Can Diet Help? What are Phytoestrogens?
Can Diet Help? What are Phytoestrogens?
We know that diet can have a game changing effect on our health in lots of different ways. It can impact neurological function, our energy, our weight, and our long-term risk of certain diseases. So, it stands to reason that what we eat, and drink, can have an impact on the way we experience menopause as well.
Apart from a generally healthy diet, phytoestrogens are the power player here. They are plant-based compounds that mimic oestrogen in the body, and there is some evidence to suggest that they reduce the frequency of hot flushes in menopausal women, according to the National Institutes of Health.
You may have seen Samantha in the second Sex and the City movie wolfing down hummus - well that’s because chickpeas contain phytoestrogen.
Others that are naturally high in the compound include:
- Soy beans
- Tofu
- Flax seed
- Sesame seeds
- Wheat
- Berries
- Oats
- Barley
- Dried beans
- Lentils
- Rice
- Alfalfa
- Mung beans
- Apples
- Carrots
- Wheat germ
The M+ Recipes include ideas for upping your phytoestrogen intake.
