Hormonal imbalance has many possible causes besides menopause, including thyroid malfunction.

Although oestrogen levels decrease as you grow older, you can supplement your body’s production naturally. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy has the advantage over regular HRT in that it provides nature-identical hormones rather than synthetics.

In addition to hormones, however, you can supplement decreasing oestrogen levels through your diet. A number of common foods are surprisingly high in oestrogen content. These include:

1. Soy beans

This legume that has given us dairy alternatives such as soya milk and delicious ingredients of Asian cuisine such as tofu and tempeh contains fairly high levels of oestrogen, as well as decent levels of nutrients such as potassium and vitamin A. There has been some concern in the medical community that consuming soybean oil might increase the risk of breast cancer, but organic soybeans in forms such as tofu provide protein as well as a natural source of oestrogen. Beware of genetically modified soybeans as they tend to dominate the market.

2. Other Legumes

If you are unsure about soybeans, there are numerous other legumes that are known for boosting oestrogen naturally. Chickpeas, black-eyed peas, green peas and black beans are all oestrogen sources. Black beans are particularly rich in hormones, containing 5, 330 micrograms of oestrogen per 100 grams of beans. This is more than 5 times the quantity found in chickpeas. Besides being a natural source of oestrogen, legumes are a great source of protein and fibre.

3. Alfalfa sprouts

Alfalfa sprouts are rich in protein, vitamins and minerals and have also been observed as strong sources of oestrogen. This means that a regular helping of the sprouts can assist your body to restore hormonal balance. While this naturally alleviates some of the symptoms of menopause, there is a downside to loading up on alfalfa. Too much oestrogen increases your chance of developing breast cancer, so if you have a family or personal history of cancer, make sure you only eat these sprouts in moderate quantities.