Why is that? The answer may be found in
something as simple as what they put into their bodies on a daily
basis. For
starters, these people groups go to the market daily and purchase
fresh food - none of the preservatives, chemicals and dyes we consume
here on an increasing basis. As a matter of fact, almost anything you
purchase at a regular grocery store - and especially at discount
stores like Wal-Mart and Target - is loaded with these potential
carcinogens. In fact, it’s almost impossible to find any healthy
offerings at these stores although some individual stores, thankfully,
are offering some organic choices.
Most importantly, as far as menopause symptoms is concerned, these
women consume diets high in phytoestrogens or natural estrogens.
Estrogen occurs throughout the plant kingdom. You would have to be on
a plant free diet to avoid it. Five major types of phytoestrogens or
natural estrogens have been identified:
- Flavanones (citrus fruits).
- Isoflavones (legumes, such as chickpeas, soy,
lentils, clover and beans).
- Flavonols (red and yellow fruit and
vegetables).
- Flavones (red and yellow fruit and
vegetables).
- Lignans (flaxseed and cereals).
Most plants contain several different types of natural estrogen.
However, the highest natural estrogen content is found in the
isoflavones group and it is this group - the legumes - that is so
widely consumed in Asia, Latin America and the Mediterranean
countries. The women in these countries consume 30-50mg. of
isoflavones daily compared to approximately only 2-4oz daily in the
United States!
There are four major isoflavones: biochanin; daizein; formononetin;
and, genistein.
The highest natural estrogen levels are found in: soy-based foods like
tofu and miso; split peas; chickpeas; kidney beans; and, lima beans.
These are foods women need to add to their diets to help mitigate
menopause symptoms.
It is felt among some researchers that some foods - particularly soy -
have “antiestrogen” compounds that block the
detrimental effects of estrogen that may help prevent breast cancer
and osteoporosis.
Now, I know what you’re saying: “I’m having these terrible symptoms
and my doctor tells me that it’s because my body no longer is
producing estrogen. Estrogen is good. Antiestrogen sounds bad.”
Well, sort of, if you’re not worried about cancer. Here are some
facts:
- Breast cancer is higher in women who started
their periods earlier and entered menopause later.
- Breast cancer is lower in women who have had
multiple pregnancies as estrogen production ceases during pregnancy.
The longer women are exposed to estrogen, the
greater the risk of breast or ovarian cancer. Hence, the cessation of
the large-scale Women's Health
Initiative studies when an increased risk of developing
breast cancer, heart disease, strokes and blood clots was found among
the study participants.
So the risk for cancer is only compounded when a doctor prescribes a
synthetic estrogen like Premarin or
Prempro When doctors prescribe Premarin,
it may help a woman feel better after menopause and reduce the risk of
some diseases, but the cancer risk ramps up significantly with the
continued exposure to steroidal-type estrogen.
So what is different about plant natural estrogens? Plant or phenolic
natural estrogens can attach to receptors for certain organs of the
body, such as the breast and uterus. They actually block or modulate
the effect of a woman’s own estrogen on these tissues. The bottom line
is that plant natural estrogens can protect a woman from breast,
ovarian, and uterine cancer in later life. This is probably the major
reason breast cancer is so low in the above mentioned countries.
People in these nations consume phyto ( phenolic) natural estrogens
their entire lives.
So when women in these countries go through menopause, the plant
natural estrogens take over for after their ovaries shut down and keep
them from having the usual hot flashes, sweats and other menopause
symptoms while protecting them from female cancers.
Be sure to see our wonderful tofu recipe this month which is very
similar to a dish offered at the famed Lotus of Siam
Restaurant in Las Vegas. It will make you actually crave tofu!
If eating tofu, consuming other soy products or spending time in the
kitchen isn’t an option for you, our Return to Eden Progesterone Cream
provides transdermal absorption of soy plant natural estrogens to
control those hot flashes
and other menopause symptoms.
