WHO KNEW CHRISTMAS DINNER COULD BEAT THE MENOPAUSE!

RATHER than feeling stuffed on Christmas afternoon, feel smug. The traditional festive meal is packed with potential plant hormones — or it can be, with a little extra care.

ADD a few lentil sprouts to the sage and onion stuffing (which, in any case, is nicely progesteronic) and eat lots of seasonal veg, like cabbage, carrots and green beans.

STEAM a few broccoli sprouts on top of your brussels for a double helping of hormone health.

FOR afters, have an oldfashioned plum pudding, rich in prunes, apricots and spices that are all high in oestrogen-boosting compounds. Add a probiotic natural yoghurt to help your gut microbiome efficiently convert it all into plant hormones.

COOKED chestnuts are high in oestrogenic lignan, as are juicy medjool dates, so don’t feel guilty snacking in front of Christmas TV.