The Truth About Phytoestrogens
Black Cohosh Ginkgo Biloba Dong Quai Ginseng Red Clover Soy Vitex Macafem
Black Cohosh
Black cohosh grows in the woods of eastern North America
Ginkgo Biloba
Traditionally used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years.
Dong Quai
Dong Quai is often referred to as "the female ginseng"
Ginseng
The Chinese word "rénshén" means "man root" in English
Red Clover
Originates from Asia, parts of Northern Africa, and Central Europe
Soy
Traditionally used in the Orient as a source of protein and medicine
Vitex
Vitex agnus-castus is also called chaste tree
Macafem
Originates from the Andean mountains of Perú

The Truth About Phytoestrogens

During menopause, your hormone levels fluctuate. This can lead to lots of changes in your body, the side effects of which are known as the symptoms of menopause. You may get hot flashes, night sweats or even osteoporosis.

The Truth About PhytoestrogensThere are different ways to combat the symptoms of menopause, one of which is hormone replacement therapy (HRT), but this comes with its own side effects like unusual bleeding and can increase the risk of breast cancer. There are safer ways to combat the symptoms of menopause though, like phytoestrogens.

Read on to learn how phytoestrogens could help you.

Phytoestrogens

Phytoestrogens are a type of xenoestrogen. All these long words may sound confusing, especially if you're feeling a bit depressed from being menopausal all the time. But, all you really need to know is that xenoestrogen is a compound that can mimic the effect estrogen has on a living organism. This is possible because xenoestrogen is similar to estrogen at a molecular level. This means that they can help you if you are suffering from symptoms of menopause. Read on to learn where you can find phytoestrogens.

Where You Can Find Phytoestrogens

Simply put, phytoestrogens are found in plants. This is easy to remember after a quick etymology lesson. The first part, 'phyto' means 'plant' in the ancient language of Latin, while 'estrogen' is derived from the two Latin words 'estrus', meaning 'sexual desire', and 'gene' which means 'to generate'.

You can find phytoestrogens in lots of different food sources. The foods with the highest relative estrogen levels are nuts and oilseed. These are the best foods to use as a source of phytoestrogen. If you don't think you are getting enough of these food types, try to incorporate them in your diet. Try swapping them with your usual snack, so instead of snacking on chocolate, eat a bag of nuts.

You can also find phytoestrogen in soy products, cereals, breads, legumes, meat products, vegetables and fruits, but their relative levels are lower. Read on to learn about the benefits of consuming phytoestrogens.

The Benefits of Phytoestrogens

The Truth About PhytoestrogensAs a menopausal woman, you want help with dealing with symptoms of menopause. By mimicking the effect estrogen has on the body, phytoestrogens can help you. They may be able to help boost the estrogen levels you lose during menopause, helping to combat vaginal dryness, depression, breast pain and itchy skin.

However, a review suggested that phytoestrogens may not help combat hot flashes. Click on the following link to learn more about phytoestrogens

Main Sections
Macafem
Is an Andean plant regarded as one of the best treatments for menopause symptoms because of it boosts the endocrine system.
Dong Quai
Is an Asian plant that has been used for thousands of years to treat gynecological problems, blood disorders, and as a sedative.
Ginkgo Biloba
Is a popular and ancient Chinese herbal remedy used to improve circulation, mental performance, and menopause symptoms.
Ginseng
Is a root widely used by Chinese, Koreans and Native Americans as a preventative treatment and to increase vitality.
Soy
Is a healthy, low-fat source of protein and is used as treat menopause because of its high amount of phytoestrogens.
Red Clover
Is a variety of Clover with a high nutritional value and it's widely used as an immune-booster and menopause relief, but it has some side effects.
Black Cohosh
Is a phytoestrogenic herb from eastern North America and it is used as a supplement to treat several illnesses, including menopause symptoms.
Vitex
Used since roman times to help women with hormonal imbalances, but pregnant women should avoid it.
Which herb should women try? Today women are looking for relief from their menopause symptoms with herbs. Phytoestrogenic herbs and non-estrogenic herbs are good in relieving menopause symptoms, but recent studies show that non-estrogenic herbs have no side effects because they help the body to produce its own hormones instead of introducing hormones like the phytoestrogenic ones. Learn more about non-estrogenic herbs for menopause.
The Truth About Phytoestrogens