Estrogen plays various and important role in human body, be it male or female . Apart from maintaining reproductive system and secondary female characteristics, it also contributes to cognitive health, bone health and functions of cardiovascular system and other essential bodily processes. Estrogen imbalance can lead to irregular or no mensuration, severe premenstrual or menopause symptoms, sleeping problems, low sexual drive, fatigue and many other problems.
There are three types of estrogen hormones- estrone, estradiol , estriol. Estradiol is the hormone which is produced by both male and female. And excess of this hormone causes acne, loss of sex drive, osteoporosis, depression and can also increase the risk of uterine or breast cancer. But very low level of it can also result in weight gain and cardiovascular disease.
Many normal functions are compromised when the ovaries are removed due to endometriosis or ovarian cancer. We know that estrogen is mainly produced by ovaries but it can also be produced by adrenal glands and fat tissues.
Fat is most commonly misunderstood nutrient in food which people avoid due to fear that it will cause heart disease or weight gain. It is necessary to differentiate between good fat and bad fat. While fat may have more calories per gram than proteins and carbohydrate it does not mean it causes weight gain.
In 2008, a study based on hormonal profiles from complete menstrual cycle was conducted on 131 women, which showed that women with very low (below 21%) and high(above 31%) body fat have significantly lower levels of estradiol as compared to the women with average (between 21% to 31%)body fat.
"While fat may have more calories per gram than proteins and carbohydrate it does not mean it causes weight gain. "
That is why it is said to eat balanced diet that contains good dietary fat that promotes better sleep, provide more energy and change body composition.
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