Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Jari on September 07, 2019, 09:12:57 AM
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Hello ladies
I’ve heard a bit about estrogen being stored in fat cells, but wasn’t sure if it is therefore good to be a bit overweight, in order to have more estrogen or if this is not the case. I started searching it a bit and found this article and also wondering if anyone else knows info on this?
It seems from this article that having extra estrogen in fat cells is not good, even though our ovaries, post meno, are not producing estrogen any more.
My thought was that, perhaps, because no estrogen is made in the ovaries post meno, maybe it’s good to be a bit overweight to have extra estrogen, but it doesn’t seem so:
https://ww5.komen.org/Breastcancer/Highlevelsofestrogenintheblood.html
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I'd also heard that you went through menopause easier if you were overweight. Once you're post it seems any oestrogen is not good, but then how are we supposed to manage?
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It's also what I'd heard Deidre, but I just don't understand it properly.
It seems we don't need estrogen so much post meno, as we did before?! As our ovaries stop producing it, it is produced also in adrenal glands and in fat cells, but I don't understand, is it good to have that extra estrogen in added fat cells or not?! 🤷♀️
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I have always been an avid gym goer, 17% body fat when I had my last period at age 46. I had the menopause from hell so I definitely think there's something in it with the fat. Post menopause was worse for me than peri, maybe I wasn't in peri very long because of the low body fat before going post?
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I've heard this, and also that the oestrogen in fat cells is ‘stored', and not used by your body. However, when you start to lose weight, the oestrogen in your fat cells is released into your body. I recently lost a stone, and this coincided with approx 3 weeks of a significant reduction in meno symptoms. I had no joint pain at all!! Now I've stopped losing weight, the pain is back.
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Hello ladies.
It's all so confusing. I know very overweight women who never used HRT but developed breast cancer and a neighbour who is very small and slight, took HRT and also has breast cancer. As being overweight is bad for you in many ways I can't believe that it is good for the menopause. Unless Mother Nature really couldn't make up her mind when she dreamed up ‘ the change‘.
Another example of how little is understood about the whole process meaning we are left to scrabble around trying to work it out for ourselves.
Take care ladies.
K.
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I don't think being very over weight is good for anyone. However, I do think a little weight is no real problem. When I was weighed at the surgery they set my goal weight as just on the healthy/over weight mark. The nurse said aiming for lower did not incur much extra benefit.
Perhaps weight gain at meno is nature's way of re balancing the hormones. Who knows.
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Interesting question, I've wondered about that myself. Maybe it has some connection with aromatase, the conversion of testosterone into estrogen. It seems the more fat tissue the more testosterone is being converted to estrogen as aromatase takes place in fat cells. Some women find relief from hot flashes etc. with testosterone alone. The more weight I ( unintentionaly) lost the worse my symptoms.got. I'm skinny as a doornail now.
My testosterone is practically non-exsistent.
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I became overweight when meno started after being very slim all my life and had quite an easy time of it, however post meno I suffer with severe atrophy but still overweight. If losing this weight releases the much need oestrogen that will be a great incentive.
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I think they are referring to the bad oestrogens in fat cells like the xenoestrogens in the water supply, plastics and some food.
There are many books on anti-estrogenic diets in this regard.
I agree, it is confusing though!
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It really is confusing isn't it. I'm trying to find out about the estrogens in fat cells, but I can't find much.
I do find that in general, we are offered x y z for different conditions etc, but nothing is really explained, as to what we could be doing to help ourselves.
There's a brilliant doctor, Dr Chatterjee, you can find his programmes on YouTube.
He very much deals with the heart of problems and believes in treating the cause. In one of his series, a man had been going back and forth to his gp for 20 years with excessive fatigue. He was put on different medications AD's etc..
Dr Chaterjee wanted to know more about his lifestyle so followed his routine and looked deeper into it, did blood tests etc and found that in fact he was just low in B12. That completely solved his problem, but he was very upset that he'd wasted 20 years..
X
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Found this:
https://www.popsci.com/when-you-lose-weight-your-fat-cells-release-more-than-just-fat/
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This is why I've been taking bentonite clay as it mops up what's sitting in your colon as the fat cells release all the nasties.
I've also found that it's impossible to lose fat when the fat cells are protecting the excess oestrogen from hitting the blood again. I'll then just lose muscle as the it's obviously a protective mechanism.
My periods are becoming closer together and feeling overwhelmed by oestrogen surges again 3-4 days before the period so hoping it will all fall soon.
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Hello again ladies.
As I understand it fibre from food also does the job of mopping up nasties. For example excess oestrogen can be re absorbed via the colon if it lingers too long, plenty of fibre in the diet ensures that this doesn't happen.
Take care ladies.
K.
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Thanks, yes doing that too with flaxseeds and diet. Many a time I've had a 10 day nausea migraine, the final relief is felt immediately following the last bowel movement.
Excess hormones in your body are a horrible business!
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Keeping our hormones balanced has to be key, through a hormone balancing diet ( plenty of lentils, pulses, flaxseeds, fruits n veg etc ), keeping weight within our bmi bracket, regular brisk exercise ( which helps balance hormones ), drinking water throughout the day to keep our bodies hydrated to avoid headaches, constipation etc...
It's very clear that an imbalance in our hormones will cause us symptoms, so to do what we can to keep them as balanced as possible, will keep those symptoms to the minimum.
I'm trying to get my bmi down and will see if this relieves symptoms. X
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Hello again ladies
Dangermouse - I'm sure you are right about excess hormones. If so the same principle should apply to other hormones that cause problems at this time, adrenaline for example.
Jari - I am following the diet you have described and my bmi is low. One of the reasons I am taking a break from HRT is to see if lifestyle alone can work wonders. Time will tell.
Take care ladies.
K.
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Hi Kathleen, it will be really interesting to see if this helps with your symptoms, especially as your bmi is low etc.
Mine is at the higher end of bracket and I really want to get this down.. x
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Hello again ladies
Jari - so far I am having the same issues that I was having before and since taking a break from HRT I've developed symptoms of vaginal atrophy. Clearly my oestrogen levels have declined further but I'll see how things go and keep everyone updated.
Wishing you well.
K.
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How can 1 have 'excess' hormones :-\
I was anorexic from age 3. I had the periods from hell though as I did eat enough to keep me upright from age 10 so must have had enough sustenance to maintain periods, which waxed and waned and disappeared eventually. My lowest weight at age 17 was 5st 2lb and I maintained 7st 2lb for many years. Slight build. But photos taken then show a thin person with many phobias :-\.
As oestrogen dropped laxity of muscles caused my apron to sag :o so that from above I looked fat ::) but my weight didn't alter. My waist line does occasionally in that I either have to let out or draw in my belt. ::) I weighed last week, 7st 14lb. That's DH's good feeding :-* :-*
The Jury is currently out regarding BMI ::). I 'go' by my belt :D
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CLKD I think we can have an excess of hormones due to them being stored in fat cells?!
Kathleen, do you take omega 3 supplement?
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R they stored and if so, why - I take my body for granted, can you tell ::).
Is that why certain nationalities get large as they age, thinking of Greek women and why ladies from the Caribbean get a stuck out bottom - appropriate for carrying babies in slings behind .........
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Hello again Ladies.
Jari - I do take an Omega three supplement. It is made from algae so is vegan friendly. Dr Michael Greger from NutritionFacts. Org recommends taking omega three and vitamin B12 if you are vegan/ plant based.
Take care.
K.
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Hi Kathleen, I do take vegan omega 3. It is also meant to help with VA. I don't have VA, but take it for lubrication of body.
Maybe you could double the dose and see if it helps with your VA? X
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Hello Jari
I'm going to shop for vaginal moisturisers tomorrow ( how did it come to this? It'll be packets of Tena Lady next lol). In the meantime I have slathered on some coconut butter and everything feels much better. Plus I realised I hadn't drunk as much water as usual do so I've increased that again which has helped.
I have at least two tablespoons of flaxseeds a day which, as you know provides omega three but taking two capsules of oil is an idea I hadn't thought of!
Thank you for your comments and wishing you well.
K.
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Hello again Kathleen
Just a thought also, do you grind the flaxseeds? I have 2 dessert spoonfuls of flaxseeds ground and add to muesli each morning.
Important to drink plenty of water every day too :)
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Hi ladies, just catching up with this thread. I'm overweight (have lost over 2.5 stone & motivated to keep going) I.have had a horrendous time going through peri so definately don't subscribe to the theory being overweight helps. I decided to lose weight, change up my diet etc to try & improve my symptoms and reduce my risk of any complications etc of being on HRT. x