Wholistic Jen

By Jennifer Whitmire MS, MEd, MH, CHES, NEP

It’s all about the hormones!  Period pain, fibroids, painful lumpy breasts, poor sleep, infertility, low energy, and even gas and bloating can be related to hormones.

The liver processes hormones through hormone metabolism. When hormones, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, even thyroid hormones, circulate in the bloodstream, the liver works to break them down to be removed from the body. 

The liver metabolizes hormones through enzymatic processes. For example, estrogen goes through hydroxylation. It is broken down into different metabolites which we can see on various functional medicine tests like the DUTCH test, OAT test, and more.  Hormones are usually best examined using the DUTCH.

During detoxification, hormones are often conjugated with different substances such as sulfate or glucuronic acid. These substances are added to make the hormones more water-soluble, so they can be safely excreted through the digestive tract.  

After leaving the liver, hormones are eliminated through urine or with bile. They are filtered out by the kidneys and excreted in urine, or they are eliminated in feces via bile secretion into the digestive tract.

It is very important to have an efficiently moving digestive tract, so these conjugated substances don’t get stalled along the way.  If they don’t move out in a timely manner, the microbes in the digestive tract will break them back down, AND these will get reabsorbedback into the blood stream and back to the liver again.

Our hormones are also regulated or balanced by the liver. The liver uses feedback mechanisms. For instance, it produces binding proteins that bind to hormones and regulate their availability to target specific tissues.

If the liver is overburdened or not functioning optimally due to stress, poor diet, alcohol, medications, or environmental toxins, it may struggle to metabolize and clear hormones efficiently. This can lead to hormone imbalances where hormones, like estrogen, may accumulate in the body. This congestion can lead to acne, PMS ymptoms, menstrual irregularities, fibroids, and other conditions like estrogen dominance. 

Have you heard of estrogen dominance?

High levels of estrogen are due to a hormonal imbalance. This can lead to painful and heavy periods. The liver is responsible for breaking down estrogens. If the liver is congested or not functioning well, estrogen levels can rise. This can contribute period pain as well as other issues related to high estrogen.

High estrogen can lead to fibroids or growths in the uterus or breasts. Painful and lumpy breasts occur when the liver is unable to efficiently metabolize estrogen. This leads to breast tenderness and nodules.

The liver is involved in metabolizing and detoxifying all of our hormones including androgens and thyroid hormones. Increases in androgens, like testosterone, can cause acne breakouts. When the liver isn’t running smoothly, it always shows up on our skin.

It could be due to the health of your liver, it could be from stress, a poor diet, it could be from eating inflammatory foods, poor blppd sugar.or from eating foods that just aren’t right for you.

Have you ever wondered if your food is related to painful periods, fibroids, or breakouts? 

Food influences every part of our bodies.  We are literally what we eat!  Everything you eat that gets broken down and absorbed becomes a part of you. The wrong foods can lead to hormone imbalances and influence our liver health. 

A diet lacking essential nutrients can impair liver function, and its ability to breakdown hormones. Nutrients like B vitamins, magnesium, and antioxidants are necessary for liver detoxification pathways. Without these nutrients, hormone metabolism may be stalled leading to an imbalance.

Highly processed foods, added sugars, unhealthy fats, and preservatives can strain the liver, because the liver doesn’t identify them as food.  These substances do not naturally occur in nature.  The liver sees these as something harmful and must work on ways to break them down.  This stalls the system and promotes inflammation. Also, diets with added sugar and refined carbohydrates lead to higher blood sugar levels which can lead to insulin resistance. High blood sugar as alters sex hormone-binding globulin which is produced in the liver. 

Trans fats and saturated fats found in fried foods, chips and crackers, pre-made bakery items, and processed meats also create liver dysfunction and inflammation.

Alcohol damages liver cells while certain pesticides and environmental toxins mimic hormones, which all cause liver dysfunction and hormonal imbalances. 

How Do You Change The Food?

First, cut out anything you know is harmful.  

You already know these don’t heal your body!

1. Processed Foods: 

Fast food, chips, sugary snacks, and packaged meals often contain unhealthy fats, refined sugars, and additives that promote inflammation.

2. Added Sugars:

Foods with added sugars, such as soda, candy, pastries, and desserts spike blood sugar levels and add to inflammation.

3. Trans Fats:

Trans fats found in fried foods, processed snacks, margarine, and certain baked goods are known to promote inflammation and increase disease risks.

4. Saturated Fats:

Foods high in saturated fats like red meat, dairy products, and tropical oils can trigger inflammation.

5. Vegetable Oils:

Soybean oil, corn oil, and sunflower oil contain high levels of omega-6 fatty acids which promote inflammation.

6. Processed Meats: 

Processed meats like bacon, sausage, hot dogs, and deli meats are classified as carcinogens and often contain additives and preservatives that trigger inflammation.

7. Refined Carbohydrates:

Foods made with refined grains like bread, white rice, and pasta are missing essential nutrients, lead to spikes in blood sugar, and promote inflammation.

8. Food Additives:

Artificial sweeteners, colorings, and preservatives found in many packaged foods and drinks trigger inflammatory responses.

9. Alcohol: 

Alcohol damages the liver and promote inflammation.

Reducing the consumption of these foods and focusing on whole, nutrient-dense options can help ease inflammation, improve liver function, and restore hormonal balance.

If this first phase doesn’t work, eliminate all well-known allergens, dairy, soy, gluten, eggs, peanuts, corn, sesame, shellfish, and tree nuts.

If you are still experiencing issues after removing all suspected allergens, I urge you to get some assistance from your healthcare provider for personal 1:1 care.

If you are struggling with painful periods, fibroids, painful lumpy breasts, and breakouts, it’s time to focus on the liver.  If you want guidance and accountability in eliminating foods and optimizing your liver function, join a program like ours.

Join us for our Love Your Liver Cleanse program and begin your transformation today. With 14 days of real whole foods and meals packed with nutrients and antioxidants and optional tools and supplements, you’ll be amazed at how good you feel! 

Let’s make this spring your healthiest and happiest yet. Sign up now and have more energy and clear skin by summer!

Sign up for our Love Your Liver Cleanse program.

Resources

Rhythmic Fluctuations in Levels of Liver Enzymes During Menstrual Cycles of Healthy Women and Effects of Body Weight

Underlying nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a significant factor for breast cancer recurrence after curative surgery

Newly discovered endocrine functions of the liver

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