How to optimally flush out excess estrogen.

rnIt’s no secret that after a certain age our testosterone levels quickly diminish while our adrenal glands continue to produce estrogen. Wouldn’t you know it that the advice you got as a kid to eat your greens turned out to be spot on. rnAbout a decade and a half ago, scientists discovered that a broccoli extract called Indole 3 Carbinol (I-3C) helped maintain and balance hormone levels in adults by demonstrating anti-estrogenic properties. rnI-3C as it is commonly called is a protective nutrient that is able to induce the liver into neutralizing excess estrogen. It accomplishes this by freeing the hormone receptors of 16-Hydroxy-Esteron (bad estrogen). This mechanism encourages the production of 2-hydroxy-esterone which is what the scientific community considers to be good estrogen. I-3C potentiates the cytochrome P450 enzymes which our bodies use to enhance the effectiveness of the detoxification process. These Cytochrome P450 detox enzymes can be found in the liver cells where about two quarts of blood pass through each minute. First Part Of A Two Stage Process Phase one biotransformation enzymes, which include CYP P450 deal with finding chemicals that don’t belong in the system such as pesticides, foreign estrogens, other toxins and drugs. These unwanted guests are hydrophobic in nature and are converted by the CYP P450 enzyme in order to increase their reactivity. This conversion is needed to prepare for the final expulsion stage. Phase II biotransformation & Final Conjugation The conjugation enzymes such as glutathione are now able to react and attach themselves to the unwanted molecules. This second conversion increases the targets water solubility, giving way to non-bio-active substances the system can easily expel. Essentially unwanted estrogen is flushed out when phase I & phase II detox enzymes work optimally. This is why it’s important to maintain adequate glutathione levels. What are Glutathione S-transferases and why are they so important? rnWell, for starters: They are the body’s most important group of detoxification enzymes needed to keep you healthy and disease free. Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are the anti-oxidant’s anti-oxidant. Most anti-oxidants (AOs) like vitamin C for example bind to unpaired electrons in cells but then they themselves become reactive. The reactive carrier passes on to other anti-oxidants like vitamin E or Lipoic Acid and so on. Think of this as your body’s way of placing these toxic radicals under citizen’s arrest. Glutathione (GSH) then comes into play and recycle your anti-oxidants, ridding them the burden of toxic radicals. Much like your computers anti-virus, GSH acts as a mobile holding cell which quarantines unwanted threats. GSH continue this process until their holding capacity is reached and are then expelled. Individuals who suffer from excess estrogen benefit greatly from GSH’s ability to flush out foreign chemical substances found within our organisms; especially synthetic estrogens. rnOne of the greatest problems the modern world faces remains undressed. Low glutathione levels are on the rise and have been ever since we started introducing the likes of pesticides, food additives, synthetic estrogens and drugs into our environment and ultimately our bodies. For thousands of years, our bodies processed naturally occurring toxins quite effectively and at the time, there were only a hand full we needed to metabolize.rnThis same genetic string of codes worked for us in the past but no longer can keep up with the queue of pending commands. We’re basically looking at a task overload caused by the correlation between a rapid influx of xenobiotics and slow biological evolution. Can I Supplement With Glutathione To Boost My Levels? Due to its tri-peptide structure, oral supplementation just doesn’t work. Our digestive tracks will break down glutathione into its amino acid building blocks Cystine, Glycine and Glutamic Acid. Once broken down, the amino acids must be reconstructed in hopes of once again become glutathione. Many factors can impede the reassembly of the components. Sublingual administration out weights the discomfort associated with intravenous & suppository administration but even at that only slightly increases the blood levels. Fortunately there are a few work-arounds that promote our livers ability to synthesize this endogenous compound. Let’s go over some of them and shed light on their mechanisms of action. rnN-Acetyl-Cystine (NAC)rnThis ROS scavenger is used on the front lines of emergency rooms by health care practitioners to prevent acute liver failure. It rapidly detoxifies the body and replenishes the intracellular glutathione supply while diminishing oxidative damage. NAC also has the ability to regulate our COX-2 levels; this prevents inflammation and can help with the pain associated from sore nipples.rnDosage: • Most individuals gain benefits from 600-1,800 mg/day • Clinical studies show that doses up to 2,000mgs a day are considered safe and effective. rnAlpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA)rnAlpha-lipoic acid is an essential cofactor which improves mitochondrial and metabolic function. A randomized double blind study conducted in 2010 demonstrated that human test subjects who were administered 1800mgs a day lost significantly more weight than the placebo group.rnLipoic acid decreases fat production and fat accumulation within the liver, helping to prevent fatty liver diseases Experiments demonstrate that the use of Alpha Lipoic Acid and Vitamin E prevent cellular liver damage incurred from the synthetic estrogen mimicker Bisphenol-a (BPA).rnDosage: • 600-1200mgs/dailyrn rnOur bodies stop producing glutathione once optimal levels are reached.rnA regulatory mechanism called negative bio feedback prompts our bodies to stop production. No need to worry about going overboard, our systems are programmed to down regulate glutathione, it’s just the up regulation our modern bodies need a help with. rnFree up those liver enzymes as much as possible, the rest of your body is counting on it!