20 Foods High In Estrogen (Phytoestrogens)

Red wine is rich in resveratrol, a phytoestrogen researchers believe reduces heart disease risk by regulating cholesterol levels. Another study found that phytoestrogens in red wine may stop cancer cell growth, particularly among postmenopausal women.

Top Foods High in Estrogen

Estrogen is an important naturally-occurring hormone. It’s key to women’s sexual and reproductive development. It may support heart-healthy and anti-cancer effects for women and men. Estrogen levels are higher in women, but the evidence is that good levels are also important for men’s health. Research shows estrogen may support bone health, mood regulation, and a lower cancer risk in both genders.

Phytoestrogens are a form of dietary estrogen we get from food. Research is ongoing into the effects of these plant-based nutrients. Studies indicate they can mimic or enhance the natural hormone’s health benefits.

While most research points to positive effects, in some cases phytoestrogens can block or disrupt estrogen in your body. It’s important to talk to your doctor about managing your hormone levels with your diet.

Why You Need Estrogen

Estrogen’s main function is to control reproductive changes in women, but it serves other roles in both male and female bodies, including:

• Heart and blood vessel support
• Bone strength
• Brain protection and mood regulation

Our estrogen levels can change for many reasons. For some, managing these effects may require treatment such as hormone replacement therapy.

The phytoestrogens in foods may help support estrogen’s natural functions. Research shows these nutrients are linked to several health benefits, including:

Menopausal Relief in Women

Women’s estrogen levels decrease with age, causing changes in the body referred to as menopause. Studies show that phytoestrogens can help relieve some of menopause’s physical symptoms, like the frequency of hot flashes and vaginal dryness.

Improved Bone Health

Estrogens help maintain healthy bone density, reducing the risk of osteoporosis in both men and women. Studies show that phytoestrogens from food may support this effect, improving long-term bone health.

May Lower Risk of Heart Disease

Studies show phytonutrients may help manage cholesterol. Maintaining good cholesterol levels keeps your arteries free from fatty build-up, reducing the risk of heart problems and stroke.

May Reduce the Risk of Cancers

According to research, higher estrogen and phytoestrogen levels are associated with lower rates of breast cancer. Phytoestrogens have also been shown to kill prostate cancer cells, an effect scientists continue to study for the nutrients’ use in cancer prevention or management.

Foods With Estrogen

Many types of food-based phytoestrogens are studied for their potential health benefits. These include:

Each of these phytoestrogens has antioxidant properties. This means that in addition to the nutrients’ potential health benefits, they fight cell damage in our bodies linked to a wide range of chronic diseases.

The best dietary sources of phytoestrogens include:

1. Flaxseeds

Flaxseeds are the richest dietary source of lignans (polyphenols found in plants). Researchers believe they lower breast cancer risk. You can sprinkle flaxseeds on many dishes, bake them into bread and cookies, or blend them into smoothies and spreads.

2. Soy

Soy contains high levels of isoflavones, phytoestrogens that may mimic estrogen’s effects and reduce the risk of both breast and prostate cancer. Soy is also rich in a range of essential vitamins and minerals. It can support heart health as an alternative to red and processed meats. It’s also extremely versatile — you can include soy in your diet with foods like tofu, tempeh, edamame, and soymilk.

3. Peaches

Because of their high lignan content, studies show that eating two servings of peaches or nectarines a week reduces a woman’s breast cancer risk. Researchers find similar effects from consuming blueberries and strawberries.

4. Garlic

Regular garlic consumption can help lower cholesterol, reduce blood pressure, and prevent clots — all heart disease risk factors. Research shows garlic can influence estrogen levels in the body, perhaps helping reduce age-related bone loss. But more research is needed to study this effect.

5. Red Wine

Red wine is rich in resveratrol, a phytoestrogen researchers believe reduces heart disease risk by regulating cholesterol levels. Another study found that phytoestrogens in red wine may stop cancer cell growth, particularly among postmenopausal women.

6. Sesame Seeds

Sesame seeds are easy to add to almost any meal — and they may help improve your cholesterol levels. Studies show they affect estrogen levels, with potent antioxidant activity fighting chronic disease risk factors.

Vegetables like broccoli, Brussel sprouts, and kale contain phytoestrogens with anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. Diets rich in cruciferous vegetables are also associated with lower risk of many chronic diseases, including heart problems.

Nuts like cashews, almonds, peanuts, and pistachios are a great source of heart-healthy phytoestrogens. They’re easy to add to your diet. But because most nuts are high in calories and fat, be sure to limit your portions to the recommended serving size.

Show Sources

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: “Flaxseeds and Breast Cancer.”.

Aging Male: “Is there a role for estrogens in the maintenance of men’s health?”

Breast Cancer Research and Treatment: “Intake of specific fruits and vegetables in relation to risk of estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer among postmenopausal women.”

Cedars-Sinai: “Red Wine: Is It Good for You or Not?”

Clinical Cases in Mineral and Bone Metabolism: “Phytoestrogens: food or drug?”

Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology: “The pros and cons of phytoestrogens.”

Harvard Medical School: “Straight Talk About Soy.”

Johns Hopkins Medicine: “Estrogen’s Effects on the Female Body.”

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry: “Phytoestrogen Content of Beverages, Nuts, Seeds, and Oils.”

Journal of Dietary Supplements: “The effect of garlic tablet on pro-inflammatory cytokines in postmenopausal osteoporotic women: a randomized controlled clinical trial.”

The Journal of Nutrition: “Sesame ingestion affects sex hormones, antioxidant status, and blood lipids in postmenopausal women.”

Journal of Postgraduate Medicine: “Vegetables, fruits and phytoestrogens in the prevention Vegetables, fruits and phytoestrogens in the prevention of diseases of diseases.”

Mayo Clinic: “Nuts and your heart: Eating nuts for heart health.”

Northwestern University: “Red Wine’s Health Benefits May Be Due In Part To “Estrogen” In Grape Skin.”

Physiological Reviews: “Estrogens in Male Physiology.”

Susan G. Komen Foundation: “Garlic.”

The New England Journal of Medicine: “Some Phytoestrogens Relieve Some Menopause Symptoms — Somewhat.”

20 Foods High In Estrogen (Phytoestrogens)

Estrogen is considered a female sex hormone produced by the ovaries in women. Without adequate levels of estrogen, women may notice that they feel moody, unhealthy, or are unable to maintain healthy female sex characteristics. Estrogen is an essential hormone for maintenance of feminine sex traits, but also plays an important role in physiological functions such as: promoting sex drive (libido), vaginal health, skin health, triglyceride regulation, and speeding the metabolism.

While there are many synthetic, pharmaceutical drugs devised to increase estrogen levels in women, these interventions aren’t always necessary. There are some natural ways to increase estrogen levels, one of which happens to be eating the right foods foods. This has lead some women with low estrogen to adopt diets with specific foods containing phytoestrogens (plant-based compounds that stimulate the same receptors as estrogen).

Foods High in Estrogen: Think Phytoestrogen

If you are a woman with suboptimal levels of estrogen, you’ll likely notice that the insufficient levels take a toll on your health. Estrogen is essential for regulating your menstrual cycle and is necessary for healthy bones, hair, skin, and heart function. To combat an estrogen deficiency, you may want to adopt a diet rich in foods that will increase your estrogen level. This means increasing intake of phytoestrogens, while decreasing consumption of foods that increase testosterone.

Phytoestrogens

Phytoestrogens are considered plant-based compounds that elicit similar effects to estrogen. Although phytoestrogens aren’t generated from within the endocrine system, they can be a helpful way to stimulate many of the same functions of estrogen. This is because phytoestrogens sit in the same receptor sites that estrogen would – thus similar effects are produced.

3 Types of Phytoestrogens

Below are three common types of phytoestrogens derived from foods. Certain foods may contain multiple types of phytoestrogens, but one may be dominant.

• Coumestan: Phytochemicals called “coumestans” contain a compound called “coumestrol.” Coumestrol is known to elicit estrogenic effects and is considered a phytoestrogen. Examples of foods with coumestrol include: alfalfa, legumes, pinto beans, soybeans, chick peas, and clovers.
• Isoflavones: This is another compound that is related to “isoflavonoids.” They act as phytoestrogens in people and are sometimes considered antioxidants. Examples of isoflavones include: soy products and legumes.
• Lignans: This is the third type of phytoestrogen derived from foods. Lignans are most commonly found in foods like brans, beans, fruits, and vegetables.

In 2006, researchers in Canada published a study comparing the 9 food groups richest in phytoestrogens for a Western diet. They compared a total of 121 foods in Ontario, Canada and analyzed these foods for isoflavones and coumestan utilizing gas cromatography mass spectrometry. They then compared the foods with the highest amount of phytoestrogens per serving.

The study discovered that on average, the foods with the highest phytoestrogen content were “nuts and oilseeds” followed by “soy products.” This is somewhat misleading though considering the way foods were grouped and the fact that phytoestrogen content varies significantly within a particular food group or genre.

• Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16898863

20 Foods High in Estrogen

Based on the research from the study cited above, the top 20 foods to increase estrogen levels on a per-serving basis are listed below. Clearly the top recommendation would be consumption of flaxseeds and other soy-related products (e.g. soybeans, soy nuts, and tofu). Understand that certain foods may not have been taken into consideration in this study and therefore the list may not be conclusive.

Phytoestrogen Contents by Food Group

As was mentioned, the study ranked 9 specific food groups for phytoestrogen contents based on micrograms per serving and amount per 100 grams. The rough estimates are listed next to each of the foods within the overarching “group.” Keep in mind that the groupings were created by researchers and were likely used for easier organization rather than creating one giant list.

1. Nuts & oil seeds

As you can see within the nuts and oil seeds group, there are a few foods that are chock-full of phytoestrogens per serving – including flaxseeds and sesame seeds. Numeric values on a per serving basis indicate that flaxseeds contain the most overall phytoestrogens. There is significant variation within this grouping though as walnuts contain a minuscule amount compared to the flaxseeds.

• Flaxseeds (163,133)
• Sesame seed (2,722)
• Pistachios (126)
• Sunflower seed (71)
• Chestnuts (67)
• Walnuts (36)

2. Soy products

When averaged out in the study, soy products come in “second” to the nuts and oil seeds grouping. This is due to the fact that the flax skews the average. If your goal is to get the most phytoestrogens per serving from a variety of sources – consider soy products. Both soybeans and soy nuts contain the highest amount of isoflavones to increase estrogen.

• Soy beans (45,724)
• Soy nuts (21,306)
• Textured veggie protein (8,923)
• Tofu (8,688)
• Soy milk (7,422)
• Soy yogurt (6,576)
• Tempeh (6,407)
• Miso Paste (2,463)
• Miso Soup (1,691)
• Soy protein powder (1,591)
• Veggie burger (484)
• Bacon Bits (482)
• Soybean sprouts (173)

3. Cereals and Breads

Following soy products, the “cereals and breads” category placed third for average phytoestrogen content per serving. Not many cereals scored high in total phytoestrogen content, therefore this category should really just be called “breads.” As you can see, the flax-based bread appeared to be the top source, followed by multigrain bread, and oddly enough, doughnuts.

• Flax bread (3,770)
• Multigrain bread (2,207)
• Doughnuts (1,568)
• Rye bread (84)
• Sesame bread (32)

4. Processed foods

This category in the study was called “meats and processed foods” but should really only be called processed foods. The meats scored extremely low for phytoestrogen content. The highest foods in this category for phytoestrogen on a per serving basis included: protein bars, black licorice, and pizza.

• Protein bar (1,525)
• Black licorice (258)
• Pizza (35)

5. Legumes

Legumes are considered plants from the Fabaceae family, also known as Leguminosae. Most legumes are known for the fact that they tend to have nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Common examples of legumes include: peas, beans, lentils, and alfalfa. In the rankings of phytoestrogens per serving, black bean sauce was ranked as the highest, followed by hummus. Lentils had a relatively low amount per serving by comparison.

• Black bean sauce (1,119)
• Hummus (605)
• Mung bean sprouts (94)
• Mung beans (22)
• Lentils (13)

6. Alcohols

Researchers noticed that the group of alcoholic beverages ranked higher than fruits based on average. That said, they only compared three total types of alcohols: red wine, white wine, and beer. Of the three, red wine yielded the greatest phytoestrogen density.

7. Fruits

When considering fruits, the highest in phytoestrogens per serving include: dried apricots and peaches. Dried apricots are the top choice if you want to consume fruits that give you the most content per serving. Dried dates and prunes also contain a considerable amount of phytoestrogens per serving.

8. Beverages

Non-alcoholic beverages were assessed to include things like V8 juice, green tea, orange juice, and black tea. None of these drinks really contained much phytoestrogen. The non-alcoholic drink that tends to have the most phytoestrogens is that of V8 juice, followed by green tea. Keep in mind that the contents in these drinks is insignificant when compared to something like flaxseed.

9. Vegetables

Of the 9 total groupings, vegetables came in last place when averaged per serving. The vegetable that was highest in phytoestrogen was that of garlic followed by alfalfa sprouts. Some would argue that legumes should be considered vegetables, but this isn’t the way the researchers grouped the items. Below are the rankings based on average phytoestrogen amount per serving.

Note : The numbers next to each of the food items is listed based on amount of “micrograms” per serving. For the more precise numbers as well as quantities per 100 grams of each item, read the study.

Do you need to eat foods high in phytoestrogens?

It is up to you to determine whether eating foods specifically with the intent of increasing estrogen is a healthy strategy. Before you skew your diet to incorporate foods that contain a significant number of phytoestrogens, it is recommended to ask your doctor to test your hormone levels. It doesn’t make sense to ramp up the estrogen-increasing foods if your estrogen levels are within the normal range.

Those with abnormally low estrogen levels may need to determine whether synthetic estrogen (e.g. pharmaceuticals) would be better than simply making dietary tweaks. It really isn’t known how effective eating a diet high in phytoestrogens will impact your overall health. If your estrogen levels are slightly low, and you haven’t been eating foods like flaxseed that are known to elicit estrogenic effects, it may be worth altering your diet and testing whether phytoestrogen-rich foods can get your estrogen to a healthy level.

Estrogen insufficiency is linked to a variety of problems, but too much estrogen can also be problematic. Therefore you’ll probably want to talk with a medical professional about what the best option is for your situation. If you’re taking synthetic estrogen and eating estrogen rich foods, it may lead to an overproduction of estrogenic effects which can cause: cysts, menstrual abnormalities, and possibly breast cancer.

Some people have had success in increasing their estrogen levels simply by making dietary alterations. However, it is important to not go too overboard with these foods. If you’re shoveling down flaxseed, eating flax bread, and soybeans all day – it’s may lead to too much estrogen production. Make sure you’re doing what’s necessary to increase estrogen if your levels are low – but don’t get carried away; it’s a delicate balance.

• Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3074428/

Are all of the foods listed above healthy?

It is up to you to determine whether the foods listed above are considered “healthy.” Some dietary practitioners would consider them perfectly healthy, while others would have a problem with increasing intake of these foods. If you start noticing that you aren’t feeling well (in terms of mental or physical health) when adopting a phytoestrogen-rich diet, you may want to decrease intake.

It makes sense to get your estrogen level checked prior to consciously attempting to alter it with a dietary or pharmacological intervention. As was mentioned, too much estrogen can cause health problems – especially in women with a history or susceptibility to breast cancer. If you have any questions about your diet, work with a dietitian for best results.

Have you tried increasing estrogen by eating certain foods?

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Autumm September 5, 2018, 10:44 pm

I’ve been drinking soy milk and eating more beans for the past year and I went from a size 32B to a size 36B.

Sankavi August 30, 2018, 4:42 am
Does eating oats elevate our estrogen level?
Kerry J Hunt April 20, 2018, 7:51 pm

I found hummus to be my miracle remedy! I tried sage tablets first but with no effect. I’m 47 and definitely experiencing menopause. Last period was December 2017. Had awful night sweats then it carried on into the day. Getting up in the night drenched. So I made changes, new bed and mattress. All the bed lining made of cotton and started eating carrots and hummus! Hardly had a flush! Truly remarkable!

chris February 10, 2018, 9:19 pm
Lee February 10, 2018, 5:54 pm

Great article, I have seen many heal from this by adjusting their diet. Unfortunately some of the things mentioned contain glyphosate which causes a heap of problems. Especially the soy which also contains BT Toxins which have been shown to cause a reaction in the body similar to food poisoning. Buy organic when possible or you will make things worse.

Peter Firthe January 2, 2018, 1:21 am

I have a 12 year old daughter. She is very pretty, but she is disappointed that a lot of her girlfriends are developing breasts and she only has small “bumps”. I have pointed out to her that she is only young, still prepubescent etc. I have also looked at her bare chest myself and see her breasts seem to be developing normally, although she doesn’t yet have any pubic hair. But should she be taking flaxseeds, soy etc to speed things up? I know she gets self-conscious in the changerooms at school when her friends are prancing around with firm, womanly breasts and she says some of them have hair between their legs.

Kate March 28, 2018, 7:28 pm

I would caution against for the following reasons, although recommend checking with your primary care physician as well. Increasing phytoestrogens may actually impair the ability of your daughter’s body to make her own estrogen! Phytoestrogens (and xenoestrogens) can fill the estrogen receptor sites and over time the body can down-regulate (reduce or suppress) it’s own production of the hormone. This can have a severe impact on the body’s own ability to balance hormones. I have experienced this myself. I’ve been struggling with hormone imbalance my entire adult life (in my mid 30s). Only recently have I found that reducing the amount of phytoestrogens I intake (by mainly cutting out soy and flax) has allowed my body to flush out old hormones and clear my estrogen receptor sites. My cycles are more regular, a lot less painful, and my migraines are gone. However, I’m newly struggling with sluggishness, ennui, and decreased libido because my body down-regulated the production of estrogen for so long that it’s not kicking in again. I am working with a licensed practitioner and essential oils to get that function going again. That is why I advocate to let your daughter’s body mature on it’s own time-table. It’s difficult not to compare oneself to others, especially when young, but there are a lot of books out there now (that I wish I had during puberty!) that explain/show the process and how every body is unique and beautiful in it’s own way. Hopefully that helps.

Tiffany February 16, 2017, 3:21 am

I was born a male but I’m a female by nature. I’ve been eating a lot of high estrogen foods to grow my breasts and shrink my penis. My body is growing very curvy, my butt and breasts are very feminine and beautiful. I am getting really sexy. This article helps me a lot to know which foods are the best to achieve what I desire.

Trish March 22, 2017, 6:05 pm

I too am looking into foods to be more feminine. Would you be willing to share what foods you are focusing on and getting results? Any other feminine enhancing ideas would be helpful too.

Ronnie January 15, 2017, 9:58 pm

Phytoestrogens can actually exacerbate it if you have low estrogen because your body won’t make as much estrogen if it thinks it already has some (in fact, it could be the reason you have low estrogen in the first place). I find that Primrose Oil helps with symptoms of low estrogen (though I’m youngish and not menopausal so it might not be enough for others).

Lori January 13, 2017, 10:38 pm

I’m estrogen dominant so I want to thank you for making this list – it tells me what I need to avoid lol. Soy and soybean oil is cheap and in lots of processed foods. I’ve quit eating hummus and beans/legumes as well.

Ronnie January 15, 2017, 10:00 pm

You should also avoid pesticides (look up EWs list of “dirty dozen” and their list of “clean” foods).

Barb November 1, 2016, 10:06 am

After reading this woman wants to have a cookie made for people who want phytoestrogens I am really concerned at her lack of knowledge on their risks. They are dangerous to put it mildly, and I don’t care if your low in estrogen or are a male who wants breasts, educate yourself first. Heart desease, breast cancer, leaky gut, poor circulation, low energy, cystic acne are all linked to phytoestrogens. I have eaten flax seed laden foods and have suffered several bad side effects, even though I’m low estrogen. It is not the way to go. Look into Steve Gundry, MD for some understanding on why they should be avoided.

Susi June 28, 2016, 8:05 am

I am 67, have ulcerative colitis, had a late menopause and have D2, which I control completely through Low-Carb-High-Fat, so the product would not help me one bit, it will only push my blood glucose to dangerous levels – I eat no grains, ever… I incorporate a lot of milled flax into my diet – I make ‘bread’ with it – because I need the fibre for my bowel and it’s difficult to find a replacement. I am very allergic to psyllium husk, it causes terrible angina pains… I have zero calcification and my triglycerides average 0.4… As you can see I am remarkably healthy! One drawback… I suddenly started to suffer anterior prolapse of the bladder, in spite of good muscular control of the pelvis… When I was operated on for a repair of the bladder the surgeon had to perform a hysterectomy because she discovered the cause of the prolapse was a uterus full of fibroids – strange at my age that they had not withered and disappeared… I have researched and discovered it is the flax which contains high doses of naturally occurring oestrogen… my breasts grew and, to be frank, I felt pregnant!! Just a heads up chaps… I need to find a substitute… I eat chia seed, which is a wonderful thing, but I cannot make ‘bread’ from it really… no bread then I suppose. 🙂

Susie September 26, 2016, 10:39 pm

Just found out my breast cancer has high marker for estrogen, this means NO phytoestrogen foods. I am now on Tamoxifen to reduce estrogen effects for the next five years.

SHASHA November 11, 2016, 7:46 pm

Hi Susi. You can use almond flours if you want to make ‘bread’. There are many “sweets/bread” recipes which is no gluten, no carbs & no sugar.

Lea April 7, 2016, 10:59 pm

I’ve been eating soy paste, nuts, black bean sauce, sesame oil, and seeds regularly and really messed up my body. Too many phytoestrogens! Now my period is going overtime, two weeks going on three. I feel like I am on the first day of my period every day, the bloating, weight gain, engorged breasts, cramps, night sweats, just horrible!

Emma May 28, 2016, 2:41 am

I have a normal estrogen level, but noticed mood change, frequent headaches, tummy pains and infrequent menstrual cycles after I started drinking soy milk. I didn’t know anything about the phytoestrogens and after a miserable year and a half of going from one doctor to another and listing to them saying they don’t know what is wrong with me I came across this and similar articles. I have now eliminated almost all sources of phytoestrogens from my diet, mainly soy, and am happy to say have my life back. I cannot understand why there are no public information about this, especially that soy is now in almost every food and for some people, like myself, consuming soy causes health issues. Not every women is having a menopause, so why on earth we are being force fed this stuff?

Charity March 26, 2017, 4:09 pm
Peter-Denise March 13, 2016, 4:59 am
Ankita March 11, 2016, 6:11 am

Hi, I have PCOS and very very irregular menses. I go for months together without my menses. I was prescribed OCPs by my doctor which affected my health terribly. I ditched them and took to consuming nuts (walnuts and pistachios) on a daily basis on the suggestion of my mother. My periods are much more regular now and I’m glad to be rid of the side effects of the OCPs. I didn’t know the reason for this change until I stumbled across your article. Changing diet definitely helps in many ways.

Brandy September 25, 2016, 2:52 pm
steve January 8, 2016, 1:03 am

I’m experimenting with phytoestrogens to see if it can actually feminize me, or men in general. I have gained some mass in chest area (small breasts), getting more curves and softer skin. I will keep experimenting with Flaxseeds and soy nuts.

jonbon September 14, 2015, 3:20 pm

Hi, I find this interesting as I’m getting bigger in my chest area and have found this to be linked to said body parts. I was wondering if these are a good intake of foods to get even bigger. I am male and looking to enhance this part of my body but only naturally. I have pecks but find they are soft and firm, they don’t sag or droop. I like the texture and feel of them and am working hard on getting them to be engorged… While I know this may cause issues I am optimistic on only pushing things as far as they need be to maintain a health body as well. I don’t want to rupture anything or something like that. So with that said… I’m hoping these top foods in each section labeled off will help these two grow into some really beautiful parts of my body. I suppose being hydrated will help and making sure to have enough salt in relation to that will help this greatly. As I have noticed it can. To me I was born male (as far as I am aware of :S) but I have many female like features as I have said the most prominent of female features other than actual breasts, which is why I am here trying to see what I can accomplish… hoping to anyway.

John November 5, 2015, 1:03 pm

Hi I’d just like to hear if you have seen any progress in the idea you set out above. I have the exact same idea and was wondering if I can hear from you. Regards, John

Audax November 11, 2016, 8:59 pm

As long as you have an XY chromosome, you are male, born male and will die male. DO note that when you don’t receive the hormone you are desiring, you will revert back to your natural state.

Shane February 26, 2017, 1:06 pm
Charity March 26, 2017, 4:03 pm
Glad you responded to that Shane.
Csi April 1, 2018, 11:42 pm

What is wrong to what Shane is saying? I’m not homophobic and actually I have gay friends and I too know that no matter what you take hormonally to change physically if you were born with XY you will always be male, that is something you just can’t change ever. The way you feel and think and act can be female and its your life, its ok but I really believe that to try to grow breasts with oestrogen is not healthy as you will encounter other kind of more serious problems like heart disease or even cancer so why risk that? It’s more important to have a healthy body than a fake pretty and sick one. Good luck on your quest!

Melanie Rowan April 11, 2015, 11:58 am

Great article! I have been consuming phytoestrogen rich foods for almost four years now. Shortly after being diagnosed menopausal I was also diagnosed with high cholesterol. I tried an HRT patch but feared them so much that after 3 months I stopped because of an adverse reaction. I determined that I would just try to manage menopause symptoms by distressing, watching my diet, and eating organic. To manage my high cholesterol I decided I’d try natural alternatives, so I turned to Oats. More specifically a granola cereal that contained pumpkin seed and flax. Everyday I ate 1/3 cup of this granola. What I discovered was life changing! The ingredients in this granola cereal helped more with my menopause symptoms (and they were quite severe) than it did my cholesterol. For two and a half years this was my daily estrogen therapy. Last year I decided I needed to cut out sugar as much as possible as my cholesterol was still an issue and the doctor wanted to increase my statin from 20mg to 40mg. I was already not thrilled at the idea of taking a statin in the first place, so I told my doctor I would try to get it down by cutting out processed sugar. This is when I decided to create my own menopause support food. I did a great deal of research on each of the foods listed on the box of granola and determined that every single one of those ingredients, with the exception of cane sugar, were top of the chain phytoestrogen rich foods and they encompassed all three classes. Long story short, I have since launched a small micro business, OMH, LLC, in Louisville, KY and I am helping other women manage their symptoms as well. Those who commit to it daily respond very well. On the other hand there are women, maybe one in ten, who don’t benefit. How it works: my product, a cookie essentially, introduces a very small amount of phytoestrogen rich food sources, 31-32 grams in total per cookie, into the daily diet. It takes two to three weeks to notice benefits (a decrease in symptoms) but after a month of daily cookie therapy, hot flashes and night sweats are mostly under control. Once established symptoms are fully under control or completely absent. When one skips more than two days of “treatment” they will experience a gradual return of symptoms. In the nearly four years of consistent use, I have never experienced any negative consequences from consuming these small amounts of estrogen rich food sources. In fact I feel really great. I feel like I have accidentally stumbled upon the discovery of a life time. I have filed a provisional patent on this product and hope to eventually raise awareness that menopause is not a medical issue, but rather a nutritional issue. My mission is to reach one million women and help decrease the incidence of chemical hormone related cancers. Changing the way women perceive menopause and how they mange it is proving challenging, but it’s not impossible, women are listening and my business is growing.

Brett December 28, 2015, 8:50 pm
Dear Melanie, Do you have a website for your cookies?
Melanie Rowan June 17, 2016, 12:11 am

Brett, I’m just seeing your question. I was surfing the net for articles on Plant estrogen rich foods and came upon this one…again. Found my earlier post and saw your question. Long story short, no I no longer have a website for my cookies. After a year in business and trying to find a co-packer for my product that was willing to do small batches…and soy. I put it on hold. I don’t think the world is ready for me yet and I’m not sure I want to embark on such a huge endeavor at this point in my life. I am currently making cookies for personal friends and awaiting word on my patent. I submitted them for a patent about 9 months ago. My hope is to license the formula out to someone who can really make a difference and take them farther than I could. I discovered the benefits of 5 ingredients for the natural management of menopause, I’m afraid it’s going to have to be up to someone else to take it to the masses. All the best!

Charity March 26, 2017, 4:00 pm

Melanie, I have a daughter-in-law and future daughter-in-law, both professional bakers interested in starting their own bakery (in different states, one on the West coast, one in the East). My son and I both have entrepreneurial and marketing experience, and I work as a legal assistant. I love your idea (though the whole soy/rain forest/supplier end would need research). If you’d like to discuss this in detail, please email me at the following (spread out so spambots don’t pick it up): charitydugood (and then just add on @gmail.com).

Angie July 25, 2018, 1:22 pm

I too was managing menopausal symptoms. I was taking a plant-based supplement. Yes, the symptoms were managed, but I developed breast cancer, which feeds on estrogen. I encourage you to research this fact. I would rather experience menopausal symptoms than cancer.