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Natural estrogens
Is there are natural estrogen replacement therapy I can take?
Phytoestrogens
Natural alternatives to hormone replacement therapy use estrogenic herbs which contain phytoestrogens to mimic the female hormone estrogen. Phytoestrogens are a family of at least fifteen substances found in plants which behave within the body like weak estrogens. They are chemically sensitive to estrogens and they bind to estrogen receptor cells in the body and essentially have the same overall effect of the hormone (although at weaker effect).
Phytoestrogens are not only needed for the health of the reproductive system, they are also needed to improve bone mineralisation, prevent bone loss and also increase high density lipoproteins (HDL) which are your beneficial health giving lipoproteins.
Foods which contain small amounts of natural estrogens:
- Beans, beetroot, pumpkin, appes, alfalfa, cherries, peas, carrots, cucumbers, dates, garlic, eggplant, olives, papaya, peas, rhubarb, sprouts, yams, tomatoes, plums, potatoes, pomegranates
- Anise seed, Baker's yeast, Barley, sage, fennel, licorice, hops, flaxseed, fenugreek, red clover
- Seaweed, tofu, tempeh, miso
- Chickpeas, whole grains, oats, rice, barley, wheat, soyabeans, split peas, sunflower seeds
- Dairy products
Herbs which have an estrogenic effect are:
- Mexican Wild Yam
- Sarsparilla
- Dong Quai
- Red Clover
- Kudzu
- Black Cohosh
- Sage
- Licorice
- False Unicorn Root