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Phytoestrogens
Estrogen produced by plants, phytoestrogens, are kinder and gentler versions of the estrogens produced by the human body. The phytoestrogens found in soybeans are 250 to 1,000 times weaker than human estrogens and because they are weaker they behave differently in the human body.
Phytoestrogens bind to a cell's estrogen receptor site without altering them. By attaching themselves to estrogen receptor sites in the body, phytoestrogens may have the same effect as estrogen or they may act like an anti-estrogen, thus blocking out the potentially dangerous forms of human estrogen.
The most common types of phytoestrogens are flavones, lignans, and isoflavones. Lignans and flavones are found in cereals, fruits, vegetables, and flaxseed. Isoflavones are found almost exclusively in legumes such as soybeans, lentils, and chickpeas. 
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