In a healthy PMS-free cycle, estrogen is the predominant hormone in the first half of the cycle, then has another lesser rise in the second half of the cycle. In the second half of your cycle, progesterone should rise after you ovulate and be higher in contrast to estrogen levels. However, when you have a hormonal imbalance and struggle with PMS symptoms, you’re likely having trouble detoxifying estrogen properly so your estrogen levels stay high and the body can’t efficiently create enough progesterone. As a result, progesterone is lower contrasted to higher estrogen, leading to unwanted PMS symptoms. This is why we experience PMS symptoms in the second half of our cycle because that’s when the hormonal imbalance takes place.

Why Estrogen & Progesterone are Imbalanced

Xenoestrogens

The biggest reason why estrogen levels are on the rise is because of our rapid increase of toxic xenoestrogens, harmful human-made compounds proliferating in our shared environments. Xenoestrogens are synthetic, industrial compounds mimicking estrogen in the body. Often times our genetic predisposition has a lot to do with how easily we eliminate toxins. Also, an unhealthy liver can reduce the clearance of toxic compounds as well.

Constipation

Constipation can also lead to a buildup of estrogen within the body. This is our primary method as to how we excrete estrogen from the body. If you’re not pooping daily, you’re not detoxifying estrogen, which eventually could lead to PMS symptoms.

Vitamin Deficiencies

A depletion in minerals and vitamins, especially B vitamins found in animal proteins can contribute to PMS symptoms. B vitamins help the liver process toxins more efficiently, eventually reducing and alleviating PMS symptoms.

High Stress & Blood Sugar

When stress hormones are high from lifestyle factors or from under-eating (which leads to low blood sugar) estrogen can rise and progesterone is not properly utilized. Undereating and low blood sugar can directly lead to low progesterone utilization. If you go long periods of time without eating, your stress hormones, especially adrenaline, need to rise in order to compensate and gather energy from your tissues. When adrenaline floods the bloodstream, it blocks progesterone from being utilized by the cells. So even if you’re producing enough progesterone, if stress hormones are high, progesterone is not properly utilized and won’t bind to the cell receptors. This explains why high-stress hormones can eventually lead to an increase in PMS.

Cortisol, Stress, and Thyroid Function

Estrogen can be considered a stress hormone, like cortisol and adrenaline. Estrogen and cortisol are antagonists battling against thyroid hormones and progesterone. If your estrogen and cortisol levels are high, you will likely be depleted of thyroid hormone and progesterone. Both are essential to lower PMS symptoms. This is why it’s so important to nourish your adrenal glands.