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Foods That Contain Estrogen

There are many reasons to have an understanding which foods contain estrogen, and which foods inhibit estrogen production. Women who suffer from estrogen deficiencies or a low sex drive may want to add foods that contain estrogen into their diets. However, women who suffer from conditions like PMS, fibroid cysts, ovarian cysts, or have a high risk of breast cancer should consume foods that inhibit the production of estrogen in the body.

  1. Importance of Estrogen

    • Estrogen is the term for the female sex hormone that is produced by the ovary. It is responsible for all of the female sexual traits. Having enough estrogen is essential for a female's body to be in proper working order, however, as a women ages estrogen production decreases. So it may be useful to add estrogen into the diet. There are also several medical conditions that result in low estrogen levels which might find the addition of estrogen rich foods beneficial.

      It is important to keep estrogen levels balanced in the body. Consultation with a physician can help to determine if extra estrogen is needed to combat health problems.

    Plant Estrogen Foods

    • There are many organic estrogen rich foods found in the plant kingdom. These foods include vegetables, a few fruits, legumes, grains and seeds. It is important to note that not all plants contain estrogen, and many plants actually inhibit the absorption of estrogen in the body.

      Estrogen rich foods include alfalfa, apples, barely, beets, carrots, cherries, chickpeas, black eyed peas, cucumbers, dates, eggs, eggplants, garlic, oats, olives, papaya, peas, peppers, plums, pomegranates, potatoes, pumpkins, red beans, sunflower seeds, tomatoes, wheat and yams.

    Dangers of Estrogen

    • People with a high risk of breast cancer should avoid foods that are rich in estrogen. High amounts of estrogen in the body can lead to breast cancer. Other medical conditions like PMS, as well as fibroid and ovarian cysts can be adversely affected by extra estrogen in the diet.

    Estrogen Inhibiting Foods

    • Foods that actually inhibit the production of estrogen should be eaten by people who need to control their estrogen intake. These foods should be added into the diet on a regular basis.

      Foods that inhibit estrogen absorption include berries, broccoli, cabbage, citrus, corn, fruit, except for the fruit previously mentioned, green beans, melons, onions, squash, tapioca, white rice and white flour.

    Soy Foods

    • According to Bio-medicine.com, the September issue of the American Association for Cancer Research journal reported in 2005 that consuming soy based foods can significantly lower the estrogens associated with breast cancer. This is especially important for postmenopausal women. Popular soy based foods are tofu, soy cheese and soy milk.

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