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Truth and Myths About Phytoestrogens

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13th Mar 2019




Nowadays phytoestrogens are very popular supplements for women who have hormonal issues. The advertisements promise miraculous results and swear that phytoestrogens are pure magic. Let’s see what is true and what is not about these supplements.

What Is Special About Estrogen?

Life of a woman’s reproductive system can be divided into three stages: puberty, fertility, and menopause. Estrogen is the active participant in all three. It provides fertility and normal function of the reproductive system.

Ovaries are responsible for the estrogen production. This process slows down with age and then comes menopause. As a woman goes through it, the level of estrogens in her body reduces to a minimum and the ovaries get atrophied.

The proper balance of estrogens is very important for a woman’s health. Increased levels of this hormone is a dangerous condition that creates high risks for multiple diseases’s including a few cancerous ones. The lack of it is also a pathology normal only when a woman is in her menopause.

What Are Phytoestrogens?

Phytoestrogens are substances found in plants that have a similar composition to human estrogen. The way they interact with receptors is also similar, but the intensity of this interaction is much weaker. This effect is helpful for women who suffer from a lack of natural estrogen. If the balance is normal, phytoestrogens replace the natural hormone, which causes an imbalance.

Important Things to Know About Phytoestrogens

  1. Phytoestrogens are NOT hormones
  2. Preparations containing them are NOT steroids
  3. They can be only a supplement, not treatment
  4. They can be helpful only if taken orally

Can You Appoint Them to Yourself?

No, only your doctor who knows the history of your disease, has the results of your diagnostics and is aware of the treatment you went through before, can appoint you phytoestrogens. Many women nowadays have more trust in the treatment of a natural origin rather than synthetic estrogens. But uncontrollable consumption of phytoestrogens is dangerous for your health.

It’s a mistake to think that natural remedies have no side effects and are absolutely safe for everyone. Here are the risks that an unsupervised phytoestrogen therapy can bring:

  • Allergy, like any of the plant preparations, can cause.
  • Intoxication by the powerful action of essential oils that may collect in your liver.
  • Bleeding or miscarriage due to possible uterine contractions as a side effect.

You can’t take phytoestrogens if you suffer from any acute or chronic disease. But if your doctor after a pelvic exam and diagnostics approves this treatment for you, it can be helpful against the discomfort that menopausal manifestations bring.