Hormone-Balancing Foods: Natural Alternatives & Dietary Sources

Foods rich in phytoestrogens, such as soy and flax seeds, are known to naturally help balance hormones in the body.

Tofu

• Tofu is a cheese-like product made from soy that provides phytoestrogens. It is a useful ingredient in foods as it can take the place of cream cheese, heavy cream and sour cream. (See References 2)

Flax Seed

• Flax seeds, which contain lignans (a type of phytoestrogen), can be ground up and mixed with sea salt or cinnamon and sprinkled on food. Flax seeds contain calcium, potassium, iron, B-vitamins and boron.

Soy Milk

• Soy milk is made from whole soybeans and provides phytoestrogens, along with omega-3 essential fatty acids, protein, iron and B-vitamins.

Miso

• Miso is soybean paste that can be found in the refrigerated section of most natural food stores. The dark-brown variety provides the most phytoestrogens. Miso can be used as a bouillon, stock base for soups and, sometimes, as salt.

Flax Oil

• Flax oil provides some phytoestrogen, but not as much as flax seeds. Also flax oil is highly-perishable and becomes bitter quickly. Exposing flax oil to heat can create dangerous levels of free radicals.