"When oestrogen becomes unbalanced – especially when there is too much oestrogen in comparison to progesterone – problems arise! "

Oestrogen dominance is a term used to describe when a person can have deficient, normal or excessive oestrogen, but has little or no counterbalancing hormone to mitigate its effect in the body.

We commonly see oestrogen dominance in the BePure Clinics. Many factors such as stress, our food choices, exposure to toxins and the state of our organ function impact our hormones.

A big issue for many women is weight management. But the problem isn’t what we’ve been led to believe. When it comes to weight loss only about 30% of the puzzle is attributable to the calories we eat. While the rest is down to hormones!

"When it comes to weight loss only about 30% of the puzzle is attributable to the calories we eat. While the rest is down to hormones!"

The key to nurturing hormone balance is to give your body the support and nutrition it needs for optimal health.

I recommend eating plenty of cruciferous vegetables. Cruciferous vegetables are especially rich in di-indolylmethane (DIM). DIM helps mop up excess oestrogens, supporting the liver throughout the detox phase.

Some cruciferous options are:

• Broccoli sprouts
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Cabbage
• Kale
• Collard greens
• Radish
• Bok choy
• Brussel sprouts
• Watercress... among others.  

Try and eat some of these foods at least once a day. For a speedy and delicious, light lunch try this Tasty Bacon and Broccoli Salad rich in vegetables, nutrients and healthy fats.

Tasty Bacon and Broccoli Salad Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 heads of broccoli
• 1/2 red onion
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 6 strips of bacon
• 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
• Coconut oil for cooking
• Nutritional yeast to serve

Optional (but very tasty): Lemon tahini dressing

• 1 Tbsp tahini
• Juice of one lemon
• 2 Tbsp cold pressed extra virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup water

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 180ºC.
2. Cut broccoli into halved florets. Melt tab of coconut oil in pan with broccoli until all lightly coated. Evenly spread of on roasting tray and put in oven for 15-20 minutes.
3. Cut the bacon into even squares, about 2cm x 2cm. Cook in pan on high heat until cooked (and crispy if you're into crispy bacon!)
4. Finely chop onions and garlic. Lighting cook in pan with a smidgeon of coconut oil.
5. Quickly toast sunflower seeds in pan on high heat until they start to brown. 
6. Assemble broccoli, bacon, onion and garlic in a large salad bowl.
7. Add a dash of lemon tahini dressing if you fancy, and sprinkle with nutritional yeast and toasted seeds to serve. 

If you give this a go, let us know! Share your bacon and broccoli salads with us on Instagram for your chance to be featured. Tag us @bepurebenwarren or use #bepurebenwarren.