Will Oat Milk Give You Too Much Estrogen?

There are estrogen compounds in it, but that’s ignoring a vital part of the story

Sam Westreich, PhD
Sharing Science

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a woman in ecstasy, clutching a glass of milk to her chest.
Milk — it’s amazing with cookies, but is it filled with hormones? Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash

Before plant-based meat options became more commonplace in stores, there were plenty of options for faux milks. For those who either are lactose intolerant, or simply want to make choices to cause less suffering for cows, there are other milk options.

Almond milk, soy milk, oat milk… it turns out that a lot of plant products can be made into a substance that is at least somewhat similar to milk.

But not everyone is on board with plant-based milks. One commonly expressed concern is that these plant milks are rumored to contain estrogen compounds, which could have hormonal changes in the drinker.

I get it, fellas. We all want to feel confident in our masculinity. And there are fears that taking in estrogen may lead to hormone imbalances, challenges with muscle building, fertility, and other concerns.

But do plant-based milks really contain estrogen? And does consuming that estrogen provoke any effects in the drinker?

Let’s get a deep, long drink… of knowledge.

Estrogen is a class, not a compound

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Sam Westreich, PhD
Sharing Science

PhD in genetics, bioinformatician, scientist at a Silicon Valley startup. Microbiome is the secret of biology that we’ve overlooked.