Estrogen is the dominant sex hormone in women. It's responsible for maintaining fertility, vaginal lubrication, bone strength, muscle mass, and mental health.
The natural decline of this hormone due to the aging process may cause some undesirable changes in a woman. This is where phytoestrogens or plant estrogens come into the picture.
Phytoestrogen is thought to be the "fountain of youth."
Women taking plant sources of estrogen attest to improved libido, return of vaginal lubrication, improvement or memory, relief from hot flashes, and lesser mood swings.
These are all purely anecdotal. More studies have to be conducted to prove their use in alleviating menopausal symptoms.
There is, however, evidence from quite a number of research papers that phytoestrogen provide protection against breast cancer, bowel cancer, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.
The latest of these studies was presented this November 4, 2011 in the "BioMed Central Women's Health Journal."
Based on the questionnaire filled up by ovarian cancer patients, there is an inverse relationship between intake of phytoestrogens and ovarian cancer. The more phytoestrogens you take in, the lower your chances of getting ovarian cancer.
Here is a list of foods that fight carcinogens:
- Soy yogurt
- Soy ice cream
- Soy cheese
- Soy hotdogs/cold cuts
- Soy meat substitutes
- Cooked soybeans or edamame
- Roasted soy nuts
- Tempeh
- Miso soup
- Alfalfa sprouts
- Soybean sprouts
- Protein powders made from soy protein
- Soy milk
- Green tea
- Garbanzos beans, chick peas, ceci beans, or hummus
- Dried fruits (e.g. apricot, raisins, prunes)
- Seaweed
- Sunflower seeds
- Black licorice
If you want to protect yourself from cancer and give your health a boost, head on to your nearest grocery store and stock up on soy milk.
