If you find you do have oestrogen dominance, there are a number of things you can do. First, cut right back on meat and dairy products and eat more fish and seeds instead. Meat and dairy are often high in hormones and hormone-like chemicals, as well as saturated fat, while fish and seeds provide highly ben-eficial essential fats - and one of the benefits is that they balance your hormones. Also cut out sugar and refined carbohydrates and eat more wholefoods, such as brown rice, lentils and beans. Beans are especially good because they help to lower the body' s oestrogen overload. It' s also worth going organic as much as possible. Many pesticides and herbicides act like oestrogen in the body. If your oestrogen level is very high, and your progesterone level very low, you may need to use some transdermal natural progesterone for a few months to bring your hormones back into balance. Any weight-loss diet based on the general advice for balancing your blood sugar will work.

That means cutting out all stimulants such as coffee, sugary snacks and drinks, and saturated fats; eating little and often; and choosing oats, brown basmati rice, pears, apples and other slow-release carbs, and good-quality protein such as organic chicken, tofu or fish. Always combine carbohydrates with protein. For instance, with brown rice, eat lentils, broccoli and tofu stir-fry, or a piece of roast chicken; with a piece of rye bread, eat bean salad; or with a piece of fruit, have a dessertspoon of pumpkin seeds or a few almonds. Go organic, ensure you drink 1.5 litres of pure water a day and take 200mcg of chromium a day.