Estrogen Blocker

About Estrogen Blocker

Estrogen is not actually one single hormone, like progesterone. Estrogen refers to a class of hormones, which include estriol, estradiol, and estrone, plus a range of metabolites created in the liver. Increasing our levels of more beneficial estrogens, and decreasing levels of the more potent ones, can be helpful for supporting the body in a number of ways.

Many bodybuilders use natural estrogen blockers to keep estrogenic signals to a minimum, which is especially helpful with high testosterone aromatisation. This occurs when testosterone is converted to estrogen at an increased rate by an enzyme called aromatase. Both women and men synthesize aromatase, which is responsible for the conversion of testosterone to estrogen. Testosterone and estrogen are produced by both women and men in varying quantities.

Some of the conditions classed as estrogen-dominant for women are endometriosis, heavy menses, breast lumps and some forms of PMS. Men typically use estrogen blockers when they want to minimise testosterone to estrogen conversion, in order to maintain a higher testosterone level. This may support recovery from exercises such as weight lifting. After all, testosterone stimulates muscle protein synthesis, an anabolic process in the body required for healthy muscular adaptation. 

Hormonal biochemistry is not as simple as reducing aromatase activity, however. There are also compounds that block the estrogen and androgen receptors and others that modulate the types of estrogen metabolites that we synthesize. For instance, the net effect of increased 2-alpha hydroxyestrone and decreased 16-alpha hydroxyestrone is a reduced estrogen burden. A journal called Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention in 2000 demonstrated that broccoli can increase this ratio, positively impacting the estrogen profile. Broccoli contains a compound called indole-3-carbinol, which has been researched for decades.

Indole-3-Carbinol is a natural phytochemical that converts to diindolylmethane (DIM), which then beneficially influences the estrogen profile. Broccoli is not the only source, as it is found in all cruciferous vegetables, such as brussel sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower. It is also believed that during benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), the estrogen burden of the body may be in excess, making the "estrogen blocker" approach also quite helpful. 

Whether it be to recover faster from exercise, assist in the management of BPH or endometriosis, take your time browsing the Sporty's Health Estrogen Blockers section to find the most suitable product for your needs.