When it comes to estrogen dominance, a properly functioning bowel is key to balancing your estrogen levels. When we’re constipated, the train that estrogen is trying to leave the body on, is backed up. Estrogen stays in the system, often getting reabsorbed and usually as a more toxic form. These not-so good forms of estrogen contribute to breast cancer and endometriosis, only adding to the overall estrogen burden we do not want.

Even if estrogen receives its ticket from the glucuronidation process in the liver and boards the poop train and if beta-glucuronidase isn’t elevated (an enzyme that inhibits estrogen from exiting the body), it can’t leave the body if the train is stuck.

This is why daily bowel movements are so incredibly important. Many of the tips for improving your bowel movements are simple and effective. Don’t underestimate the power of these suggestions:

1. Purchase a Squatty Potty or another bowel movement stool to help your form while pooping. 
2. Drink 8 ounces of warm water with juice from ½ a lemon first thing in the morning. This’ll activate your bowels and get the train moving.
3. Drink at least ½ your body weight in room-temperature spring or filtered water daily. Even more if you’re active.
4. Balance your gut microbiome.  

To read more posts about gut health, check out our dedicated section to the topic on our blog, Period Matters. Our seed syncing can help you balance your hormones naturally, shop our organic moon seeds or moon bites.

This is an excerpt from a post written by Dr. Leah Gordon, ND, an expert in root-cause medicine, dedicated to uncovering the sources of hormonal, gut, and sex drive imbalances, with a love for supporting women prior to pregnancy. Check her out on Instagram. Abridged content curated and edited by Nayla Al-Mamlouk.