Ah, Estrogen… A crucial hormone that can bring so much joy. And sooo much discomfort.
Anyone who has or has ever had periods will happily tell you just how uncomfortable estrogen can make your life, from heavy periods to sore boobs and many, many things in between.
But, there’s another way estrogen can be a pain in the you-know-what and it happens during excretion. Yup, today we’re talking about peeing. Well, sort of. Because, and we did not know this before, estrogen doesn’t always leave your body when the ovulation party is over. And that can lead to increased anxiety and even worse PMS.
Estrogen and peeing
What, exactly, does that have to do with peeing? Well, first and foremost, peeing is one of your body’s waste disposal systems. Many of the leftovers from bodily processes are easily broken down by your liver and kidneys, and you trash them when you pee.
Estrogen, though, is tricksy. In order for it to safely leave your body, your liver has to do some pretty fancy footwork. But, that doesn’t always go quite the way it should.
Getting estrogen to leave the body
Wouldn’t you know it, some of us have a much harder time getting estrogen to leave than others. And that means that we’re not peeing out as much of the stuff as we should be. Left to run amok, estrogen waste can build up, leading to horrendous periods, fibroids, and the worst PMS you’ve ever seen. So, that’s the bad news.
Here’s the good news: There are some really simple things you can do before and during ovulation to help your liver boot out that unwanted estrogen waste.
Here’s the even better news: They’re all food! No, you read that right. The best way to help your liver is to eat some delicious stuff.
Foods that help metabolize estrogen
Let’s start with the fantastically named Cruciferous veggies. To you and me, that’s things like broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and arugula. To these leafy beauties, add some beets, garlic, and onions. Then there’s turmeric, flaxseed, salmon, and fresh fruit. Did we tell you it was yummy? Lean meat and nuts can also help you metabolize and trash those estrogen stragglers.
Then there’s the vitamins and minerals you could add, in a supplement most likely, to make sure you’re getting all the nutrients you need. Make sure it includes zinc, folic acid, and vitamins D, E, and B12. At which point, your liver will very much start thanking you. And while it’s thanking you, make sure you’re getting plenty of water, and maybe a little exercise. Admittedly, this all sounds very much like eating healthily, and it is. But adding these specific fruits, veggies, and vitamins to your diet could help tame that unwanted estrogen waste. And you just might feel better in the bargain.