Phytooestrogens, Menopause,

Phytoestrogens come from the greek word literally meaning 'female steroid hormones relating to plants'.
They work in a milder way than oestrogens made by the body to maintain the menstrual cycle and protect against bone loss after the menopause. Some women reported to me that lowering their wheat intake reduced muscle aches during the menopause. It is possible that wheat proteins (gliadins) become antigens or irritants in the bloodstream and trigger the immune system to over respond.


Oestrogen from animal fats
A major source of oestrogen is cows milk. Fats concentrates oestrogen so women on constant low fat diets including skimmed milk are denying themselves the benefits of oestrogen. Cows are milked when their oestrogen levels are high. In effect they have more milk than they need because the calves have been taken away. It is like expressing milk instead of breast feeding. Milk, especially in the form of yoghurt, is a nutritious food that provides retinol (we turn it into vitamin A), calcium, vitamin D and whey proteins such as casein. Pasteurising makes casein harder to digest. Unpasteurized milk is highly nutritious but must come from herds free of TB, it carries a theoretical risk of E. coli and salmonella.
If a young person has severe acne it is highly likely that they cannot tolerate milk proteins. I had terrible acne for many years and finally concluded after a cream tea in Devon that milk was the culprit. Avoiding cows milk for a year cured the intolerance to milk. However I found that sheep and goats milk  cheeses were well tolerated. Oat milk is more suitable for a man than soya milk. A 2010 study done in Greece on sheep and goat's milk found no pesticide residues. Goats fed on red clover would be a great source of natural oestrogen.
In Pembrokeshire we met a farmer who made cheese from unpasteurized milk. He said that he used a different rennet to mainstream cheese producers. I found that unpasteurized cheese and milk was fine, no reaction at all.
Animal fats are not in themselves bad for you, but fats do store toxins including some chemicals and preservatives from the food chain. That is why the Inuit in Greenland and northern Canada are subject to the highest levels of environmental pollutants. Fats also concentrate hormones and store vitamins, for instance: A  for the skin and tissue repair, E good for the heart, circulation, hormone control, K good for blood clotting and strong bone formation and D that helps calcium uptake, bones, skin and protection against bowel cancer and bowel diseases. Animal fats are partially saturated which means that when you roast the meat they do not change much or degenerate. Roasted meat with the fat is an excellent source of energy.
Meat from wild game, free range hens, ducks and geese, and wild boar or venison contains higher quality omega 3 fats that not only give you energy but also repairs your body.

Oestrogen from vegetarian sources
Red clover is a great crop to dig into the ground if you are growing organic vegetables. It is a great source of nitrogen and of oestrogen. You can try it as a supplement for menopause symptoms.
Linseed are a good source of lignin. The gut breaks it down into oestrogen like substances. They also provide soluble fibre that flushes out the bile duct and gall bladder. A positive study on hot flushes used 40g a day. Always crush linseed before consumption or chew it well. Personally I find it unpleasant if soaked. Crushed linseed go off more quickly so buy it whole and keep it in a cool, dark place within its sell by date. Throw it away if it tastes and smells like a cricket bat!
Lentils, chick peas (tahini and humous) and soya are good sources of oestrogen.