Estrogen is the female sex hormone although it is produced naturally in both men and women. There are two types of estrogens found in foods -- phytoestrogens and xenoestrogens. Phytoestrogens are the natural estrogens found in plants and some animal food sources. Phytoestrogens have been linked to several benefits. Xenoestrogens, on the other hand, are "foreign" estrogens that are artificially produced and have been linked to several negative health side effects.
Soy and Flaxseed
Soy and flaxseed are the two most naturally estrogenic rich foods. According to Dietary Fiber Foods, the major phytoestrogen groups are isoflavones, flavones, coumestans and lignans. Soy products including soybeans, soymilk and tofu are especially high in isoflavones, and flaxseed is exceptionally high in lignans.
Other Estrogen Rich Foods
The estrogenic content of foods is calculated according to their sum of isoflavones, lignans and coumestan content. High levels of estrogen are present in most nut and seeds oils. Rich sources of phytoestrogens include sesame seeds, multigrain bread, hummus, garlic, mung beans, dried apricots, alfalfa sprouts, dried dates, olive oil, almonds, green beans, peanuts, onions, blueberries, corn, coffee and cow milk. Small amounts of phytoestrogens can also be found in animal food sources such as meat and eggs.
Benefits
Phytoestrogens have several benefits. They have the potential to reduce breast and prostate cancer and have various cardiovascular benefits and may also help prevent osteoporosis. Also, post menopausal women often suffer from a lack of estrogen. Phytoestrogenic foods can help replace these estrogen levels.
Estrogen Dangers
Estrogen has risk factors attached to it. Many foods now contain what are known as xenoestrogens, or foreign estrogens that are not natural to the human body. These estrogens are usually found in foods that are packaged in plastic, plastic bottles, canned foods and commercially raised poultry, beef and pork. These xenoestrogens have been linked to lower fertility levels in both men and women and the proliferation of cancer cells.
