The use of hormone replacement therapy has declined due to safety concerns. Taking estrogen, for example, may increase your risk for cancer. Women have therefore begun using approaches borrowed from alternative medicine, according to an April 2011 article in "Mymensingh Medical Journal." Phytoestrogens -- substances in food that mimic estrogen -- have received increasing scientific support. Changing your diet can enhance other hormones as well. Speak with a doctor before self-medicating with food.
Vegetables Increase Melatonin
The pineal gland releases melatonin to communicate information from the environment to your body. Melatonin levels decrease as you get older, and this can disrupt your biological clock. Women who eat more vegetables appear to have more melatonin, according to a correlational study published in the May 2005 issue of "Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention." This finding suggests that vegetables actually increase melatonin. An experiment described in the August 2008 issue of "Journal of Pineal Research" tested this hypothesis in younger and older women. One group of subjects began eating more vegetables while another group kept to their usual diet. The former group had higher melatonin levels within two months.
Fruit Increases Progesterone
The ovaries release progesterone to protect the fetus in pregnant women and regulate the menstrual cycle in nonpregnant women. Patients with ovary disease have reduced levels of progesterone. This increases their risk for endometrial cancer. Eating certain foods might reduce the risk by increasing progesterone. An investigation presented in the September 2007 issue of "Hormones and Behavior" looked at the impact of the African black plum on progesterone levels in wild baboons. The baboons depend heavily on these plums for sustenance during the rainy season. Seasonal consumption dramatically increases their progesterone levels.
Milk Increases Estrogen
The ovaries manufacture estrogen in addition to progesterone. This hormone plays a critical role in the development of feminine characteristics. Estrogen levels decline following menopause, causing symptoms such as hot flashes. Consuming dietary estrogen might increase natural estrogen and help prevent these symptoms. A correlational study published in February 2010 in "European Journal of Clinical Nutrition" tracked the diets of postmenopausal women. Participants who consumed the most dairy products had the highest levels of circulating estrogen. This finding suggests that consuming products like milk enhances estrogen. A May 2006 report in "International Journal of Cancer" showed that giving cow's milk to laboratory animals activated their estrogen system.
Spices Increase Testosterone
The testes produce testosterone to facilitate tissue construction and repair. Older men often have testosterone deficiencies, placing them at risk for many health problems. Adding spices to your diet can improve your health. A July 2011 report in "Reproduction in Domestic Animals" showed that ginger prevents toxin-related damage to the endocrine system. The mechanism underlying this benefit remains unknown, but it might involve testosterone enhancement. An experiment published in the December 2002 issue of "Asian Journal of Andrology" tested this hypothesis in laboratory animals. Giving rats daily doses of ginger for a week increased their circulating testosterone without causing toxicity.
References
- "Mymensingh Medical Journal"; Phytoestrogen Intake and Cardiovascular Risk Markers in Bangladeshi Postmenopausal Women; Farid Saleh et al.; April 2011
- "Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention"; Association of Vegetable Intake With Urinary 6-Sulfatoxymelatonin Level; Chisato Nagata et al.; May 2005
- "Journal of Pineal Research"; Consumption of Vegetables Alters Morning Urinary 6-Sulfatoxymelatonin Concentration; Shino Oba et al.; August 2008
- "Hormones and Behavior"; Reduced Reproductive Function in Wild Baboons (Papio Hamadryas Anubis) Related to Natural Consumption of the African Black Plum (Vitex Doniana); J.P. Higham et al.; September 2007
- "European Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Consumption of Animal Products, Their Nutrient Components and Postmenopausal Circulating Steroid Hormone Concentrations; Maree T. Brinkman et al.; February 2010
- "International Journal of Cancer"; Commercial Cows' Milk Has Uterotrophic Activity on the Uteri of Young Ovariectomized Rats and Immature Rats; Davaasambuu Ganmaa et al.; May 2006
