Estrogen plays a pivotal role in a woman's life, it is essential for the development and maintenance of female secondary sex characteristics, and it also has a profound impact on skin condition, body maintenance, and bone firmness.
However, with the increase of age, especially after the age of 30, the ovarian function gradually deteriorates, and the secretion of estrogen also decreases significantly. This phenomenon not only drives the aging process, but also may lead to a variety of health problems.
Faced with the challenge of estrogen loss, how can we deal with it scientifically to maintain a youthful appearance and prevent premature aging?
1. Estrogen decreases, an accelerator of aging
The effects of estrogen in the female body are broad and far-reaching.
First and foremost, it has a direct impact on the condition and beauty of the skin. Estrogen boosts the production of collagen and elastin, improving the skin's ability to retain moisture, thereby maintaining moisture and elasticity. However, when estrogen levels drop, these benefits fade and the skin becomes dry, loses firmness and wrinkles appear.
In addition, estrogen also plays a role in regulating body fat distribution, and a decrease in its levels may lead to the accumulation of belly fat and weight gain, which can affect the body line.
The decrease in estrogen may also cause irregular menstruation and even amenorrhea, which can affect a woman's reproductive function.
At the same time, the decline in estrogen is also closely linked to a series of aging phenomena, such as fatigue, insomnia, distraction and weak bones.
Thus, the decrease in estrogen can be a significant marker of aging in women.
However, estrogen levels should not only be low, but also not too high. Too much estrogen can contribute to excessive endometrial growth, which may increase the risk of breast, ovarian, endometrial, endometriosis, insulin resistance, and polycystic ovary syndrome, and may even exacerbate these conditions.
2. What causes estrogen levels to change?
1. Natural physiological evolution
Menopause is the most common cause of a significant drop in estrogen levels. As the years go by, the function of the ovaries gradually weakens, and the secretion of estrogen naturally decreases. Although this evolution cannot be reversed, it can be regulated and mitigated through scientific means.
2. Patient factors
In addition to natural physiological evolution, certain conditions can also cause a decline in estrogen levels. For example, polycystic ovary syndrome, premature ovarian decline, hypothalamic or pituitary gland dysfunction, etc., may affect estrogen secretion. Therefore, it is crucial for women to have regular gynecological examinations in order to detect and treat these potential conditions in a timely manner.
3. Unhealthy lifestyle
Excessive dieting and excessive exercise are also important factors that contribute to low estrogen levels. These behaviors can lead to inadequate energy and nutrient intake, and the body sacrifices the functions of the reproductive system in order to maintain basic life activities, resulting in a decline in estrogen levels. Therefore, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is very important to maintain the balance of estrogen.
3. Do these five things to keep your estrogen balance
1. Keeping your weight in a healthy range is critical for estrogen stability. Whether you are too fat or too thin, it can disrupt the normal secretion of estrogen. In order to effectively control weight, we should pursue a balanced diet, supplemented by moderate physical activity. In your diet, you should reduce the intake of greasy and high-sugar foods and eat more vegetables, fruits and whole grains. But it is important to note that you should not over-diet or exercise too vigorously to avoid harm to your body.
2. Adequate intake of dietary fiber is essential for maintaining intestinal health and normal metabolism and excretion of estrogen. It is recommended that at least one-third of the daily staple food should be whole grains such as oats and brown rice. At the same time, vegetables should be included in every meal and fruits should be consumed every day to ensure adequate dietary fiber intake. To maintain the balance of your gut microbiota, you can also consume foods that contain probiotics, such as yogurt and kimchi, in moderation.
3. Alcohol may weaken the body's ability to metabolize estrogen, which can lead to an increase in estrogen levels. Therefore, women should minimize alcohol consumption. At the same time, you should avoid exposure to estrogen-like substances, such as bisphenol A and plasticizers in plastic containers, which can produce estrogen-like effects in the body and increase estrogen levels, which may increase the risk of disease.
4. Although phytoestrogens are relatively weakly active, they have benefits for women's health due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. Women are advised to consume foods containing phytoestrogens in moderation, such as soy, flaxseed, and sesame seeds. In particular, soy isoflavones, which are one of the common phytoestrogens consumed by Chinese people, are safe to consume at a daily intake of 35 to 150 mg of soy isoflavones. When buying food, you should choose formal channels and minimize the intake of pesticide residues.
5. Long-term stress and lack of sleep can have adverse effects on estrogen secretion and metabolism. Therefore, women should learn to reduce stress, such as relaxing themselves through exercise and meditation. At the same time, it is also crucial to ensure adequate sleep, as a good night's sleep helps the body recover and hormone balance to stay young and energetic.