Reversing Aromatization Before it Alters Your Hormones and Increases Cancer Risk

The decrease of testosterone in men and progesterone in women is linked to aging along with physical, emotional, and chemical stress. A process called aromatization involves converting these androgenic hormones into estrogens. Estrogen dominance results from aromatization, and this is a major contributor to a number of different health problems. Fortunately, some foods and herbs can actually reverse the process of aromatization.

The dominating presence of estrogen breaks down muscle mass and increases body fat and aromatase production. Unlike the catabolic hormone estrogen, testosterone and even progesterone to a certain degree are anabolic hormones which support lean body mass.

Increased aromatase estrogen activity is associated with various cancers in women including the breast, ovaries, and uterus. In men, these factors are of concern for colon, prostate, and also male breast cancer.

What is Aromatase?

As the -ase in its name infers, aromatase is an enzyme. It is located in estrogen-producing cells in the ovaries, placenta, testicles, brain, fat tissue, and adrenal glands. An unhealthy balance of aromatase in the body means that there are higher levels of testosterone and progesterone being converted into estrogen.

Symptoms of high aromatase activity and estrogen dominance include:

• PMS symptoms
• Uterine fibroids
• Cervical dysplasia
• Endometriosis
• Infertility
• Fatigue
• Decreased libido
• Fibrocystic breasts
• Headaches
• Weight Gain

Aromatization and Breast Cancer

For many years studies have confirmed that estrogen plays a critical role in breast cancer, yet it has been unclear regarding all the sources leading to estrogen dominance. Although it is still not fully understood whether breast cancer cells produce estrogen or if it is solely provided by surrounding tissue, down-regulating aromatization is clearly part of the answer.

Researchers have shown that in breast cancer tissue a high rate of aromatization occurs in patients with both malignant and benign tumors. Human breast cancer cells also contain a high presence of estrogen receptors and signaling pathways which turn on estrogen response gene expression.

The MCF-7 human breast cancer cells are specifically shown to become overstimulated in the presence of estrogen dominance and aromatase activity. MCF-7 cells are able to aromatize circulating estrogen and androgen in order to induce cell proliferation, increased aromatase activity, and estrogen-dependent genetic expression. Changes in genetic expression cause DNA changes with many unknown health consequences.

Aromatase inhibitors are often used in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer to destroy estrogen pathways and help prevent further tumor growth.

Aromatase & Reproductive Cancers

One of the primary functions of the ovaries is to produce the reproductive hormones − estrogen and progesterone. The ovaries are particularly sensitive to aromatization. Although other tissues produce the hormone, estrogen synthesis is primarily a product of the ovaries.

Postmenopausal women and obese individuals are at a greater risk for developing ovarian cancers due to the increased formation of estrogen from body weight and the body’s natural strategies to prevent bone loss. Increased aromatase expression in distant parts of the body such as fatty tissue and skin also trigger the delivery of elevated estrogen levels to surrounding tissues and may be circulated to distant organs.

Clinical studies show that endometrial cancer which originates within the uterine lining contains significantly elevated levels of estrogen. This is especially a problem in the absence of sufficient progesterone.

Changes in genetic expression which promote the carcinogenic activity of distant cancer cells has also been established as result of aromatization. In other words, aromatase activity, which is turned on by the presence of circulating hormones, can turn on estrogen producing pathways in other parts of the body. For example, studies show that the same gene “switch” that turns on aromatase activity in the skin may also support aromatase expression in the ovaries, placenta, adipose tissue (fat), and other regions.

Aromatase and Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is a complex and invasive cancer that is the leading cause of death after heart disease amongst men. Although aromatase inhibitors have been used with some success in the treatment for breast cancer in postmenopausal women, the use of aromatase inhibitors for prostate cancer has been challenging.

Numerous factors involving aromatase activity may be to blame involving the aromatase gene itself (CYP19A1), the aromatase enzyme (CYP19), and factors associated with its expression such as hormone receptors on cells. It is well known that the prostatic cancer cells contain androgen receptors. However, the prostate contains two estrogen receptors of which scientists believe one is more closely linked to cancer development than the other.

One study of 535 men with prostate cancer showed that the increase in both estrogen receptors were associated with elevated levels of aromatase. However, different parts of the prostatic tissue contained different concentrations of each receptor. Each receptor has different physiological expressions that may be used to predict cancer progression.

Estrogen Inhibiting Diet

Currently, aromatase inhibitors used in the treatment of cancer results in various adverse side effects due to the broad function of estrogen pathways and functions. Side effects include:

• Bone degradation (osteoporosis)
• Cognitive dysfunction
• Arthralgia

On the other hand, certain foods are naturally protective, without the side effects of medication:

Cruciferous Vegetables: Cruciferous vegetables are some of the best foods you can incorporate into your diet for a plethora of cancer fighting compounds that help eliminate harmful excess estrogen from the body.

Foods such as cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage contain powerful nutrients like Indole-3 Acetate, Indole-3 Carbonyl, and Diindolylmethane. Their major anti-carcinogenic properties comes from the Sulforaphane and Phenyl Isothiocyanate nutrients contained in cruciferous veggies. These compounds destroy cancer cell activity and stimulate the natural detoxification of the liver.

Allium Family: Alliums include flowering plants and their cultivated parts such as garlic, chives, scallions, onions, and leeks. These foods are compact with sulfur contain amino acids. They are also rich sources of quercetin, a powerful flavone antioxidant. Both compounds aid in liver detoxification and eliminate excessive estrogen.

Healthy Fats: Healthy fats include foods high in saturated and omega-3 fatty acids. Such foods include raw nuts other than peanuts, coconut oil, avocados, olive oil, wild-caught salmon, organic poultry, 100% grass-fed beef, and wild game. These foods help regulate healthy hormone function. Both nuts and seeds like sesame and flax contain plant sterols which help lower estrogen levels.

Citrus: Lemons, limes, and other citrus fruits also contain flavonones and are referred to as citrus bioflavonoids. Some of these compounds are:

• Quercetin
• Rutin
• Naringin
• Tangeretin
• Diosmetin
• Diosmin
• Hesperidin
• Narirutin
• Neohesperidin
• Nobiletin

Aromatase-Inhibiting Herbs

Herbs contain some of the most potent aromatase inhibiting flavonoids called flavones and flavanones. Passionflower contains the most powerful flavone chrysin and chamomile contains apigenin. Teas can be purchased that contain both of these organic herbs and are generally advertised to promote sleep. Both compounds however exhibit anti-estrogenic effects.

Herbs that contain volatile oils which promote liver detoxification and aid in the removal of estrogen include thyme, rosemary, oregano, sage, and turmeric. Turmeric especially is capable of destroying estrogen receptor positive cancer cells which are common in cancers of the breast, ovaries, uterus, and prostate.

For centuries, Chinese Medicine has used ginkgo biloba leaves to treat many ailments. Recently, this herbal extract has been used on human cancer cells. It mimics comparable inhibitory aromatase activity of synthetic hormone therapy aromatase inhibitors − without harmful side effects, and is a known tumor-suppressor.

Quercetin and the flavonol kaempferol are the two major components of Ginkgo biloba. These antioxidants are believed to shut off the supply of estrogen to estrogen-dependent cancers thereby inducing cancer cell death. Kaempferol is found in many fruits and vegetables and is a well-known anti-inflammatory used for cancer prevention and natural chemotherapeutic diets.

Foods That Stimulate Detoxification

One of the most potent superfoods known to man is the life-giving substance chlorophyll. Chlorophyll gives green foods their color and aids the human body in the natural detoxification of toxins.

Fermented foods contain beneficial properties that stimulate gut motility and detoxification pathways. They contain antioxidants, enzymes, organic acids, and probiotics essential for optimal health and healing. Examples of fermented vegetables are kimchi, fermented soy, and sauerkraut. Fermented drinks include apple cider vinegar, kombucha, herbal botanicals, and also fermented raw dairy sourced from 100% grass-fed cows. These foods and beverages are excellent for promoting health and detoxifying estrogen.

Preventing Horomone Based Cancers

It is vitally important to suppress the over activity of aromatase in order to maintain hormonal balance and reduce the risk of hormone based cancers. As mentioned above, a number of different foods can help with this process including cruciferous vegetables, garlic, onions, healthy fat sources, citrus fruits, and various herbs.

Look to fill your diet with these anti-aromatase foods to keep your hormones balanced and to help prevent the development of hormone sensitive cancers.