How to read the numbers: Risk = what to watch out for · Fact = a finding from research or biology
Xenoestrogens in the environment
Xenoestrogens are substances from plastics, pesticides or cosmetics that can mimic oestrogen in the body; what matters is the level of exposure, not mere presence. A simple step: do not heat food in plastic and prefer glass or stainless steel.
Oestrogen in drinking water vs. 1970
Data on long-term trends of oestrogens in water are limited, so this comparison should be read with caution; concentrations in treated drinking water are usually very low. If you want to reduce exposure, an activated carbon filter and, above all, less plastic in the kitchen help.
Detectable in 93% of people
Biomonitoring finds bisphenol A in the urine of the vast majority of people tested, and in 2023 EFSA sharply lowered its tolerable daily intake. Limit heating food in plastic, canned foods and handling thermal-paper receipts.
Oestradiol (E2) is the main active form of oestrogen in both men and women. In men, it is produced by aromatisation of testosterone — via the enzyme aromatase, found in fat tissue, the liver and the brain. The optimal E2 level for men is 70–110 pmol/L. Below that range, osteoporosis and cardiovascular problems become a risk. Above it — gynaecomastia, water retention, low libido and depression.
Xenoestrogens are chemicals that mimic oestrogen in the body. They are found in plastics (BPA, BPS, phthalates), pesticides, cosmetics (parabens), food preservatives and industrially farmed meat. When they bind to oestrogen receptors, the body cannot tell them apart from natural oestrogen.
Oestrogen in men — why it matters
Oestradiol protects the cardiovascular system — men with very low E2 have a higher risk of heart attack. It maintains bone density. It regulates libido — when E2 is too low, sexual desire drops just as it does with low testosterone. It affects mood and cognitive function. That is why "the less oestrogen, the better" is a misconception for men.
Xenoestrogens — an environmental assault
BPA (bisphenol A) from plastic bottles, containers and till receipts binds to oestrogen receptors. Phthalates from cosmetics, perfumes and plastic packaging suppress testosterone production. The pesticide atrazine (used on cereal crops) alters sex hormones in amphibians — and equivalent effects are observed in humans. Soy contains phytoestrogens (isoflavones) — harmless in small amounts, problematic with chronically high intake.
Symptoms of oestrogen dominance
In men: gynaecomastia (breast enlargement), water retention, visceral obesity, low libido, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, emotional instability. In women: PMS, fibroids, endometriosis, mastodynia, irregular cycles, weight gain on the hips and thighs.
Oestrogen detoxification — the protocol
DIM (diindolylmethane) from broccoli and cabbage steers oestrogen metabolism towards less active metabolites (2-hydroxyestrones vs. 16α-hydroxyestrones). Dose: 100–200 mg. I3C (indole-3-carbinol) — the precursor of DIM. Zinc inhibits aromatase. Eliminate plastics when eating and drinking (use glass and stainless steel). Resveratrol and quercetin block aromatase activity. Support liver detoxification: NAC, glutathione, curcumin.
