Is Estrogen Good In A Male's Diet?

You may consider estrogen a female hormone, but a man with insufficient levels of estrogen can experience a number of health problems. Contrary to popular belief, the presence of estrogen in a man's body does not lead to the growth of breasts or a lack of sexual potency. The latter myth is actually the complete opposite of the truth. A diet that contains foods with estrogen is not only good for most men but may also improve their feelings of masculinity.

Estrogen Levels in Food

Some foods contain high levels of estrogen. Foods with the largest amounts of estrogen include soybeans and soy derivatives, according to the University of Minnesota. Other foods high in estrogen include citrus fruits, celery, wheat, alfalfa and flaxseed. Foods that contain estrogen at lower levels include carrots, cherries, plums, potatoes, cucumbers, dates, peppers and tomatoes. Dairy products are also a good source of estrogen.

Ideal Levels of Estrogen

If you are a man who is considering adopting a diet specifically to increase estrogen levels, you should have a doctor test your current levels of the hormone. The dangers of estrogen leading to a feminizing of the male body are related to extremely high levels. A man's ideal level of estrogen is between 20 and 30 picograms per milliliter of blood, according to lef.org.

Sexual Potency

Eating a diet that ensures proper levels of estrogen is directly related to sexual potency in men. A balance between the hormones estrogen, testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA, is essential for a contented sex life. Men with high levels of testosterone but low levels of estrogen and DHEA may experience the frustration of a strong sex drive that they cannot consistently fulfill. The male hormone testosterone is responsible for libido levels, but sexual endurance depends equally on testosterone and estrogen. Excess energy for sexual endurance depends to some extent on the ability of DHEA to inhibit the production of cortisol, which consumes energy to fight the effects of stress.

Bone Strength

A study in the "Journal of Clinical Investigations" concluded that estrogen is the dominant hormone at play in a man's ability to maintain bone strength. Aging men can benefit from a diet rich in estrogen-containing foods in much the same ways that women can. Estrogen plays a major role in fending off osteoporosis, which can occur as a result of a weakened skeletal system. Estrogen is also helpful in maintaining bone formation. The study also concluded that estrogen is equally as important as testosterone in maintaining bone density.

Heart Health

Estrogen is also related to heart health in men. An article in "US News & World Report" cited a study in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" that found link between estrogen levels in men and increased risk for heart failure. Men with the lowest levels of estrogen have four times the risk of dying from heart failure compared to men with normal estrogen levels. The study also found an increased risk for men with higher than normal estrogen levels. These men face twice the risk of dying from heart failure compared to men with normal levels of estrogen.