The Importance of Phytoestrogens

I found this interesting bit of information about phytoestrogens from Dr. Christiane Northrup's book, "The Wisdom of Menopause". I now know I need to include more foods with phytoestrogens in my diet!

"Phytoestrogens, the natural hormones found in plants, are not the same as the hormones found in the female body, although they may have somewhat similar beneficial effects. Phytoestrogens are found in more than three hundred plants, including some that we routinely eat, such as apples, carrots, oats, plums, olives, potatoes, tea, coffee, and sunflower seeds. Soy and flaxseed are particularly rich in these substances.

Phytoestrogens can be divided into two main families: the isoflavones, which include substances such as genistein, daidzein, equol and coumestrol, and the lignans, which include matairesinol. enterolactone, and enterodiol.

The estrogenic activity of phytoestrogens is lower than that of human estrogens - in the range of a hundredth to a thousandth that of estradiol. They also have antioxidant and antiproliferative activity that is still being elucidated. This means that they have the ability to prevent free-radical damage to cells, the number one cause of premature aging of tissue, and they also help prevent abnormal cell growth.

Like other estrogens, phytoestrogens bind to estrogen receptors throughout our systems. (Research has shown that estrogen receptors are found on the suface of nearly every cell of our bodies, not just those of the vagina, uterus, and breast tissue.) When they bind, they exert a balancing, or "adaptogenic" effect. This means that if your estrogen levels are low, the herbs will have an estrogenic effect, but if your estrogen leves are too high, they will block the stronger estrogen. That's why the same herb - dong quai, for example - can be used both for conditions in which there is too much estrogen (such as PMS) and for those which there is too little (hot flushes).

Phytoestrogens do not stimulate the growth of estrogen-sensitive tissue such as in the breast and uterus; in fact, they have been shown to inhibit breast tumors in some animal studies, probably because they occupy estrogen receptor sites and prevent overstimulation of cells."
- Dr. Christiane Northrup in "The Wisdom of Menopause"

Now, isn't this wonderful news for us women? Imagine overcoming our monthly PMS and daily hot flushes by just including more foods like soy milk, tofu and flaxseed in our daily diet! Let's do it!