Estrogens in foods - good and bad

Estrogens are called steroid sex hormones, which in the body of a woman are produced in the ovaries. In addition, estrogens are synthesized in much lesser quantities in the adrenal glands, so this hormone is present in a small amount in the blood of men.

For a woman's health, it is extremely important that the estrogen level is within normal limits. The lack of this female hormone leads to problems with pregnancy, and also causes numerous unpleasant symptoms associated with menopause.

However, the excess of estrogens is no less harmful, since such a condition can lead to the emergence of myomas, decreased libido, depressive states and migraines. Therefore, it is important that the body is in balance.

But what if the tests showed that the level of estrogen in the body is too low? Start taking hormone pills? But after all, such drugs can bring not only good, but also harm.

It turns out that you can increase the level of this hormone by consuming certain foods. Estrogens in foods - this, of course, is not a complete analog of female sex hormones, but they have a similar composition and are called phytoestrogens.

So, what foods contain estrogens? Champion in the content of phytoestrogens is to recognize soy. Of course, no one calls for chewing soya just like that, because there are a lot of products made on the basis of soy. This cheese tofu, soy asparagus, soy milk and dozens of names of a variety of products.

It must be said that the substances contained in soybeans not only increase the level of female hormones, but also help prevent diseases such as breast cancer, osteoporosis, etc.

It is especially useful to use estrogens in foods for women who start menopause. A sufficient number of hormones contributes to the fact that such symptoms of menopause, as irritability, migraines, tides, become less pronounced. Therefore, women during this period is very useful to eat foods that contain soy.

Pulses and grains are also products containing estrogen. So those who need to increase the female hormone level in the blood, one should eat more cereal dishes. Also, estrogens are found in foods such as coffee, eggplants, carrots, tomatoes, pumpkin. A lot of them in beer, however, get carried away with the use of this drink to increase the level of hormones, is not recommended because it contains alcohol. Very useful for women products such as colored and Brussels sprouts, and especially broccoli.

But whether estrogens are useful in products of animal origin, perhaps it is worth doubting. Of course, if you eat natural meat and animal fats, then the excess of the rate of increase in hormones will not go. But in modern cattle-breeding complexes, in order for cattle to gain weight faster and give a greater yield of meat, various additives to feeds, including hormones, are used. Naturally, the use of such food affects the quality of meat, so often estrogens in animal products are contained in excess quantities, which can not benefit people.

Therefore, if there is a need to raise the level of estrogen, it is better to give preference to phytoestrogens contained in plant foods.

Of course, it is by no means always possible to raise the level of estrogens solely through nutrition. In these cases, you can use dietary supplements. These supplements contain, as a rule, natural phytoestrogens, so their use is less harmful than the intake of synthetic hormones. However, even here you need to observe the measure, because excess hormones can do no less harm than its lack.