Got PMS? Did You Eat Your Cruciferous Veggies Today?

Cabbages451px-Cabbages_Green_and_Purple_2120pxIf you suffer from heavy, painful periods, bloating, and mood swings around your period, you may have a condition called estrogen dominance.

Estrogen dominance is more common than you would think, and it’s part of the reason that young women are getting their periods earlier and earlier these days.

Estrogen dominance means that your hormones are out of balance and can lead to conditions such as decreased sex drive, headaches, poor sleep, and yes, PMS. Estrogen dominance is also the culprit behind other, more serious conditions like fibroid tumors, endometriosis and even breast cancer.

Artificial estrogens enter our bodies through our environment. They’re injected into meats, added to our beauty and cleaning products, and reside in our water bottles and canned goods.

When it comes to estrogen dominance, there are a couple of things you can do to support your body:

1. Avoid artificial estrogens

Select hormone-free meats, avoid beauty products with parabens, purchase natural cleaning products from your local health food store, and make sure your canned goods and water bottles are BPA-free.

2. Eat more broccoli (and other cruciferous veggies)

The cruciferous veggie family includes broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and kale. These vegetables contain substances called indole-3-carbinol or DIM that help the body metabolize estrogen in a more effective way.

Incorporate cruciferous veggies into your meals. You’d be surprised how delicious a salad can become when you add kale and cabbage. Try a side dish of mashed cauliflower instead of mashed potatoes.

And if you really want to pack a punch, steam broccoli or brussels sprouts, add a little bit of coconut oil, and sprinkle with nutritional yeast. The B vitamins in nutritional yeast will also help your body decrease excess estrogen.

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