Menopause Remedies - Part 4 - The Real Benefits of Phytoestrogens
First off, there is no uniform activity for this large group of plant substances.
They do many things that influence hormone metabolism.
Indeed, the most well-studied of the phytoestrogens, the soy isoflavones, have multiple activities.
Some of these activities enhance the effects of estrogens and some of them reduce the effects of estrogens.
The key is to know what they can do for your hormone balance and what this does for your health.
Before I point out their main benefits, I want to mention that the worry associated with phytoestrogens and cancer or fibroids is overblown and is based on weak experimental links to laboratory research, not to clinical outcomes.
Dietary phytoestrogens are unavoidable, so clinical surveys that compare high-intake levels with low-intake levels would be more meaningful than laboratory research.
The high incidences of cancers and fibroids in female reproductive organs are much more likely to be the result of iodine deficiency than any other dietary factor that that is common in our society.
The bottom line on the benefits of phytoestrogens, according to a large body of published scientific research, is that they protect against several disorders that are magnified by hormone imbalance leading up to and during menopause.
In particular, phytoestrogens from soy:
Moreover, these are the most widely available and cost-effective types of phytoestrogens in nutrition stores.
Hundreds of companies offer excellent products, and every self-respecting nutrition store carries one or more brands of them.
The best brands that I have found include Gaia Herbs, Pure Essence Labs, Source Naturals, Pure Encapsulations, Zand, and the list goes on.
The key features for evaluating soy isoflavone supplements are the same as for any kind of supplement - i.
e.
, purity and dosage per serving.
Regarding dosage, numerous clinical studies have shown that soy phytoestrogens in doses ranging from 40-160 mg per day lead to rapid and significant reductions in menopause transition symptoms.
Isoflavone phytoestrogens are also available in supplements that contain red clover.
This plant was the source for the original discovery of phytoestrogens, in about 1950.
Red clover has attracted less research than soy has, only because it is not a significant crop plant.
Nevertheless, red clover phytoestrogens offer similar benefits to those of soy, in similar concentrations (i.
e.
, at least 40 mg per day).
They do many things that influence hormone metabolism.
Indeed, the most well-studied of the phytoestrogens, the soy isoflavones, have multiple activities.
Some of these activities enhance the effects of estrogens and some of them reduce the effects of estrogens.
The key is to know what they can do for your hormone balance and what this does for your health.
Before I point out their main benefits, I want to mention that the worry associated with phytoestrogens and cancer or fibroids is overblown and is based on weak experimental links to laboratory research, not to clinical outcomes.
Dietary phytoestrogens are unavoidable, so clinical surveys that compare high-intake levels with low-intake levels would be more meaningful than laboratory research.
The high incidences of cancers and fibroids in female reproductive organs are much more likely to be the result of iodine deficiency than any other dietary factor that that is common in our society.
The bottom line on the benefits of phytoestrogens, according to a large body of published scientific research, is that they protect against several disorders that are magnified by hormone imbalance leading up to and during menopause.
In particular, phytoestrogens from soy:
- Prevent cancer at multiple sites
- Prevent gallstones
- Protect kidney function
- Prevent osteoporosis
- Stimulate bone formation
- Lower cholesterol levels
- Inhibit the oxidation of LDL cholesterol
- Inhibit the development or progression of atherosclerosis
Moreover, these are the most widely available and cost-effective types of phytoestrogens in nutrition stores.
Hundreds of companies offer excellent products, and every self-respecting nutrition store carries one or more brands of them.
The best brands that I have found include Gaia Herbs, Pure Essence Labs, Source Naturals, Pure Encapsulations, Zand, and the list goes on.
The key features for evaluating soy isoflavone supplements are the same as for any kind of supplement - i.
e.
, purity and dosage per serving.
Regarding dosage, numerous clinical studies have shown that soy phytoestrogens in doses ranging from 40-160 mg per day lead to rapid and significant reductions in menopause transition symptoms.
Isoflavone phytoestrogens are also available in supplements that contain red clover.
This plant was the source for the original discovery of phytoestrogens, in about 1950.
Red clover has attracted less research than soy has, only because it is not a significant crop plant.
Nevertheless, red clover phytoestrogens offer similar benefits to those of soy, in similar concentrations (i.
e.
, at least 40 mg per day).
