Question

Your mom is going through menopause and is having difficulty dealing with the hot flashes and hormonal imbalances. She has heard about phytoestrogens but isn’t really convinced that they would be a good option for her to explore. In 2-3 paragraphs, answer the following questions that your mom has about phytoestrogens: Where do phytoestrogens come from? What are some examples of their botanical sources? How is the medicine made? Do you know which compounds are included in the phytoestrogen preparations? How does it work – in other words, how does it affect my condition of hormonal imbalance? Will it relieve my symptoms permanently or temporarily? What are the health benefits of me using this product? Are there any health risks associated with its use?

Answer 1

Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring compounds that are found in a variety of plants, including fruits, vegetables, legumes, and some grains. Plant-based diets provide good amounts of these chemicals, especially soy-based diets. These act as analogues to the natural hormone ‘estrogen’, which in females is responsible for regulating various metabolic functions. Phytoestrogens can act as an alternative to natural estrogen, or can be used as a natural hormone therapy alternative.

Phytoestrogens can provide relief from hot flashes, mood swings, and decreased libido, which are associated with decrease in estrogen hormone, and menopause. Studies show that Phytoestrogens greatly reduce hot flashes, and to a certain extent the other symptoms associated with menopause. Phytoestrogens could help prevent bone loss in aging women.

Phytoestrogens can be purified from plants and consumed as herbal tablets to realize the downstream effects. However, Herbs and supplements are not monitored by the USFDA for safety and quality, which means there is a certain element of risk associated with these herbal supplements. These can include changes in hormonal cycles, increased risk of breast cancer, endometriosis, and non-viral toxic hepatitis.

The best solution is to consume a diet rich in plant foods. There are no known health risks from eating more plant foods. Common plant sources of Phytoestrogens include broccoli, carrots, coffee, legumes (beans, peas, and peanuts), oranges, red clover, and soy.