Alcohol affects oestrogen balance at all stages of life.
It raises oestrogen levels and SLOWS fat burning.
Pre menopause it can lead to too much oestrogen relative to progesterone and then encourage heavy bleeding, PMS, night sweats and hot flushes. In menopausal women, drinking 1-2 units /day raises oestrone and DHEAS, another hormone that can be converted into oestrogen. Excess may increase risk of breast cancer. In a vicious cycle, excess fat after menopause is more likely to produce oestrogen out of testosterone, a process called aromatisation.
