How Constipation Disrupts Hormone Balance

Nutrition
Written By Sonya Arrigo

Slower motility means your body can’t efficiently clear the hormones it’s already finished using, especially estrogen.

The Mechanism

Your liver detoxifies estrogen then sends it to the gut for elimination.
When stool moves slowly, that estrogen sits in the colon longer, giving certain gut bacteria the chance to reactivate it through an enzyme called β-glucuronidase.

The Impact On the Body

Reactivated estrogen gets reabsorbed back into circulation, increasing overall estrogen load.
This contributes to symptoms like bloating, PMS, breast tenderness, acne, mood changes and long-term, it’s considered a modifying factor in hormone-related conditions.

The Small Shifts

Things you can do to combat constipation. 

  • Fiber (25-35g/day)

  • Hydration – for every 10g of fiber added into the diet, aim to add 500ml of water 

  • Daily movement

  • Probiotics + microbiome support

  • Consistent meal timing

  • 1-2 Bowel Movements/day

If you do these things and still feel like constipation is an issue, reach out to an ND as we do deep dives into Gut Health. 

Sonya Arrigo
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