How to Obtain Natural Estrogen Through Foods & Herbs

How to Obtain Natural Estrogen Through Foods & Herbs
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Estrogen is the key hormone used in developing female characteristics, such as breast growth. Increasing this factor in a woman's body helps minimize the problems associated with menopause in many sufferers. Rebalancing estrogen levels in a totally natural manner is best achieved by consuming soy-based items on an ongoing basis. This can be easily done through consuming appropriate foods, drinks and herbal supplements each day.

Step 1

Adjust your existing diet habits. Begin to replace existing staple foods such as flour with soy-based alternatives. This substance is the richest, 100 percent natural dietary source of estrogen-influencing compounds. According to an Oregon State University study, soy holds plentiful levels of isoflavones, a plant-derived estrogen substitute. Tofu and soy-based flour and protein products possess rich concentrations of these compounds.

Step 2

Eat as much soy food as possible. Although finding equivalent items to what you're generally used to may be inconvenient and somewhat more expensive, it is necessary. Do more grocery shopping in specialist health stores, or even buy in bulk from online retailers. A majority of soy food and drink in your daily meals will bolster estrogen to its maximum capacity within the boundaries of natural usage.

Step 3

Use only soy milk. Replacing your usual type of milk with soy-based varieties is the simplest of all ways to bolster your estrogen levels naturally. Most breakfast cereals are fine when eaten with soy milk. Likewise, if you're making desserts such as cakes, using soy milk in the recipe is another great opportunity to combine soy products into your diet.

Step 4

Make soy smoothies. Unfortunately, soy milk is bland and watery in comparison to the creamier taste of cow's milk, but it is still viable for use in smoothie drinks. The same fruits---like strawberries and bananas---work equally well in soy milk. Chocolate flavoring and most kinds of nut pieces can also be incorporated.

Step 5

Take a soy isoflavones supplement. A once-a-day dietary supplement is the best and most convenient source of natural estrogen compounds. There are presently inconclusive studies confirming the effectiveness of this herbal product, though. However, Lehigh University states, "The structure of isoflavones is not exactly the same as estrogen, so isoflavones are not estrogen. However, the isoflavone structure has important similarities to estrogen. These similarities allow isoflavones to bind to estrogen receptors in our estrogen-responsive cells."

References

Article reviewed by Eric Broder Last updated on: Sep 24, 2010

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