What are phytoestrogens and how can we limit them in our food sources?

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December 4, 2025

Phytoestrogens mess with the estrogen hormone in your body.

Phytoestrogens are natural chemicals found in plants that act somewhat like the estrogen hormone your body makes. They're in foods like soybeans, flaxseeds, whole grains, and various fruits and vegetables.

Because their shape is similar to human estrogen, they can attach to the same spots in your body that estrogen does. Sometimes they work like estrogen (giving you similar effects), and sometimes they actually block estrogen from working.

Think of it like having a key that's similar to but not exactly the same as your house key, sometimes it can unlock the door, and sometimes it just gets stuck in the lock and keeps other keys from working.

When you have an overload of phytoestrogens, it can have a negative effect on your health and wellbeing.

Phytoestrogens may alter hormonal balance, impacting menstrual cycles, fertility, and reproductive development. They mess with hormone production by interfering with the enzymes your body uses to make hormones.

You intake phytoestrogens in many ways, but the most significant is probably your food.

You're exposed to phytoestrogens through several everyday products. Anti-aging beauty products often contain plant extracts rich in these compounds, marketed for their potential skin-rejuvenating properties. Some cleaning products also include plant-based ingredients that contain phytoestrogens. Additionally, many dietary supplements, particularly those aimed at menopausal symptom relief or general wellness, deliberately include concentrated phytoestrogens.

When animals eat foods that are high in estrogen, that transfers to the foods they produce.

When animals eat soy, the plant estrogens can interfere with their hormones. The effects depend on the animal type, how much they eat, and their gut bacteria. And while it does not only affect the animal, they can transfer into the milk, meat, and eggs you eat, potentially impacting your hormone balance.

Phytoestrogens are worst in eggs and dairy.

Dairy Cows and Milk

Feeding soy to dairy cows can increase phytoestrogen levels in their milk. Soy contains compounds called isoflavones, which are a type of phytoestrogen. When dairy cows consume soy based feed, these compounds can be transferred into their milk, though the concentration varies based on the amount of soy in the diet and other factors.

For farms committed to producing the cleanest possible dairy products, avoiding soy in cattle feed is worth considering, which is just one of the reasons why we feed 100% grass all year long.

Beef Cattle

With beef cattle, the situation is somewhat different. While phytoestrogens from soy feed can be present in the animals' system, the concentration in muscle tissue (the meat we eat) is generally much lower than what you'd find in milk or eggs. However, for those looking to minimize phytoestrogen exposure across the board, a soy-free diet for beef cattle makes sense. Again, 100% grass fed and finished is the way!

This is why Miller's Bio Farms chooses to NOT include soy or flaxseed in its laying hen and cattle feeds.

Flax and soy are common ingredients in conventional chicken feed, which is one reason why our chicken feed has neither. Here's what makes this especially concerning with chickens eating flax or soy: when a hen eats phytoestrogens, they pass directly into the egg yolks. What the chicken eats ends up on your breakfast plate.

This makes Miller's honest eggs LOW in phytoestrogens.

By eliminating the soy and flaxseed, our eggs now contain significantly less phytoestrogens than conventionally produced eggs. This means a cleaner, more natural product for our customers.

Making people healthier (not sicker) matters a lot to us, and overconsumption of phytoestrogen is a major concern.

For Adults

Reproductive Health: High amounts of phytoestrogens can interfere with your menstrual cycle and fertility. There was a case report of three women who had abnormal bleeding and fertility problems that went away when they stopped eating so much soy.

Hormone Disruption: Soy can suppress your natural hormone levels and interfere with ovulation in women trying to get pregnant.

Behavior Changes: Animal studies show phytoestrogens can affect sexual behavior, anxiety, and aggression, though we don't know if this happens in humans.

For Babies and Children

This is where scientists are most worried:

Developmental Effects: Your brain and reproductive system develop during specific "critical windows" when they're especially vulnerable to hormones. If phytoestrogens interfere during these times, the effects could be permanent.

Soy Formula Concerns:

Babies on soy formula have blood levels of phytoestrogens that are 1,000 times higher than their natural estrogen levels
Female babies on soy formula show signs of estrogen effects (like changes in vaginal tissue) that breastfed babies don't
One study found that girls fed soy formula as babies were more likely to develop breast tissue early (around age 2)

Animal Studies Show Problems:

Early puberty
Irregular reproductive cycles
Fertility problems
Abnormal development of ovaries and uterus
Changes in brain structure that control reproduction

The biggest problem is that we're conducting a giant, uncontrolled experiment. Soy is now in 60% of processed foods, millions of babies are raised on soy formula, and we won't know the full effects for decades.

The bottom line is that more research is needed. But, now that you know, you can be conscious about your phytoestrogen intake.

More research is desperately needed, especially long-term studies following children exposed to high levels of phytoestrogens as babies. Until we know more, parents should think carefully before choosing soy formula unless their baby has a true milk allergy, and everyone should be aware that "natural" doesn't automatically mean "safe", especially in large amounts.

Until then know your farmer, know your food!

Be proactive in asking questions on your food sources, how the animals live and what they eat, be your own advocate! Look for flax free and soy free items whenever you can, read labels, eat whole foods.😊

Check out our flaxseed free, soy free, and low phytoestrogen eggs!

References:

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.10...
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/a...
https://holplus.co/phytoestrog...
https://rep.bioscientifica.com...

Eggs

From farm to fork: Understanding the value of sustainable pork

Raising Pork the Old-Fashioned Way: Miller's Bio Farm's Commitment to Quality At Miller's Bio Farm, we're not trying to reinvent the wheel, we're bringing back the farming practices that sustained communities for generations. As an Amish farm, we understand that good stewardship of the land and animals isn't just about business; it's about honoring creation and providing wholesome food for families. When you buy pork from us, you're getting more than just meat. You're getting the result of careful, intentional farming that puts the well-being of our animals, our land, and your family first. Let's be honest: most grocery store pork comes wrapped in pretty words like "natural" and "humanely raised," but these labels often don't mean much. It's easy to put nice words on a package, much harder to actually do the work of raising animals properly. We'd like to show you how we do things differently here at Miller's Bio Farm. What Makes Our Pork Different Good pork starts with good practices. For us, that means healthy soil, happy animals, responsible harvesting, and thoughtful management of everything that happens on our farm. Here's what that looks like in practice: Pasture-Raised the Way Nature Intended Pigs aren't meant to spend their lives standing on concrete in windowless buildings. They're curious, intelligent animals that need fresh air, sunshine, and room to express their natural behaviors, rooting in the dirt, foraging for food, and socializing with other pigs. On our farm, hogs live outdoors on pasture in the woods where they can do exactly that. We move them regularly to fresh ground, which keeps them healthy and gives the land time to rest and regenerate. This practice, sometimes called rotational grazing is farming wisdom that's been passed down for centuries. When pigs root and forage on fresh pasture, they're naturally fertilizing the soil and helping plants grow back stronger. The land becomes more fertile season after season, storing carbon and building topsoil instead of depleting it. No chemical fertilizers needed, just pigs doing what pigs do best. This kind of farming takes more work than confining animals in one place, but it produces better results for everyone involved: healthier pigs, healthier land, and better tasting pork. Raising Animals with Respect Our approach to animal care reflects our values as an Amish farming community. We believe animals deserve to be treated with dignity and respect throughout their lives. Processing with Care When harvest time comes, we work with a small processor who shares our commitment to humane treatment. Our animals are handled calmly and respectfully, with immediate stunning to ensure they feel no distress. This isn't just the right thing to do, it also affects meat quality. Animals that are stressed at slaughter produce tougher, less flavorful meat. Properly handled animals yield tender, delicious pork that you can taste the difference in. Studies also confirm what traditional farmers have long known: animals raised on pasture produce meat with better nutritional profiles, including higher omega-3 fatty acids and more vitamins. Wholesome Feed, No Shortcuts We raise heritage breed pigs, traditional breeds known for their hardiness and flavor. These animals thrive on pasture with supplemental non-GMO grain, and they don't need antibiotics or growth hormones to stay healthy. In industrial pork production, antibiotics are mixed into feed daily to prevent disease in overcrowded conditions. This practice is creating drug-resistant bacteria that threaten public health, a problem we don't contribute to. Our pigs build strong immune systems naturally through good nutrition, clean living conditions, and low-stress environments. It's the way farming worked for centuries before shortcuts became the norm. Caring for God's Creation As stewards of the land, we take seriously our responsibility to leave it better than we found it. That's not just good farming, it's part of our calling. Building Soil, Not Destroying It Industrial agriculture depletes soil through intensive tilling, chemical dependence, and continuous monoculture cropping. This approach might boost short-term production, but it's not sustainable. We farm differently. Our rotational grazing actually improves soil health year after year. As pigs move across pasture, they naturally incorporate organic matter into the ground. Rest periods allow plants to regrow with deeper roots, which prevents erosion and captures carbon from the atmosphere. The result is living, fertile soil teeming with beneficial microorganisms soil that produces nutritious forage without synthetic inputs. Handling Waste Responsibly Large scale pig operations often store waste in enormous lagoons that leak pollutants into water supplies and release harmful gases into the air. These systems create environmental and health problems for surrounding communities. Our approach couldn't be more different. Because our pigs are spread across pasture and woodlands in manageable groups, their manure distributes naturally as valuable fertilizer rather than concentrating into a waste problem. When winter weather requires us to bring pigs into shelter, we bed them deeply with straw or wood shavings. This creates a composting effect that safely breaks down manure without environmental contamination. We also plant diverse pasture species specifically chosen to absorb nutrients and maintain ecological balance. Not all pigs like to go in the open shelter in the winter time and that's perfectly fine with us! The Real Story Behind Your Pork Chop Many people wonder which type of meat is most environmentally friendly. The truth is, it's not so much about whether you're eating pork, beef, or chicken, it's about how that animal was raised. Take beef as an example. You've probably heard that cattle are terrible for the environment. That criticism applies to feedlot operations where thousands of cattle are confined in small spaces and fed grain-heavy diets. But cattle raised properly on well managed pasture actually improve the land and sequester carbon. The animal itself isn't the problem; the farming method is. The same principle applies to pork. Factory farmed pork has serious environmental and ethical problems. Pasture raised pork from a regenerative farm like ours is a completely different product. One challenge specific to pork is that pigs need grain as part of their diet, they can't survive on grass alone like cattle can. This means sustainable pork production requires access to sustainably grown grain, ideally non-GMO corn and soybeans from farmers practicing regenerative agriculture. On our farm, we're committed to sourcing feed from responsible growers who share our values of soil health, biodiversity, and chemical free farming. What You're Really Buying When you purchase pork from Miller's Bio Farm, you're not just buying bacon or pork chops. You're supporting a way of farming that's been proven over generations, one that respects animals, regenerates land, and produces genuinely nutritious food. We're proud to raise pork the right way, even though it's more work. Because at the end of the day, that's what good stewardship looks like. And that's something worth bringing home to your table. Check out our: ✔️Corn & Soy Free ✔️ Vaccine, Drug, GMO-Free ✔️Heritage Breeds ✔️Woodland Raised PORK COLLECTION HERE: https://millersbiofarm.com/sto...