Dairy products, especially those with a full-fat content, contain high levels of oestrogens that can interfere with your own levels and promote endometriosis as well as, hormone-related cancers, like breast, womb or ovary.
All milk (whether from cows, goats, humans, or porpoises) naturally contains small amounts of various hormones, including estrogen and progesterone. Because hormones like estrogen are fat-soluble, the level of hormones is higher in whole milk than in skim milk.
In fact, milk and dairy products are the largest sources of dietary oestrogen for humans. They account for 60-70 percent of the oestrogens consumed. This has a 'feminising' effect on men. Studies have shown that men who consume more milk and dairy products have higher levels of estradiol, a 'female' hormone.
Milk and other dairy products contain a hormone known as Insulin-like Growth Factor 1. It promotes the production of androgen hormones such as testosterone, which can worsen hormonal imbalances.
Dairy products
Many people looking to raise their testosterone levels might choose to avoid dairy products. This may be because some cow's milk contains synthetic or natural hormones, which might affect a person's testosterone levels.
Dairy products, especially those with a full-fat content, contain high levels of oestrogens that can interfere with your own levels and promote endometriosis as well as, hormone-related cancers, like breast, womb or ovary.
Dairy products contain traces of estrogens from cows, and as milk is converted to cheese, the estrogens are more concentrated.
Diet-related causes of elevated estrogen levels
Your overall diet can impact your hormone levels. Research shows that Western-type diets high in ultra-processed foods, added sugar, and animal foods (like red meat and eggs) are associated with high estrogen levels.
Red meat and dairy may contribute to an increase in estrogen levels, according to a few studies, so it may be wise to eat these in moderation.
Because of the low levels of estrogens in yogurts, sometimes it is necessary to concentrate the extracts before the final instrumental analysis. Usually, this concentration has been made by evaporation of the extraction solvent.
While dairy is usually an area I tell women to avoid for hormone balance due to excess estrogen found in dairy, there is one exception. That one special exception is nonfat, organic Greek yogurt. Why? Well, for starters, just 6 ounces a day of dairy can actually help balance your estrogen, instead of harm it.
Almond milk isn't full of hormones.
Even cows who aren't given rBGH still produce hormones like estrogen and progesterone, which come out in their milk. Almonds don't have udders, and there are no hormones or antibiotics in almond milk.
Dairy products are a rich source of calcium, but a high intake of these can affect hormone balance. Too much can lead to gut inflammation and irritation. Dairy products are also said to increase sebum production and aggravate acne-prone skin. Some also contain growth hormones which may affect the liver.
"Cheese is a food high in saturated fat, which is a contributor to heart disease primarily by increasing cholesterol levels," explains Best. "Saturated fat has been shown to increase bad or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol because it triggers the liver to produce more cholesterol."
Vegetables of the Brassica genus, such as broccoli, contain a phytochemical, which may shift estrogen metabolism and increase the 2:16 ratio.
Products like eggs or milk contain high estrogen levels because they are produced in parts of the animal's body that regulate its hormones. Eating high estrogen foods can help people who suffer from various conditions related to low estrogen levels.
A Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center study involving postmenopausal, overweight, and obese women who took 2,000 IUs of vitamin D daily for a year found that those whose vitamin D blood levels increased the most had the greatest reductions in blood estrogens, which are a known risk factor for breast cancer.
Cheese, like all other milk products, contains lactose, which is hard to digest for a lot of people. For such people, consuming too much cheese can cause problems like gas or bloating. Moreover, cheese contains no fiber, so excessive intake of cheese may cause constipation.
Bread which contains wholegrains, such as flax, rye, wheat, barley or oats, have naturally high levels of lignans, a kind of phytoestrogen, and depending on the concentration in an individual loaf, can be an excellent way to help boost estrogen levels through food.
Aromatase transforms testosterone into estrogen in men. As men age, it is possible for the enzyme aromatase to cause estrogen to spike and testosterone to decrease in volume. Medications, medical procedures, stress, and weight gain may cause a fluctuation in estrogen.