here's a link to more information:  http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/k/kidney_damage_cisplatin/treatments.htm

    And here's what the book looks like:  http://www.amazon.com/The-Anti-Estrogenic-Diet-Estrogenic-Chemicals/dp/155643684X 

    Deanna 

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  • truebff
    truebff Member Posts: 642
    edited October 2012

    Blessings20, what a GREAT story! Good for you!

    I reallly believe if we could all address diet, life-style, stress, exercise FIRST -with or without help, as we need/require it- that much of our suffering could be stopped before it progresses. And, for so many of us, we had to get into health trouble, to realize that.

    I deeply believe the body WANTS to be healthy.

    Thanks for sharing your very inspirational story.

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  • SarahsMom
    SarahsMom Member Posts: 1,779
    edited October 2012

    Light and Wind, thanks for the iodine idea, I am borderline hypothyroid so that may help. I wish my doctors were more helpful when it comes to natural stuff, I always walk into GNC and get really confused!! 

    Blessings, wow!! Thanks for sharing your journey with us, so inspiring! I am proud of you for taking control of your destiny!

    DLB, thanks for the tip, I just ordered the book :-) 

    Hope you ladies have a wonderful day and I appreciate all of the info you've generously passed along. Dark and dreary here today but I will get to the gym before I do the school pick up run! 

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  • sdstarfish
    sdstarfish Member Posts: 544
    edited October 2012

    Good question, carpediem. Along those lines, Does anyone know - would a standard detox be effective in eliminating excess/pseudo estrogen? I would think it would be helpful based on my studies, but I'm not sure it would be as effective as a detox specifically targeting estrogen.

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