this post was submitted on 04 Jan 2026
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Right, so all of this indicates that phytoestrogens indeed do have effects on mice and human estrogen related physiology. The effects can be a little puzzling, though. As I understand it, there are two types of estrogen receptors, Alpha and Beta. And there are many phytoestrogens as well as estrogenic chemicals that we are exposed to, with the one's in beer binding to Estrogen Receptor Alpha, which signals breast cells and breast cancer cells to proliferate. The binding affinity of the phytoestrogens is weaker than that of the endogenous estrogen. None the less when a given phytoestrogen is bound to a given receptor it gives a slightly weaker estrogen-like signal, and simultaneously prevents the binding of the endogenous estrogen (can't fit two keys into a single lock at the same time), which has a stronger affinty, and thus stronger effect when it is bound to the receptor. So in an individual with lots of estrogen, the phytoestrogen may lower the estrogenic signal, and in someone with less estrogen it may augment the estrogenic signal in the body. Does that make sense? Do you have questions?
Why does beer keep getting singled out when red wine and bourbon produce similar effects?
Edit: Also a bit peeved, because I've got hashimotos and talked to a dietician about diet affecting my hormone troubles, and they assured me plant hormones didn't have an effect on humans.
No clue, not really sure it's the case that beer is being singled out. The original post was about beer. We could talk about the other phytoestrogens, and/or other estrogenic chemicals.