Estrogen Has Many Crucial Functions In A Woman’s Body

January 28, 2010 | 1 Comment

Take a look at the…
Estrogen Effects In The Body

Ever wonder what your body would go through without an adequate amounts of estrogen? Luckily for most women they may never know the effects of this but for a few hot flashes as they go from peri-menopause into menopause. A body properly nourished and balanced has mechanisms in place to help a woman adjust to the highs and lows of estrogen production through the many stages of her life. In fact, oriental females have no terms in their language for such things as hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms. Check out my post on the topic of nutrition and hormones.

Estrogen’s Effects on the Brain and Nervous System

Estrogen stimulates the production of choline aminotransferase, an enzyme crucial to the prevention of Alzheimer’s. It has major roles in preserving memory and fine motor skills, improves reason and helps to develop new ideas.

A healthy mind is the product of healthy estrogen levels. The ability to concentrate, to maintain good mood and a healthy disposition for life are the results of adequate estrogen levels because estrogen is needed to produce neurotransmitters like serotonin that decrease depression, irritability, anxiety and pain sensitivity. Deep sound sleep throughout the night is improbable without adequate estrogen levels.

Estrogen’s Effects on Metabolism and Energy Production

Estrogen’s effects at regulating body temperature helps enzymes work efficiently to produce high energy and increase metabolism. You will get the most out of your nutrients to build strong bone, maintain muscle mass and to help prevent muscle damage.

Estrogen’s Effects on The Heart and Blood Vessels

Estrogen helps maintain the elasticity of your blood vessels. It acts like a calcium channel blocker (a type of blood pressure medication) to keep your arteries open and dilates the smaller arteries. It decreases the accumulation of plaque in arterial beds, lowers blood pressure, lowers bad cholesterol (LDL) levels and prevents their oxidation. It increases your good cholesterol (HDL) by 10-15% while decreasing platelet stickiness to prevents clots and strokes.It reduces homocysteine levels ( another known risk factor for heart disease).

Lipoprotein A, a fraction containing both cholesterol and protein fragments is a known risk factor for heart disease that is lowered by maintaining healthy levels of estrogen. The overall reduction seen in heart disease is around 40-50%.

Estrogen’s Effects on The Skin and Skin Structures

Estrogen maintains the amount of collagen in your skin, increases hydration and maintains thickness, softness while decreasing wrinkles. Estrogen supports healthy gums to reduce tooth loss. It decreases the chances of developing cataracts and macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness with aging.

Estrogen’s Other Beneficial Effects

Estrogen helps increase your sexual interest and decreases your risk of getting colon cancer. There are many benefits of estrogen on the body because there are receptors for estrogen basically everywhere including the heart, brain, muscle, bone, bladder, gut, uterus, ovaries, vagina, breast , eyes, heart, lungs and blood vessels.

Other Youthful Aging Center Pages:
Estrogen & Other Hormones in Turmoil- A Life Out of Balance
Menopausal Hormone Replacement Therapy
Food Allergies and Obesity
Hormones and Women’s Health
Estrogen and Menopause
Three Estrogens In Balance Throughout A Woman’s Life
Take The Functional Medicine Questionnaire

Recommended Reading:
The Youthful Aging Center Bookstore

Subscribe to our Medical Tid Bits Newsletter Online