‘Estrobolome’ imbalance drains 90% of women

Imbalances in the estrobolome, an array of hormone-balancing gut bacteria, are an underrecognized cause of female fatigue, says Mark Menolascino, M.D., medical director of the Meno Clinic in Wilson, Wyoming. “The estrobolome is a subset of beneficial gut bacteria that plays a key role in regulating estrogen levels,” he says. But factors like diet and toxin exposure can cause imbalances in up to 90% of women, triggering fatigue, mood swings, memory decline and more.

Women in their 40s and 50s are hardest hit, Dr. Menolascino notes. The reason? When the estrobolome is imbalanced, estrogen fluctuations worsen, magnifying hot flashes and other draining symptoms.

Doctors can conduct stool, blood and urine tests to identify deficits in gut bacteria and hormones, but no test focuses on the estrobolome. And while mainstream physicians often suggest hormone therapy as a fix, the strategies below can restore balance and reduce the need for medications.

Foods that feed the estrobolome can rebalance it within three weeks. Dr. Menolascino advises eating artichokes, garlic, onions, asparagus and grapefruit (they contain prebiotic starch that the estrobolome thrives on) daily, as well as fermented foods like kefir, yogurt and sauerkraut three to five times a week. These foods boast beneficial bacteria that reseed the gut and the estrobolome.

Also smart: Eat more legumes. The estrobolome converts compounds in beans, lentils and chickpeas into phytoestrogens to optimize estrogen levels. And eating cruciferous veggies (like broccoli, kale and Brussels sprouts) nourishes the gut and assists in toxin removal.