Maybe you may have never heard of certain insecticides, herbicides, and petro-chemicals found in our food and our environment that can interact with your body’s hormones making your body store extra belly fat.
These dangerous chemicals are called xenoestrogens. Excess exposure to these may cause hormone imbalances for both women and men [1] and other problems such as cancer. [2]
Does not matter how carefully you will remove xenoestrogens from your home, you will still encounter them.
Certain foods can protect estrogen receptor sites so xenoestrogens cannot attach, and shield against xenoestrogen damages.
Crucifers Veggies
Broccoli, cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts are abundant in indole-3-carbinol, which the body transforms to diindolylmethane that induces enzymes in the liver to inhibit the production of the toxic estrogens and stimulate the production of the beneficial forms.
Best Way to Get:
- Add steamed broccoli to your salads or soups
- Roast cauliflower or Brussels sprouts in extra virgin olive oil
Flaxseed
Flax is among the richest source of secoisolariciresinol diglycoside, a substance the body transforms into lignans that help balance your body’s levels of estrogen. They bind to the same receptor sites that xenoestrogens do, so xenoestrogens cannot attach to it.
Best Way to Get:
- Sprinkle flaxseeds over natural yogurt
- Add them to fruit smoothies
- Mix them into cooked whole grains
High Soluble Fiber Foods
Lentils, apples, barley, beans and oats are rich in dietary fiber, which works as an estrogen disposal system. Xenoestrogens are pulled from the blood stream by the liver and transferred to the intestines. In the intestinal tract, fiber absorbs estrogen like a sponge and eliminates it from the body with waste.
Best Way to Get :
- Eat curried lentils
- Have a whole grains breakfast
- Mix barley with beans
Pomegranate
Pomegranate can stop estrogenic activity and prevent various types of breast cancer cells from growing [3] ; another research discovered similar results on prostate cancer cells [4].
Best Way to Get:
- Add pomegranate extract to green tea
- Scatter pomegranate seeds over salads
- Mix them with yogurt
References:
[1] Toppari, Jorma, et al. “Male reproductive health and environmental xenoestrogens.” Environmental health perspectives 104.Suppl 4 (1996): 741.
[2] Davis, Devra Lee, et al. “Medical hypothesis: xenoestrogens as preventable causes of breast cancer.” Environmental Health Perspectives 101.5 (1993): 372.
[3] Adams, Lynn S., et al. “Pomegranate Ellagitannin-Derived Compounds Exhibit Antiproliferative and Antiaromatase Activity in Breast Cancer Cells In vitro.” Cancer Prevention Research 3.1 (2010): 108-113.
[4] Albrecht, Martin, et al. “Pomegranate extracts potently suppress proliferation, xenograft growth, and invasion of human prostate cancer cells.” Journal of medicinal food 7.3 (2004): 274-283.
