What Foods Are High in Estrogen?

Generally, a plant-based diet is said to have more estrogen than other diets. However, much of the research on foods associated with high estrogen levels is hotly debated. Some scientists even believe that factors like ethnicity and location change the way our bodies receive estrogen. 

While most of the foods listed below are confirmed to contain estrogen or phytoestrogen, remember that there are many opinions out there. There are also different ways your body receives either phytoestrogens, animal estrogen, a synthetic estrogen, or compounds that can trigger your body to produce more estrogen.

There are some cases where eating certain foods can result in a lower estrogen level in your body. Please make sure to consult with your doctor about your specific medical situation to learn about which types of estrogen or food is best for you to eat. 

Foods that are said to increase estrogen in the body are: 

Dairy 

There is a direct correlation between higher estrogen levels in eggs because eggs are produced in the animal's ovaries. Ovaries are glands that process hormones. Similarly, full-fat milk can also contain more or less estrogen in it depending on where the animal is in the lactation cycle.   

Nuts and seeds

It’s almost indisputable to say that nuts and seeds are high in phytoestrogen. Which nuts and seeds are the highest, however, can be disputed. Some proven nuts and seeds with higher levels of phytoestrogen are: 

• Brazil nuts
• Almonds
• Cashews
• Roasted salted peanuts
• Pine nuts
• Pumpkin seeds
• Sunflower seeds
• Walnuts
• Sesame seeds 

Legumes

Legumes are some of the most studied sources of phytoestrogens. They are also debated for the benefits and risks of how these phytoestrogens interact with our bodies. Some legumes that contain high counts of phytoestrogens are:

• Peas
• Chickpeas
• Lentils
• Soybeans 
• Lima beans
• Carob
• Kidney beans
• Mung beans
• Pinto beans
• Black-eyed peas
• Lentils

Fruits and vegetables

Generally, berries and cruciferous vegetables are said to have high phytoestrogen levels. Some examples of these are:

• Sprouts
• Cabbage
• Spinach
• Garlic 
• Onion
• Zucchini
• Broccoli
• Celeriac
• Cauliflower
• Strawberry
• Cranberry
• Blueberry
• Cherry
• Dates

Grains

There has been a strong correlation between people who eat cereal and higher rates of phytoestrogens. It has been found that many of the grains typically used in cereals have higher rates of phytoestrogens. Some examples of these grains are:

• Whole wheat
• Oats
• Rye
• Barley

Estrogen is a hormone that helps develop female sexual and reproductive organs. Estrogen plays an important role in the menstrual cycle, the urinary tract, bones, breasts, blood, and the brain. It can also affect pubic and armpit hair growth. 

While estrogen is produced in the ovaries and is more present in females than in males, men still produce estrogen through their testes and are also deeply affected by it. 

Because estrogen is such a key player in so many bodily functions, having estrogen irregularities can be very harmful. Some reasons why you might want to seek out foods that are high in estrogen are: 

Menopause

Menopause is the medical term for women’s natural decline in estrogen production through age. Because the systems of menopause are caused by a lack of estrogen, eating estrogen rich foods can help to ease the symptoms.

Bone health

As previously mentioned, estrogen helps to regulate bone health. It has been proven that increased levels of phytoestrogen also mean increased levels of minerals in bones. This helps to prevent osteoporosis in both men and women. This is especially true in postmenopausal women. 

Breast and prostate cancer prevention

There is a proven link between eating more estrogen and a lower risk of breast cancer. This is also true with prostate cancer. Again, certain types of foods, phytoestrogens, and estrogens are debated in their benefits in this regard. 

A lot of the studies that people use to cite estrogen’s benefits or dangers are flawed. They might prove that estrogen or a hormone that acts like estrogen does or does not affect the body in a particular situation. However, these studies rarely prove that every situation with every person and every food item will hormonally affect you in the same way. 

However, please exercise caution when using your diet to supplement or avoid hormones. If you are in a situation where you are at risk, please consult with your doctor. 

Human growth hormone (HGH) is produced by the pituitary gland, which is a pea-sized organ located at the base of the brain. In addition to spurring childhood growth, it also helps regulate:

• Fat metabolism
• Bone growth
• Muscle growth
• Brain function
• Blood sugar
• Sleep
• Memory

As we age, however, the amount of HGH produced by the pituitary gland decreases. This has prompted an interest in producing the hormone synthetically to treat aging or age-related health issues.

But not only is there little evidence to support the claim that synthetic HGH can counteract the effects of aging, experts recommend against using human growth hormone treatments because of its associated risks.

Growth hormone treatment involves administering injections of synthetic HGH to adults who have a growth hormone deficiency. HGH may be caused by a benign growth (tumor) on the pituitary gland or treatments such as radiation or surgery.

Generally, HGH treatment is used to treat:

• Muscle wasting associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS)-related growth hormone deficiency
• Short bowel syndrome (inability of the intestine to absorb nutrients)
• Genetic disorders, including:
  • Turner's syndrome (a genetic disorder that affects a girl's development)
  • Prader-Willi syndrome (a genetic disorder that affects muscle tone, sex hormones, and hunger)
• Chronic kidney disease
• Babies born with low birth weight

For adults with a growth hormone deficiency, growth hormone treatment is used to:

• Improve endurance or exercise capacity
• Increase bone mass or density
• Increase muscle mass
• Decrease body fat

However, there are limited studies on the benefits of growth hormone treatment in healthy adults. Though some studies have shown that the treatment helps increase muscle mass in older adults, there is no improvement in their strength.

Approved forms of human growth hormone are available only as injections. HGH is also sold in pill form, but there is no evidence that these supplements are effective. Excess use of injections or ingestion of these pills can cause:

• Swelling in the limbs
• Joint pain
• Muscle pain
• Carpal tunnel syndrome (a condition in which the pressure on the median nerve in your wrist causes pain, tingling, and numbness in the hand)
• Type II diabetes
• Gynecomastia (breast enlargement in men)
• Increased risk of certain cancers

To avoid these side effects, growth hormones should be used with caution. Do not use injections without getting a prescription from your doctor, and you should check in regularly with your doctor while you are taking it.

If you do not have growth hormone deficiency and want to improve your health, it’s best to find other ways to do this, such as eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly.