During menopause, weaning and postpartum recovery, women may experience a sharp decrease in levels of reproductive hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. Although these fluctuations are natural and ultimately harmless, they can cause significant discomforts such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood disturbances and sexual problems. Fortunately, several foods may help to provide natural hormone replacement with fewer risks than hormone replacement therapy. Consult your health care provider before making radical changes to your diet, particularly if you have a medical condition or a history of hormone-sensitive cancer.
Soy
The soybean is an excellent source of estrogen-like compounds known as isoflavones. According to the National Institutes of Health, these hormone-enhancing nutrients appear to relieve menopausal discomforts such as hot flashes and night sweats. Although evidence is contradictory and inconsistent, experts suggest that soy improves hormone levels by altering estrogen receptors in the female body. The NIH notes that heavily processed soy foods, such as soy-based "hot dogs," contain minimal levels of isoflavones. Minimally processed soy products such as edamame and tofu provide more consistent, therapeutic levels of these compounds.
Fennel
Used extensively in Mediterranean cuisine, the seeds and bulb of the fennel plant may help to increase estrogen levels in women experiencing low hormone levels due to menopause. A study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology suggested that photoanethole, dianethole and anethole--three sweet-tasting medicinal compounds in fennel--can alter levels of reproductive hormones. Fennel has been used traditionally to treat hormone disruptions caused by menopause, breastfeeding and late pregnancy. Consider using grilled fennel bulb in your favorite recipes, or use the pleasant-tasting seeds to season pasta sauces and salad dressings.
Licorice
Artificially flavored licorice candy will not appreciably alter human hormone levels, but natural licorice foods have been used for centuries to treat endocrine imbalances. The NIH states that women using licorice supplements may experience an increase in levels of the sex hormones estrogen and prolactin, both of which decline during and after menopause. Although generally made with licorice root extract, licorice-flavored candy may also contain anise seed oil, a product that is similar in taste and offers a similar profile of hormone-affecting medicinal compounds.
Milk
Cows naturally produce more estrogen, progesterone and prolactin during lactation, and trace amounts of these hormones enter commercially available dairy products. In a review published by the Harvard Gazette, scientists note that the hormonal effects of milk are poorly understood. In theory, milk products may elevate levels of reproductive hormones within the human body, but the long-term effects of this are poorly understood. Milk, cheese, yogurt and pudding may all offer a subtle boost in the female hormone levels that decline during menopause. Consult your physician if natural therapies do not sufficiently ease your hormonal discomforts.
