Navigating the complex world of estrogen and breast cancer can be incredibly confusing. New and hard-to-say words, such as aromatase inhibitors, are entering your vocabulary, and their concepts seem tangled up. On top of everything thrown at you, the shock of breast cancer is still making its way around your mind. What should I take? Are there damaging side effects? Who can I trust? Is this product just another way Big Pharma is profiting from women’s health challenges?

This is why you are here reading this blog. You have a community of women worldwide cheering you on and coaches to create tailored healthy breast plans of action. The best tools such as access to the latest research and premier supplements and products, are at your fingertips. You are turning your fear into freedom and choosing to live the healthiest life possible. 

Estrogen is a complex hormone that can be very misunderstood. It ranges from naturally made in the body to chemically seeping out of plastics. Here is a  quick cheat sheet:

Today, I will focus on aromatase inhibitors, estrogen toxicity, and your options. Remember, you always have options.

What are aromatase inhibitors?

To begin with, I want to be very clear that you should never stop any prescription medications without discussing this with your primary care doctor. 

Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are hormonal therapies used to treat estrogen-positive (ER-positive) breast cancer. Common names for these drugs are Aromasin, Anastrozole, and Letrozole. They are technically designed to stop tumor growth and recurrence. Aromatase inhibitors are typically used to treat postmenopausal women with ER-positive breast cancer. They are not usually given to pre-menopausal women because they don’t block the estrogen production in the ovaries. 

The main goal of these drugs is to block the synthesis of estrogen from testosterone by the enzyme aromatase. The drugs block the action of this enzyme and thereby lower the estrogen level it may slow the growth of cancers and lower the risk of recurrence. 

Here’s the catch

These drugs seem like a great idea at a quick glance—until you dive in…as you know, I always do! 

First of all – YOUR balanced hormones do NOT cause cancer. Your hormones are an integral part of keeping your body strong and healthy. You need your hormones for bone health, heart health, brain health and immune health.

Synthetic drugs always have serious side effects. Cancer.org reports that aromatase inhibitors can lead to a range of devastating side effects. These include a high risk of heart problems, increased osteoporosis, extreme muscle and joint pain, depression, and severe menopause symptoms. Other symptoms that are not often mentioned are digestive issues, depression and even severe vision problems. 

You have natural aromatase inhibitors options!

The natural options listed below do not have any the toxic and dangerous side effects compared to the many synthetic aromatase inhibitors may provide. 

A group of plant compounds called flavonoids that are widely found in whole foods have shown an inhibitory effect on the enzyme aromatase. They include:

• Apples
• Berries
• Red onions
• Black, green, and matcha teas
• Grape skins
• Berries
• Cruciferous vegetables
• Seeds
• Nuts

Various supplements from plant extracts have also been shown to have the same effect:

• Quercetin
• Resveratrol
• Apigenin 
• Genistein from fermented soy

Estrogen Toxicity

It is important that you do not confuse evidence against estrogen with the actions of proven carcinogenic Xenoestrogens. Many of these compounds imitate and stimulate excessive estrogen production.  “Dirty estrogens” are a serious environmental issue. They are found in commercial and industrialized dairy products, beauty products, plastics, pesticides and oral contraceptives. 

The Hormone Clearing Bundle

The good news is that you can support the detoxification and breakdown of these estrogenic toxins. One great place to start is with the 7 Essentials System® Hormone Clearing Bundle. Many of you have heard about how helpful DIM (di-indolyl-methane) is as a “dirty estrogen buster,” and that it works synergistically with Estro Clear and Brocco Power.

This bundle gives you the complete (Phase I and Phase II) solution to clearing “dirty” estrogens and balance hormones. It helps “unclog the toilet and the pipes.” Think of it as a metaphor for your body: DIM unclogs the toilet bowl, and Brocco Power cleans out the pipes while Estro Clear makes sure all toxins actually clear out of your body. Try it today and take 20% off!!

Estrogen Dominance 

7 Essentials System® Hormone Clearing Bundle may also help you avoid miserable symptoms of estrogen dominance such as insanely painful periods, miscarriage, heavy clotting, insomnia, and vomiting. Estrogen dominance can be one of the root causes of breast cancer. Despite what some doctors may tell you, your hormones are not your enemy. Xeno-estrogens, however, most definitely are! To learn how to test for Estrogen Dominance and the types of foods and herbs that help balance you out, check out my podcast episode with Magdalena Wszelaki.

Natural health is all about focusing on the whole person, not just one specific section. Every part of our body is connected and relies on each other to work properly. The best part—you are in charge. You decide what goes into your body, home, mind, and soul. You are also not alone on this journey. Private Coaching is a great way to start making a defined plan and actually acting on it. Your coach is there to help you every step of the way to a more vibrant and healthy you! You got this!