Staying Away From Tofu?
Posted by IsisDC on Aug 09, 2010 · Member since Sep 2008 · 25 posts
I am getting to that point in my life where I am having "estrogen overload".
I am using wild yam cream and Vitex (chasteberry) for balance, but I also find that soy is really making me feel ill lately.
After I consume soy I feel bloated, my boobs hurt and I am all foggy in the head. :-\
Has anyone else had these issues?
Well, I'm 52, and I'm sure noticing the effects of an overload of estrogen too. I've been confused as to what I should do as well. I love tofu and TVP, but I'm wondering if I should give it up. I have heard that tempeh is better. I will watch this post as well to see if anyone could shed anymore light on the subject.
Thank you Willowbeez, I thought I was the only one.
I also love Tofu and even have made it fresh from soy beans, which is amazing!.
Now my body is changing, I am just a few years behind you.
I am looking at more lentil recipes and high protein grains.
I wish I was 30 again....*sigh*...
I am going tomorrow to see a new doctor that works with bio-identical hormones. I'm hoping that he can clarify some things for me and help me get balanced again. I'll let you know if I learn anything that may be helpful to you. I guess the real issue is unopposed estrogen, which means that we don't produce enough progesterone
Have you tried wild yam cream?
Tempeh is wonderful but it is still soy.
Have you tried making your own seitan? It's soy free and can be made in large batches.
LeVacheQuiRit -Yes, I have made seitan, but I cannot eat a lot of it. Too much gluten is hard on my system.
I have been a vegetarian /vegan for 21 years, at first I loved the fake meats and soy products and now find I am looking for easy to digest legumes and grains.
My cravings for meat are completely gone, which is actually wonderful!
I just wish my hormones weren't acting so funny :-\
I am nearing 50, and also discovered a few years ago that I have thyroid disease. I can't eat soy, wheat or corn...partly because of the groggy/gross feelings you describe, but also because eating one pound of tofu over 7 days will make me gain like 3 pounds. After talking to a nutritionist I have cut soy and corn completely from my diet and almost all wheat flour (I might have toast once a week). But Spanish doctors aren't good at explaining why. I don't know if the wheat thing (which makes me bloat and retain water like mad) is to do with gluten or not, and I don't know if the soy prohibition is due to estrogen or something else.
I am nearing 50, and also discovered a few years ago that I have thyroid disease. I can't eat soy, wheat or corn...partly because of the groggy/gross feelings you describe, but also because eating one pound of tofu over 7 days will make me gain like 3 pounds. After talking to a nutritionist I have cut soy and corn completely from my diet and almost all wheat flour (I might have toast once a week). But Spanish doctors aren't good at explaining why. I don't know if the wheat thing (which makes me bloat and retain water like mad) is to do with gluten or not, and I don't know if the soy prohibition is due to estrogen or something else.
Are you hypothyroid? I'm pretty young, but I am too, although I've had mine come and go - and it's recently come back :( I'm wondering if it's related to the goitrogenic properties of things like spinach or kale, which I was eating TONS of.... I don't eat wheat or soy, but I didn't know about corn! Is that related to your thyroid?
I am hypothyroid, I do take a very nonvegetarian raw thyroid supplement (I am sorry to admit) but it makes such a world of difference in how I feel.
Wheat can be a rough one for me too so I keep my intake at a minimum. As far as goitrogenic properties of kale and spinach, I think as long as they are cooked they are okay. This is why I let go of trying to be raw for a while.
I am sorry to hear about corn. I LOVE polenta and can make it so cheaply to feed my family. But, maybe I should limit my corn intake for a while too :-(
I am nearing 50, and also discovered a few years ago that I have thyroid disease. I can't eat soy, wheat or corn...partly because of the groggy/gross feelings you describe, but also because eating one pound of tofu over 7 days will make me gain like 3 pounds. After talking to a nutritionist I have cut soy and corn completely from my diet and almost all wheat flour (I might have toast once a week). But Spanish doctors aren't good at explaining why. I don't know if the wheat thing (which makes me bloat and retain water like mad) is to do with gluten or not, and I don't know if the soy prohibition is due to estrogen or something else.
Are you hypothyroid? I'm pretty young, but I am too, although I've had mine come and go - and it's recently come back :( I'm wondering if it's related to the goitrogenic properties of things like spinach or kale, which I was eating TONS of.... I don't eat wheat or soy, but I didn't know about corn! Is that related to your thyroid?
Yup, hypothyroid. Have been since I was 13 but Spanish doctors would say, "It's low, but low-normal" and never treated it until about 4 yrs ago. And yes, the nutritionist told me to avoid those three (wheat corn and soy) because of the thyroid, and weight-gain associated with it. But no "whys." No "don't eat wheat because of the gluten or some other reason". Just "don't." He was an older man and older doctors here think women are too dumb to understand wo why explain?
Here's what Dr Hyman has to say about soy:
http://www.ultrawellness.com/blog/how-soy-can-kill-you-and-save-your-life?utm_campaign=3202-08122010&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_content=default
Thank you for the info, Willowbees, but I do know that when I consume tofu I feel the effects of too much estrogen, as I do with soy milk, soy burgers, soy cheeses...
I think I am going to stay clear of tofu for now and other soy products.
Tofu is not the only answer to our lives as vegans ;). I am not looking for a meat substitute, good whole grains like brown rice and quinoa and lentils and easy to digest legumes are fine for me.
I was just wondering if there were other women entering the big "M" experiencing what I was experiencing and I see if I was not alone.
I see there are others in my age range with tofu struggles and it makes me feel sort of relieved that what I was feeling was "real". It might seem silly but sometimes we need to make these kinds of connections for validations. :)
You are definitely not alone. Soy has become uberfashionable suddenly in Europe, and the sellers point to the Japanese as examples of longevity and supposed easy menopause. I don't know enough about Japan to know if this is true or just hype...but I have my idea. I just know it doesn't treat my body well at all. I love the taste and versatility of tofu, but not at the price I pay for it physically.
I have heard so much about tofu and soy products being terrible for you. I've been trying to balance out my meals and not rely on tofu so much, but it is def hard. I have recently been diagnosed with PCOS. I'm only 20 but have been consuming soy products almost my entire life. I am not sure if there is a connection.
Thanks for all the advise.
This forum is really packed with info. ;)b
Fermented soy (miso, tempeh) are good for you, and what the Japanese eat. Processed soy is unhealthy. Especially when eaten in large amounts. I won't eat any processed soy. ;)b
Fermented soy (miso, tempeh) are good for you, and what the Japanese eat. Processed soy is unhealthy. Especially when eaten in large amounts. I won't eat any processed soy. ;)b
I was just thinkiing about Japanese women whom eat miso, natto and tofu (I'm not thinking tempeh is popular with the Japanese but they do eat fermented miso and natto) and don't experience "estrogen overload"....in fact their menopausal symptoms are so mild there is no Japanese word for "hot flashes".
It's complicated and involves progesterone levels as much as estrogen. One can have low levels of estrogen, but if it's not balanced with progesterone, can still have estrogen dominance with symptoms.
I know the op's symptoms are real and distressing and obviously a dietary change is needed. Estrogen dominance can't be fun. Best wishes with that.