Constipation & your hormones: The Gut–Estrogen Connection

Written By Romy Sheppard - Nutritionist

If you’re struggling with symptoms & conditions like PMS, heavy & painful periods, endometriosis and fibroids and can’t figure out why - your gut might be part of the story.

Oestrogen is metabolised and packaged up in the liver and then eliminated via your gut (through your poo!). Inside your large intestine lives a group of bacteria and their enzymes called the oestrobolome — these microbes are specifically responsible for metabolising and regulating oestrogen. When this community is healthy and balanced, it helps your body remove excess oestrogen efficiently.

But when your gut microbiome is out of balance — due to things like stress, particular medications and low-fibre diets— the bacteria in the oestrobolome produce more of an enzyme called β-glucuronidase, which can “unpack” oestrogen that was already meant to be eliminated, sending it back into circulation. The result? Higher oestrogen levels relative to progesterone — a state often called relative oestrogen dominance.

Constipation makes this worse. When stool sits in the colon for too long, oestrogen bound for excretion has more time to be reabsorbed. This can contribute to more oestrogen being held on to by the body which can drive or exacerbate those classic oestrogen dominant symptoms & conditions.

If you’re struggling with constipation and oestrogen dominant symptoms, try incorporating my favourite poo-promoting foods:

-              Kiwi fruits (aim for 2 x a day with skin on- don’t knock it till you try it)

-              Ground flaxseeds

-              Oats

-              Berries

-              Red dragonfruit

-              Stewed apples or pears

And don’t forget about adequate hydration and daily movement!

If you need further support, I love nothing more than helping my clients get to the bottom (pardon the pun) or their gut & hormone symptoms using blood pathology and microbiome testing.

For more info you can contact Romy on the details below, or book and appointment to see her in her Rye clinic.

email address: romy.sheppard@thebiomecollective.com

website: https://www.thebiomecollective.com/

2291a Point Nepean Rd, Rye, 3941

@romysheppardnutrition