Inside the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre (TFMC), our clinicians tailor hormone optimization programs, especially for estrogen overloads in the body. 

Estrogen dominance is a common issue among women, often manifesting as irregular periods, mood swings, and other symptoms. Understanding the root of elevated estrogen is critical for treating this imbalance, which is why functional medicine therapies take an individualized approach to estrogen detoxification. This is a process in which the liver breaks estrogen down into metabolites for the purpose of being excreted. Thus, some functional medicine treatments focus on liver optimization to help metabolize and eliminate excess estrogen. 

In this TFMC blog post, we uncover the roles of the liver, digestive system, and kidneys in estrogen detoxification; how the functional medicine model can be applied; and the way diet can affect estrogen levels. 

Key Steps in How Estrogen Is Detoxified

The liver, kidneys and gut are notable in the human body. They help produce bile, stockpile energy and nutrients for later use, help purify blood from toxins, and promote blood clotting. So, what do these body parts have to do with estrogen dominance? Well, they’re crucial for hormone regulation, particularly in the detoxification of estrogen. This involves a process that occurs in three phases:

• • Phase I (Hydroxylation): Inside the liver, estrogen is converted into metabolites, which vary in biological activity.
  • Phase II (Conjugation): Metabolites from Phase I are further processed in the liver to become water-soluble, which allows for excretion.
  • Phase III (Elimination): Estrogen metabolites are excreted through the kidneys and large intestine.

In order to enhance estrogen detoxification, all three phases must work harmoniously. If any phase is compromised, estrogen can recirculate, leading to hormone imbalances and its associated symptoms.

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Functional Medicine Approach to Estrogen Detoxification

In functional medicine, treating estrogen detoxification is highly individualized. The first step is to conduct comprehensive lab tests, such as the DUTCH test and a functional stool analysis; these tests are used to assess how your body is processing estrogen. A treatment plan can then be devised for supporting each phase of detoxification, starting with Phase III to ensure that the “drain” is clear before targeting liver detoxification. Below are examples of how a functional medicine practitioner may address each Phase for fostering optimal health: 

• • Phase I: Supporting Estrogen Metabolism
    
    During Phase I, estrogen is broken down into different metabolites. Some of these metabolites can be harmful if not properly processed. Nutrients, such as Diindolylmethane (DIM), are found in cruciferous vegetables and can help direct estrogen metabolism towards the production of protective metabolites.

• • Phase II: Enhancing Conjugation
    
    Phase II is where the liver adds molecules to the estrogen metabolites, making them water-soluble for easy elimination. Methylation is a key process in this phase, and it requires sufficient levels of certain nutrients, including B vitamins, magnesium, and glutathione. For people with genetic variations affecting methylation, additional support with methyl donors/supplementation (methyl folate, and methyl B12) may be necessary.

• • Phase III: Ensuring Proper Elimination
    
    Finally, Phase III involves the excretion of estrogen metabolites from the body. Gut health is critical here, as a balanced microbiome can prevent the reabsorption of estrogen. Eating a high-fibre diet and fermented foods can support the gut microbiome and reduce beta-glucuronidase activity. (Beta-glucuronidase is an enzyme that can lead to estrogen recirculation). 

Diet and Lifestyle: The Foundation of Estrogen Detoxification

Supporting estrogen detoxification is not just about supplements; diet and lifestyle have significant roles, too! A plant-based diet rich in fibre, cruciferous vegetables, leafy greens, and healthy fats is essential. Regular physical activity, staying hydrated, and stress management tools are also critical for maintaining hormones and supporting the liver.

Functional medicine offers a personalized root-cause approach to treating estrogen dominance; this may involve levelling-up estrogen detoxification. By supporting each phase of the process with individualized care, you can promote a hormonal balance and potentially alleviate related symptoms. Whether it’s through dietary changes, supplements, or lifestyle adjustments, we can help reclaim your health and wellness. 

Get Access to Functional and Integrative Medicine Treatments in Toronto

A customized, systems-oriented approach to health may benefit your daily functioning. By unraveling your medical/family history, current lifestyle (i.e. diet, medications, etc.), environmental factors, and results from functional lab tests, we can design a curated treatment plan for your hormones. 

As an integrative clinic, we encourage you to combine treatment options, especially for relieving individual symptoms – this allows you to mix-and-match several tailored strategies! Our functional medicine clinic can adapt Western therapies, holistic treatments (i.e. naturopathic medicine and homeopathic medicine), acupuncture, psychotherapy, herbal medicine, IV nutrient therapy (i.e. vitamin C, glutathione, NAD+ IV, etc.), among others. 

Our personalized approach to medicine embraces collaboration. Patients are welcome to participate in the tailoring process as we customize therapies. If need be, our IV Lounge practitioners can prescribe intravenous drips and nutrient injections – after all, we offer comprehensive health support! IV drips may be prescribed for adjuvant measures, and when combined with formal treatment options and healthy lifestyle modifications, they may support optimal health.  

Education to patients can be key to reaching a hormonal balance! We take ample time to describe your lab results, the benefits of your treatments, and how to thrive with lifestyle modifications. Let’s reset your estrogen levels today – call us now and we’ll get the process started!

Disclaimer: The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. You should always consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of information you have read from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre website or other affiliate media. 

 

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