What are Estrogen Rich Foods and their Importance?
You may have heard estrogen so often but have a little understanding about it. Basically, it is more commonly known as a female sex hormone. However, it has a deeper and greater significance in human health particularly women and this is simply why it is extremely essential to make estrogen rich foods as part of your diet. But eating foods high in estrogen is not really enough to support your own health with a sufficient supply of estrogen since too much intake of such compound can lead to certain health constraints.
What is Estrogen?
Estrogen is a collective term which is used to classify a certain group of compounds which play an essential role in the estrous cycle of humans particularly among women. There are three main types of naturally occurring estrogen among women and these are estrone, estradiol, and estriol.
The presence of estrogen is very much essential in the proper flow of menstrual cycle of women and continuous development of various secondary sexual organs. In men, estrogen helps in securing maturity of sperm cells. Apart from the aforesaid functions, these generative compounds are also significant in increasing the uterine growth and vaginal lubrication, accelerating metabolism, reducing muscle mass, thickening the vaginal wall, increasing hepatic production, of binding proteins, increasing the adhesive property of platelets, retention of salt and water, and lots more others.
Most commonly, women who are in their menopausal stages particularly in the ages of 30yrs old (early menopause / surgically induced menopausal) to 44yrs old (natural menopausal) experience this so called crash. Because of this, it is important to gain essential knowledge about foods with estrogen in order to lessen or refrain from the effects such as vaginal dryness, sleep disturbances, night sweats, and hot flashes.
Foods High in Estrogen
Basically there are many types of estrogen foods which can be easily acquired from your local market. However, two of these foods are known to have the highest levels of estrogen and these are soy beans and flax seeds.
- bean sprouts
- bread
- apple
- banana
- legumes
- peas
- soy milk(non gmo )
- tofu
- beets
- carrots
- yams
- olives
- teas
The aforementioned foods contain different amounts of phytoestrogen types namely, isoflavones, coumestrol, and lignans. Proper and appropriate intake of foods high in estrogen must also be observed because too much estrogen can lead to sudden weight gain and mood swings.
