10 Foods with High Amounts of Phytoestrogens

If you are experiencing menopausal symptoms typically associated with estrogen deficiency, such as hot flashes, mood swings, and food cravings, you may want to try increasing the amount of plant-based hormones – or phytoestrogens - in your diet.  Phytoestrogens are chemicals that are found in plants that may act like the estrogen produced naturally in the body.  Consider adding these foods to your weekly visit to the farmers market or grocery store.

1. Soy milk, tofu, edamame beans

2. Fermented soy foods such as miso and soy

3. Flaxseeds and sesame seeds

4. Wholegrains – such as oat bran, whole wheat and oatmeal

5. Peppers

6. Red grape juice and cranberries

7. Cranberries or red grape juice

8. Green beans, chickpeas, kidney beans

9. Broccoli

10. Celery

There are several herbs and plant roots, including dong quai, black cohosh, ginseng and red clover, that have also been reported as effective in menopause, but you should have the advice of an herbalist or naturopathic doctor before you add this to your diet.