What foods contain estrogens?

Products containing estrogen - the hormone of female youth

Tell me, what comes to mind first when it comes to female hormones? A picture of a woman who looks more bad than good due to mood swings, nervous outbursts, sudden weight changes, and constant headaches. The list goes on and on. Female hormones estrogens are responsible for the way women behave.

In addition to regulating menstrual cycles, they affect the functioning of the reproductive organs, urinary tract, cardiovascular and skeletal systems, genitals, and improve the condition of the skin and hair. Are you sure that your body receives enough estrogen? If not, eat foods rich in estrogens, which are important for the female body, including seeds and nuts, soy, fresh and dried fruits, vegetables, legumes, drinks and herbs. With their help, you can successfully maintain excellent health, feel joy from every day you live and maintain health for many years.

Compare the estrogen content figures in each product, draw conclusions and choose the most suitable option for yourself.

Women in all countries and at all times love to look beautiful and young. Even if a woman is not in the phase of actively searching for a partner, it is all the same - maintaining health increases self-esteem and improves well-being.

After all, beauty almost always comes from somewhere within, and it means, first of all, good health.

The state of the female body is strongly influenced by the level of hormones in the blood, and the harmonious state of the hormonal background in general.

The most important hormone, also called “female”, is estrogen. It is also produced in the male body, although in disproportionately smaller quantities than in the female body. Their presence in the male body is noticeable only if there are too many of them (in men, breasts begin to grow from them).

The main effect of estrogens is that they ensure the reproductive function of women. The word estrogen is made up of two Latin words: oistros, which means passion, unbridled desire, and genes, which means provocative.

Otherwise, it is also called the sexuality hormone. Many distinctive features of a woman's appearance - lush breasts, a gentle, thin, alluring voice, beautiful skin - are ensured by the production of this particular hormone.

- depression and sudden mood swings;

- low self-esteem and inattention to one’s appearance;

- decreased sexual desire and sensitivity.

For all of the above reasons, estrogen is still quite rightly called the hormone of female youth.

As long as a woman feels desirable and attractive to the stronger sex, she is not too concerned about age. That is why, in order to monitor your appearance and health, it is so important to regularly check the level of hormones in the blood, which can be determined with great accuracy only after an appropriate analysis.

If the analysis shows a lack of estrogen, the doctor will be able to prescribe hormonal medications.

To the surprise of women who have seen the horror stories of Soviet-era women that taking any hormones supposedly causes masculinity and obesity, now everything is exactly the opposite. Correctly selected hormones can improve a woman’s appearance, prolong her women’s health and youth.

However, it should be recognized that synthetic or artificial drugs usually act more harshly and aggressively than natural herbal remedies.

Scientific researchers have long proven that phytoestrogens, or plant hormones, are much preferable to synthetic ones, especially for those ladies who care about their youth and beauty.

The main problem with hormone therapy, like all replacement treatment courses, is that if you take it for a very long time, there is a real danger that the body itself will stop producing them. In this case, such a process can no longer be restored.

Phytoestrogens work much more gently, without showing an aggressive effect on the sources of estrogen production. Therefore, if you have low levels of this female hormone, it is preferable to try to increase them at the required level through the use of herbal remedies (herbs), as well as food products that naturally contain the necessary hormone in plant form.

By the way, this is also a rewarding way to stabilize hormonal levels after the birth of a child. It is the drop in estrogen levels in a woman’s body that causes postpartum depression, hair loss, and excess weight.

There are three types of plants that have estrogenic activity. These are lignans, coumestans and isoflavonoids.

The hormonal balance in the female body ensures not only its health, but is also responsible for the youth and beauty of the body. Products containing estrogen will help with any disturbance in hormonal metabolism. Today we’re talking about what foods contain estrogen, hormonal balance in particular and women’s health in general.

No matter what appearance nature bestows on a woman, true beauty, which is visible and noticeable to everyone, is, first of all, health and well-being.

Women's health and well-being are entirely dependent on hormonal levels, which, as we know, fluctuate throughout the month, constantly change throughout life, and eventually try to completely restructure when a woman is approaching menopause.

But be that as it may, if you know what the correct hormonal balance should be, you know how to eat and what lifestyle to lead to maintain it, then you can prolong your youth and preserve your beauty for many years!

One of the most important groups of hormones for women's health is female hormones - estrogens.

Estrogen is a word that consists of two parts: oistros - irrepressible desire, passion, genes - defiant. Or another translation - liveliness (brightness) genus.

If you can say so, this is the hormone of attractiveness. And it is precisely rounded shapes, breasts, and even female coquetry that, from the point of view of doctors, are ensured by these hormones.

Estrogen deficiency is manifested by symptoms such as: - depression and sudden mood swings, - weight gain, - hot flashes, - fatigue, - low self-esteem and inattention to one's appearance, - decreased personal desire and sensitivity.

That is why it is also called the hormone of youth. As long as a woman feels feminine and attractive, age does not matter.

Doctors correct hormonal levels with medications. And only they can decide whether or not to take artificial hormones.

But every woman can use phytoestrogens, which are contained in food products, both as a preventive measure and for background correction.

This method is also good for correcting hormonal levels after pregnancy and childbirth, when a sharp drop in the amount of estrogen produced leads to postpartum depression and severe hair loss.

Phytoestrogens act much more gently and not so aggressively.

There are 3 types of plant hormones with estrogenic activity: isoflavonoids, lignans and coumestans.

What foods and plants contain these hormones?

Flax seeds This is product No. 1 in terms of the amount of plant hormones (a group of lignans with estrogenic activity). In addition to its hormonal effect, flax seed has many other beneficial properties for the female body (antitumor, body cleansing, antioxidant properties...). Ground flax seed is used with a large amount of liquid (like bran).

Legumes (green peas, beans, chickpeas, lentils) contain isoflavonoids, a type of phytoestrogens. Soy, of course, is the leader in these hormones, but doctors have recently not recommended eating large amounts of soy. Among the legumes, lentils are the most recommended; they contain the maximum amount of protein, as well as tryptophan, which is converted into serotonin, which relieves depression.

Coffee A study that was conducted with women who drank up to 500 ml of coffee per day showed that in 90% of those examined, estrogen levels were increased by 70%. But the main thing here is to observe moderation in drinking coffee. So that this drink benefits you, and not vice versa.

Apricots Of all fruits, they have the highest content of the hormone lignan. Can be eaten fresh or dried (dried apricots).

Estrogens are also present in the following herbs: sage, hops, ginseng root, arnica, chamomile, linden, licorice root.

Estrogens are the general name for a group of female sex hormones produced by a woman's ovaries. Estrogens are produced throughout a woman’s reproductive age—from the onset of puberty to menopause. And their active influence on a woman’s body is not limited only to the reproductive system - they are very important for the proper functioning of the entire body.

They are responsible for the formation and distribution of fat cells in the body according to the female type, and the same softness and roundness of female forms appears in the figure. Estrogen also affects the proper absorption of calcium and bone growth and even has a direct effect on heart rate. It becomes clear that a lack of this hormone in the body can have a very negative impact on overall health. This becomes especially important for any woman after menopause, when the body's own production of estrogen practically ceases.

At the same time, it is not at all necessary to resort to the help of hormonal pills - estrogens are contained in many foods available to us, adding which to the daily diet will help in the prevention of many ailments caused by estrogen deficiency. And this, first of all, is a decrease in overall hormonal levels after menopause, an increased risk of breast cancer, the development of osteoporosis (fragility and brittleness of bones), an increased risk of atherosclerosis and heart disease, and the frequent occurrence of cardiovascular disorders such as hot flashes.

And here our green friends - plants - will come to our aid. Phytoestrogen is one of the phytohormones produced by plants and regulates their development and growth. In terms of its chemical composition, phytoestrogen is very close to the female sex hormone. After scientists proved that the use of phytohormones is safer for health than the use of hormones obtained synthetically, interest in them in medicine and cosmetology has increased greatly.

What foods contain estrogen?

Let's take a closer look at which products containing the female hormone estrogen are the most common and popular.

Soy and estrogen

Soybeans are a subtropical food item from the pea family, most commonly grown and consumed in Southeast Asia. Soy is a good source of protein, fiber and isoflavones, organic compounds that are sometimes called phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens, or plant estrogens, in foods mimic the effects of estrogen in the human body.

Soy products that increase estrogen in women are soybeans and products made from them, such as soy milk, tofu, soy cheese, tempeh and soy oil. Processed foods containing soy, such as veggie burgers and energy bars, are high in protein but tend to have lower levels of phytoestrogens.

Soy sauce is not a source of phytoestrogens. Increasing your soy intake may increase estrogen and relieve symptoms associated with estrogen deficiency, protect bone density and improve cholesterol levels.

But eating soy carries a certain risk for those who are prone to hormonal diseases. You should consult your doctor before increasing your soy intake.

Flaxseed oil - estrogens

Flaxseed oil and flaxseed are high estrogen foods.
Flax is considered the champion of the plant world in terms of the amount of phytoestrogens. Flaxseed contains natural estrogens for women - lignin. One study found that flaxseed contains more estrogen than soy.

Flaxseed is a good source of fiber and is also useful as a natural laxative. It is recommended to add flax seed ground in a coffee grinder as a cleanser to various dishes, 1-2 tablespoons per day for a month.

Flaxseed can be added to cereals and used in many foods and baked goods, as well as in vegetable salads.

During menopause, to reduce hot flashes, it is recommended to take 2 tablespoons of flaxseed 2 times a day. In one week of daily use of flaxseed, the intensity of hot flashes is halved, and maximum results can be expected after 2 weeks.

Beans to normalize estrogen levels in the body

A few secrets to increasing hormone levels:

• Minimize your intake of blocking foods: onions, figs, broccoli, rice, alcohol and wheat flour.
• Don't chase anorexic thinness, let your body have seductive curves.
• Regular sex means pleasure and health. Remember that during the process, women tend to evaluate the aesthetics of their own body, and any wrinkle can ruin the mood, but men enjoy the process, so a woman should be as relaxed as possible.
• Aromatherapy. Essential oils such as fennel, cypress, basil or sage will help. And supporting balance is the job of rose geranium, lavender or neroli oils.
• Let us again borrow experience from India, or more precisely, from its health system - yoga. Professionals say that there are some exercises that stimulate the normal functioning of the adrenal glands.
• Avoid stressful situations. It is not for nothing that there is an expression that all diseases occur from nerves. And during times of stress, the body can release hormonal tricks in the form of adrenaline and cortisol. And they, in turn, destroy estrogen.

The modern situation requires women to always stay in good shape, recover quickly, not become limp, and strive forward. Unfortunately, young ladies are not always able to maintain an optimal balance of hormones in the body, but they always want to remain a desirable and attractive woman, in which case products rich in estrogen will come to the rescue. Learn to gratefully accept the gifts that nature gives and remain interesting to the opposite sex at any age.

White beans contain naturally occurring estrogens. The product is rich in folic acid, calcium, iron.

There are many ways to eat white beans. The product can be added to soups and salads. Beans are often eaten boiled or added to a variety of snacks.

Black beans help increase fertility in the fair sex. These products are an excellent source of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and plant-based protein. Black beans can be added to salads or soups. The product goes well with cucumbers or carrots.

What are phytoestrogens

Phytoestrogens are compounds that are found in plants and exhibit the ability to combine in the human body with receptors for female hormones. Natural estrogens are not a completely accurate definition, since they do not have independent hormonal activity and are not steroids, like natural ones. In terms of activity, phytoestrogens are inferior to female hormones, 500-1000 times weaker.

The main use of drugs based on plant estrogens is to relieve the symptoms of menopause (hot flashes, irritability), and to prevent the rapid destruction of bones in women after 40 years. It has been established that when used correctly, phytoestrogens can have a positive effect on the heart, blood vessels, skin condition, slow down aging and even the development of certain tumors.

There are several groups of these compounds, the most famous and studied include:

• isoflavones from soybeans, grapes (especially dark varieties);
• lignans (husk of rye, wheat, rice, flaxseed, spinach, grapefruit, broccoli);
• coumestans (alfalfa, clover).

Medicines have been created on their basis. If you use herbs and food, you can get a preventive effect, but in this case you cannot count on a therapeutic effect.

We recommend reading about the causes of estrogen deficiency in women. From the article you will learn about the manifestations of estrogen deficiency, symptoms of the disease, diagnostic methods and options for replenishing hormone levels.

And here is more information about the signs and consequences of hyperestrogenism in women.

Estrogen-like effect

Phytoestrogens have an estrogen-like effect, since their molecule is similar to the female sex hormones - estrogens. Thanks to this, they connect with protein receptors of natural hormonal compounds. In a simplified form, this interaction occurs according to the following rules:

• with normal hormonal background - connect with alpha receptors in the uterus and mammary glands and with beta receptors in blood vessels, brain, bones, skin, adipose tissue;
• with a lack of estrogen (menopause, surgery, ovarian depletion) - predominantly connect to beta receptors;
• if there is an excess of estrogen, they do not act, since all the receptors are “occupied” with their own, stronger hormones.

Therefore, phytoestrogens can be considered beneficial only if the woman does not have enough of her own hormones. With a normal estrogen background, herbal remedies will interfere with the work of natural hormonal substances in the mammary glands and uterus (anti-estrogenic effect). With increased production (hyperestrogenism), phytoestrogens will not have an effect, but at first they may have a stimulating effect.

Effect on the body

The positive effects of phytoestrogens on the body include:

• getting rid of the early symptoms of menopause - hot flashes, sweating, irritability, insomnia, weight gain, frequent urination, dry vaginal mucous membranes;
• improvement of the condition of skin, hair, nails;
• increase immunity, inhibit the development of tumors, especially those dependent on the balance of sex hormones;
• normalization of hormonal levels;
• obstruction of the action of male sex hormones during baldness, acne;
• protection of the heart, blood vessels, and brain from atherosclerotic changes;
• to some extent slow down aging;
• regulation of the menstrual cycle;
• stimulation of blood circulation, improvement of vascular elasticity, microcirculation in capillaries, blood fluidity, slowing down thrombus formation;
• lowering cholesterol levels;
• inhibition of bone tissue destruction;
• muscle strengthening;
• acceleration of tissue restoration and wound healing;
• increasing the level of endorphins (hormones of joy and pleasure) in the brain, normalizing the production of stress hormonal compounds;
• memory improvement.

Who needs natural estrogens?

Plant, or natural, estrogens are needed only when there is a lack of female sex hormones. Due to their beneficial properties during menopause (natural or medicinal, surgical), they were mistakenly assigned the role of a means to maintain youth and beauty. But their use is not always justified.

Breast enlargement

Under the influence of natural estrogens, the mammary glands grow during adolescence and increase in volume during pregnancy. If young women take dietary supplements with phytoestrogens, they will not allow their own hormones to work. As a result, the breasts not only will not increase in size, but there is also a risk of a decrease in the formation of their estrogens - hypoestrogenism with menstrual irregularities.

Phytoestrogens and uterine fibroids

Uterine fibroids, like endometriosis, occur when there is an excess of their hormones. Phytoestrogens in this case may have a weak antiestrogenic effect, but they do not stop the progression of these diseases. When taking phytohormones, there is a risk of initial stimulation of estrogen receptors with an increase in the intensity of uterine bleeding.

To reduce body weight

In case of a lack of female hormones, phytoestrogens can prevent the rapid accumulation of fat, since adipose tissue contains a reserve of estriol. By storing fats, the body tries to slightly compensate for estrogen deficiency, and phytohormones slow down this process.

If a woman takes only plant extracts, then she will not be able to significantly lose weight with their help. By following a diet and increasing physical activity, they will stimulate faster fat burning.

Phytoestrogens for men

For men, the use of phytoestrogens can only be recommended for the prevention of prostate cancer. They have a weak estrogen-like effect, which prevents male sex hormones from acting on the prostate.

For healthy men, excessive consumption of plant estrogens with soy, tofu, and beer is considered undesirable, since there is evidence of a decrease in the quality of seminal fluid and the accumulation of adipose tissue under their influence.

For breast cancer

It has been established that phytohormones inhibit the activity of aromatase, that is, an enzyme that converts male steroids (testosterone, androstenedione) into female ones, which reduces the risk of breast cancer, especially in obesity.

When prescribing hormone replacement therapy during menopause, the risk of breast tumors increases, since the medications do not selectively act on all estrogen receptors. Therefore, studies are being conducted on the possibility of including phytoestrogens in the course of estrogen treatment for cancer prevention.

Watch this video about how estrogens help with menopause:

Strawberries and peaches

Peaches are enriched with phytoestrogens. Fruits contain a lot of nutrients. The product prevents the occurrence of cancer and stroke.

It is recommended to add peaches to ice cream, baked goods, and various desserts. Strawberries have a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin and help get rid of extra pounds.

Tofu cheese is made from soy milk. The product helps increase estrogen levels in the body. Tofu cheese can be called a universal product. It is used in making soups. Tofu cheese is fried with vegetables, and original snacks are prepared from it.

Important Tips

In order to enhance the therapeutic effect of estrogens, which are contained in various foods, you need to follow the following recommendations:

1. Creams with essential oils (nutmeg, anise, geranium) are used as an aid. You can take a bath with aromatic oils.
2. After several weeks of including foods rich in phytoestrogens in the diet, it is recommended to repeat the test to determine the estrogen content in the body. If there are no significant changes, the daily menu should be adjusted.
3. Fruits and vegetables rich in estrogens retain their beneficial properties with short heat treatment.
4. Great care must be taken in selecting appropriate food products. Meat may contain harmful hormonal additives, and vegetables may contain nitrates.
5. For vegetables, a woman is recommended to give preference to tomatoes, and for fruits - apricots.
6. The diet of the fair sex should include high-quality dairy products. In this case, the risk of low-quality tumors in the breast area is reduced.
7. The level of estrogen in the body increases when drinking red wine in small doses. The drink reduces the likelihood of cardiovascular disease. Red wine goes well with a variety of foods: roasted peanuts, peaches, strawberries, tofu.

The influence of phytoestrogens on the human body

The effect of phytoestrogens on humans depends on both gender and age. For women with normal estrogen levels (young and healthy), abuse of the above products can lead to phytoestrogens suppressing hormones and having an androgenic effect on the body. Women over 40-50 years of age can relatively safely consume foods and preparations with phytoestrogens, since during menopause the female body reduces the production of its own estrogens, and supply from the outside will be very helpful. In this case, phytoestrogens reduce the negative manifestations of menopause and reduce the likelihood of developing osteoporosis, breast, intestinal, and skin cancer. They also reduce blood cholesterol and blood pressure, and therefore the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Scientists have not yet fully figured out how products containing phytoestrogens affect men. Estrogen is present in the male body, but is not dominant. Its excess can lead to the formation of secondary sexual characteristics in a man - muscle mass decreases, breasts and hips increase. Also, in particularly severe cases, an excess of this hormone sometimes leads to impotence, so men should be very careful with products that can disrupt their hormonal balance.

To summarize all of the above, then when consuming food rich in phytoestrogens, one should observe moderation, since at this stage medicine has not clearly defined where the benefits end and the harm of such products begins. You should stick to the golden mean and sufficiently diversify your diet so as not to create a hormonal imbalance in the body. Constantly consuming any of the above foods and herbs is necessary only on the recommendation of a doctor.