Avocados And Estrogen: How can avocado affect hormones
Most often than not, people with hormone imbalances and people that try to maintain their body in a healthy state will pay attention to the foods they eat, giving birth to one of the most important questions (no pun intended) : “Will this avocado affect my estrogen levels ? and if so, how ?”
Before we get into the effects of Avocados on your estrogen levels, we need to understand what estrogen really is.
What is estrogen and how does it affect your body ?
Estrogen is one of the hormones that promotes both reproductive and sexual development.
While a hormone like estrogen will always be present in both men and women of all ages, women that are in their reproductive age will have much higher levels.
Estrogen promotes the development and maintenance of female characteristics, it also helps you keep a regulated menstrual cycle, which is why it’s beneficial to ask yourself questions like : how will this avocado affect me ?
Nevertheless, estrogen levels decline throughout menopause, leading to symptoms like night sweats and hot flashes, for this reason we need to look at two important definitions before learning about the effects of Avocados.
What are Phytoestrogens ?
Phytoestrogens are compounds that occur naturally in plants (fruits, veggies, grains, etc.), their structure is similar to estrogen, consequently they have the ability to bind to the same receptors as estrogen.
When eating phytoestrogens, our body can respond as if it’s our own natural estrogen.
What are Lignans ?
Lignans are a category of phytoestrogen that is most often found in grains, nuts, seeds, tea, plants and wine. Their most beneficial quality is their antioxidant effect. Bacteria that naturally occurs in your body can convert lignant into estrogen.
The effects of Avocados on your estrogen levels
Q : Are Avocados high in estrogen ?
A: There is only one study suggesting that avocado may increase estrogen, but the study needs confirmation.
Estrogen dominance is a prevalent hormonal imbalance experienced by many women, leading to undesirable symptoms like weight gain, tiredness, and emotional fluctuations. However, numerous research studies suggest that avocados could be beneficial in addressing this issue. Alongside their healthy fats, avocados are packed with plant sterols, which have the ability to hinder estrogen absorption and encourage the synthesis of progesterone. This can help alleviate the symptoms associated with estrogen dominance and restore hormonal balance.
Q : What does avocado do to hormones ?
A: Avocados are abundant in plant sterols, which can aid in obstructing estrogen uptake and stimulating the generation of progesterone. Additionally, these fruits are a valuable source of beta-sitosterol, which can contribute to regulating the stress hormone cortisol and maintaining overall hormonal balance.
Q: What can Avocados do to females ?
A: Avocados may help in reducing the likelihood of cervical and breast cancer. They also promote weight loss, enhance reproductive well-being, accelerate digestion, and contribute to healthier skin, hair, and nails.
Q: What can Avocados do to males ?
A: They can promote weight loss, enhance reproductive well-being, accelerate digestion, and contribute to healthier skin, hair, and nails.
Q: Why is it good to eat Avocados ?
A: They can promote weight loss, enhance reproductive well-being, accelerate digestion, and contribute to healthier skin, hair, and nails.
Q : What are the side effects of consuming Avocados ?
A: Overconsumption of avocados might lead to heightened sensitivity, allergic reactions, liver harm, nausea, vomiting, asthma, and interference with anticoagulant medications. Furthermore, individuals on a restrictive diet or who are pregnant or breastfeeding should refrain from eating avocados.
What do Avocados contain ?
100 grams of raw Avocados provide :
- Calories: 160
- Carbs: 8.53 grams
- Fiber: 6.7 grams
- Protein: 2 grams
- Fat: 14.66 grams
- Vitamin C: 12% of the Daily Value (DV)
- Vitamin A: 2% of the DV
- Potassium: 10% of the DV
Are phytoestrogens and lignans dangerous ?
Phytoestrogen-rich foods can usually be safely consumed in moderation, as the benefits will likely outweigh the potential risks.
Also, contrary to what most people think, it has been demonstrated in studies that phytoestrogens have no effect on human male sex hormones.
The bottom line
Phytoestrogen is easy to find in a huge variety of plant foods.
In order to boost your estrogen levels, you can moderately incorporate phytoestrogen-rich foods into your diet.
In most cases, there are either no risks or the benefits outweigh the potential risks.
Eating Avocados in moderation is unlikely to harm you.