by Jessica Drummond MPT, CCN, CHC

ALCOHOL & PERIMENOPAUSE

Do They Mix?

A Guide to the Benefits and Risks of Drinking over 40.

How Does Alcohol Impact Hormonal Health for Women over 40?

• Duringperimenopause,estrogenlevelsbecomelesspredictable

• Somewomenstrugglewithsymptomsofestrogendominance

• Estrogendominancemeanshavinghighestrogenrelativeto

progesterone,whichcanbeduetohighestrogenand/orverylow

progesterone)

• Symptomsofestrogendominanceincludebreasttenderness,

headaches,andPMSsymptomssuchaspainfulcramping

• Otherwomenstrugglewithlowestrogen,whichcanleadtolow

libido,vaginaldryness,andjointstiffness

• Aromataseisanenzyme(achemicalinthebody)thatconverts

testosteronetoestrogen

• Alcoholimpactsaromatase

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How Does Alcohol Impact Hormonal Health for Women over 40?

• Redwinedecreasesaromataseconversioninyourbody(keepingestrogen

levelslower,butsupportinghighertestosteronelevels-assumingsome

otherfactors)

• One5oz.glassofredwinedailymaybeprotectiveagainstbreastcancer

• Redwinealsocontainstheantioxidantresveratrol,whichcanbeprotective

againstheartdisease.But,notinhighenoughdosesinwinetohavea

significanteffect

Thus, when deciding what kind of alcohol to drink, keep in mind...

• Drinkingmostalcohol(eveninsmalldoses)mayincreasebreastcancerrisk

• Theexceptionisredwine,whichinmoderateamountsmaybeprotective

• Drinkingalcoholmaybebeneficialforcardiovascularhealth

• Ifyouhavelowestrogen,drinkingmoderateamountsofwhitewinemay

helpyourlibidoandvaginaldryness

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Alcohol Impacts Hormone Balance, Cancer and Heart Disease Risk

• Whitewineandmostotheralcoholicbeveragesincrease

aromataseconversioninyourbody(increasingestrogenlevels)

• One5oz.glassofwhitewineor1.5ozofalcoholicspirits(suchastequila,vodka,orgin)dailymaybeprotectiveagainstcardiovasculardisease,especiallyifyourestrogenlevelsarelow

• Drinkingmoderateamountsofalcoholdaily(1drinkperday)forwomencanbeprotectiveagainstcardiovasculardisease

• But,eventhissmallamountofalcoholdailycanincreasebreastcancerrisk

Liver Detoxification Pathways & Supportive Nutrients

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Endotoxins*endproductsofmetabolism*bacterialendotoxins

Exotoxins*drugs(prescription,OTCs,recreational,etc.)*chemicals-agricultural-foodadditives-household-pollutants/contaminants*microbial

INTERMEDIARYMETABOLITES

(more polar, more water-soluble)

PHASE 1(cytochrome P450 enzymes)

PHASE 2 conjugation pathways

TOXINS(non polar,

lipid-soluble)

TOXINS(non polar,

lipid-soluble)

Serum

Kidneys

UrineBile

Faeces/stool

ReactionsCofactors & other

Nutrients Used

lipid-soluble(nonpolar)toxinsstoredinadipose(fat)tissuecontributetoincreased/mobilizedtoxinloadwithweightloss

oxidationreductionhydrolysishydrationdehalogenation

riboflavin(vit.B2)niacin(vit.B3)pyridoxene(vit.B6)folicacidvitaminB12glutathionebranched-chain

aminoacidsflavonoidsphospholipids

Free Radicals

Superoxide

Reactive Oxygen Intermediates

Antioxidant/ProtectiveNutrients/Plant

Derivatives

carotenes(vit.A)ascorbicacid(vit.C)tocopherol(vit.E)seleniumcopperzincmanganesecoenzymeQ10thiols(foundingarlic,onions,&

cruciferousvegetables)bioflavonoidssilymarinpycnogenol

Reactions:sulfationglucuronidationglutathioneconjugationacetylationaminoacidconjugationmethylation

Nutrients Used:glycinetaurineglutamine*NAC

*N-acetylcysteine, cysteine, methionine are precursors

SecondaryTissue Damage

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Here is how things work...

Alcohol toxins enter the liver

Phase one: detoxification occurs

(Glutathione, vitamins, and micronutrients

are necessary for this process)

Intermediate stage

(Need adequate antioxidants to protect the liver)

Phase two: need amino acids

Excrete molecules

(kidneys > bladder > urine and colon > rectum > stool)

Alcohol and Liver Health

Alcoholistoxictotheliver,

whichcanhaveanimpact

onyourhormonebalance

sinceestrogenmustalsobe

metabolizedbytheliver.

Ifyou’restrugglingwith

constipationordehydration,

youwillhavedifficulty

eliminatingthetoxic

byproductsofalcohol.

How Can I Support My Liver?

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Eat8-10servingsofvegetables

perdaysoyouhaveadequate

antioxidantstohelpwiththe

intermediatephase.

Takeglutathione(availablehere)

supplementsondaysyouknowyou

willbedrinking.Thiswillhelpwith

phasedetoxification.

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Next steps...

Ifyou’restrugglingwithsymptomsofhormonalimbalance,suchas:

• Weightgain(ordifficultylosingweight)

• Hairloss

• Fatigue

• Insomnia

• Lowsexdrive

• Vaginaldryness

• Anxiety

• Hotflashes

• Nightsweats

Learnmoreaboutoursimple,

3-stepApproachtoHormoneBalance.CLICK HERE >>