What’s the best way to control Estrogen levels on a steroid cycle?
By Admin – Steroidal.com
A: Well this is a difficult question to answer, but we will go through and explain the pros and cons of the various ways this can be done, using supplements, nutrition and drugs. The three main widely available aromatase inhibitors (AIs) and let you choose which route you want to take, combining all our ideas in some way, shape and form is probably the best option to remain healthy and in control of estrogen, which when let get too high can be very problematic.
Firstly, an aromatase inhibitor is a drug or compound that lowers levels of aromatase, the enzyme responsible for the conversion of testosterone to estrogen in the body. Aromatase is an enzyme found in estrogen producing cells in the body, these include, the testes, ovaries, adrenal glands, brain, placenta, breast, liver, skin and finally fat tissue. Anti-estrogenic compounds range from herbs, drugs, and foods widely available that can compliment AI use during a anabolic steroid cycle. Lets discuss foods and herbs that are all accessible at your local grocer or in your nearest dietary supplement store or online first.
Anti-estrogenic herbs and foods include:
- Alium family: The aliums are foods such as, onions, garlic, chives, leeks, shallots and scallions. These are all rich in the powerful flavone anti-oxidant quercetin and sulphur containing amino acids. They work by allowing the liver to process more toxins maintaining a higher level of detoxification and aiding in the reduction of estrogen levels.
- Cruciferous vegetables: These include, kale, cabbage, Brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, bok choy, watercress, horseradish and radishes. These vegetables contain nutrients, which detoxify toxic estrogen molecules in the body. These nutrients include, Diindolylmethane, Indole-3 Acetate, Indole-3 Carbonyl. Sulfuraphane and Phenyl Isothiocyanates are two sulfur containing nutrients, which again help the liver detoxify toxins and eliminate estrogens.
- Herbal anti-oxidants: These common herbs pack a serious punch in promoting the excretion of estrogens by again increasing liver detoxification by being potent in certain oils. Thyme, rosemary, sage, oregano and turmeric. Tumeric has the ability to destroy estrogen receptor positive cancer cells, commonly found in uterine, ovarian, breast and prostate cancer. As well as being a valuable weapon against estrogenic side effects, Tumeric has also been shown to have cardiovascular protective effects.
- Flavonones: Lemons, limes and other citrus fruits can aid in liver detoxification and are potent anti-oxidants. Citrus bioflavonoids include, diosmin, quercetin, naringin, narirutin tangeretin, diosmetin, neohesperidin and rutin.
- Fermented foods: These contain anti-oxidants, probiotics, enzymes and organic acids that increase excretory channels and increase gut function. Fermented vegetables include sauerkraut, fermented soy and kimchi.
- Healthy fats: These should already be part of your diet anyhow and shouldn’t need much of an explanation. Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as, wild caught salmon, grass fed organic beef, whole eggs, avocados, nuts, extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, raw milk, probiotic yougharts, wild game and seeds. These will help maintain hormone levels and cholesterol.
- Fungi’s: Mushrooms have been shown to have anti-estrogenic properties, specifically white button mushroom in breast cancer patients. This is due to the presence of lectin, β-glucan, ergosterol, arginine, and other bioactive substances.
- Chlorophyll: This is the substance found in foods that give them the deep green colour. Once again, a potent detoxification agent promoting the excretion of estrogens in the body.
So as you can see, there are a wide range of familiar herbs, vegetables and other compounds easily accessible to help fight high estrogen levels from anabolic steroid use or from a changes in hormones due to age, gender, disease, puberty, body fat, genetics, anabolic steroid use or drug use. Simple dietary changes can help greatly, but often drugs are needed if estrogen is left to rise and get out of accepted levels.
These above herbs and foods will offer other benefits other than reducing the side effects associated with high estrogen levels and should be the first port of call other than AI use. Other herbs and anti-oxidants include, polyphenols – resveratrol and grape seed extract found in red wine.
Aromatase Inhibitors:
The most widely available AIs, Letrozole, Arimidex and Aromasin can be broken into two groups. Letrozole and Arimidex are non-steroidal and non-suicidal aromatase inhibitors. Whilst Aromasin (Exemestane) is a suicidal aromatase inhibitor rendering the aromatase enzyme non functional after its action has been carried out. AIs are mostly widely used in women suffering from breast cancer, as circulating estrogen levels will decline with use. These drugs are also common in steroid users as they’re effective, relatively cheap and easily obtainable. Although these drugs have side effects, the side effects associated with sky high estrogen levels in males (which is a known carcinogen) are far worse.
Letrozole: This non-steroidal AI is the strongest of the three AIs to be discussed. Lowering estrogen levels in females by up to 98%, its effects in males or ages individuals are not as severe. For on cycle estrogen control a dosage of around 0.25mg every other day or three times per week is suggested. Too much can lower circulating estrogen levels to dramatically and cause other side effects. These include but are not limited to, reduction in HDL, increases in LDL, joint dryness, reduction in IGF and HGH, loss of libido and energy and lastly erectile dysfunction. An estrogen rebound can also be evident in users. Pros are its long half-life, easy availability, and ability to significantly lower estrogen, cheap price and possible reversal of gynecomastia via glandular and ductal breast tissue apoptosis.
This drug should only be used in the extremely estrogen sensitive or dominant, the use of Deca-Durabolin, Trenbolone or 19-Nor based anabolic steroids, or large dosages of aromatasable compounds.
Arimidex: Chemical name Anastrozole, is also a non-steroidal and non-suicidal aromatase inhibitor. Widely available and cheap, Arimidex is a common choice when it comes to estrogen control on cycle. With a long half-life 0.5mg every other day or three times per week is common, it considerably less effective than Letrozole. In women studies state a 65-85% reduction in levels of estrogen, which is a common drug again in the treatment of breast cancer in women. Again, these will differ in males and elderly subjects. Negatives are changes in the users lipid profile, joint problems, loss of sex drive and energy and IGF.
Arimidex can be used effectively in beginner, intermediate and advanced steroid cycles with varying dosages increasing with the total amount of aromatasble androgens used.
Aromasin: Chemical name Exemestane. Of the three discussed AIs, this is probably the less toxic with less of an impact on lipids and IGF levels. Its effectiveness in females is around 80% at decreasing estrogen. Much like the other two AIs, changes in males will be less effective and those elderly or from anabolic steroid usage. Aromasin has the shortest half-life of these three AIs and needs to be administered twice per day, am and pm. 12.5mg to 25mg/ED are used daily, split evenly throughout the day. A little more expensive than Letrozole and Arimidex, Aromasin is the preferred choice due to its friendliness.
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) based anabolic steroids will offer some protection against estrogenic side effects as well. Oral and injectable steroids such as, Anavar (Oxandrolone), Winstrol, Masteron, Primobolan and Proviron can be used but not as replacement AI doses and/or nutritional changes. These androgens come with their own side effects. Liver and kidney stress, impaired lipid profile, aggression, prostate issues and more sever sides for women including, deepening of vocal chords and masculinization.
Combining an AI with the relevant dietary or supplemental change would be most effective. Obtaining the nutritional and anti-oxidant benefits of dietary adaption would offer some sort of compensation over the toxicity of the AIs or DHT based steroids used.
Other options are not to use an AI and use a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), such as, Clomid or Nolvadex. Although this does not control estrogen it merely blocks its effects. This is not advised due to the dangers of high estrogen levels in males. These include loss of libido, coronary heart disease (CHD), geno toxicity, cholesterol changes, gynecomastia, fat gain and cancers.
