The Gut Bacteria Secretly Controlling Your Estrogen
9 hours ago
- Gut dysbiosis directly disrupts estrogen through the estrobolome Lisa Smith explains that the estrobolome — a collection of gut bacteria — regulates how much estrogen circulates in the body. When dysbiosis occurs, an enzyme called beta-glucuronidase rises and “unpackages” estrogen that was already marked for elimination, causing old, already-used estrogen to recirculate and contribute to symptoms like PMS and perimenopausal mood swings.
- Leaky gut and cortisol create a hormone domino effect Lisa describes leaky gut (intestinal permeability) as holes in a hose that let undigested particles leak into the bloodstream, triggering inflammation and raising cortisol. That cortisol rise “steals” pregnenolone — the shared raw material for cortisol, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone — while also speeding up hormone metabolism and blunting hormone receptor sensitivity, including through insulin resistance.
- Simple, low-cost gut changes can improve hormone response — even alongside BHRT Lisa outlines practical steps: a targeted probiotic, prebiotic foods (onions, garlic, apples, bananas, avocados, artichokes), removing inflammatory trigger foods, prioritizing sleep before midnight, and managing stress. She notes the gut can begin shifting in as little as 2-3 days, and that addressing gut health first can help women get better results from bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.
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