Soy belongs to a group of naturally-occurring phytoestrogens that can help to regulate the levels of estrogen present in a woman's system. Phytoestrogens are gaining momentum and are currently being used to treat menopause and PMS. You may wonder how one group of compounds can treat both a condition where estrogen is insufficient and a condition caused by over-abundance of estrogen. In order to answer this question, one must understand the mechanism of estrogen utilization in a woman's system.

Hormones like estrogen are produced and released by various glands and travel, through the bloodstream, to the target tissues. The target tissues contain receptors that are specific to each hormone….like a puzzle piece fitting in just the right spot. Once the hormone binds to its designated receptor site, a change occurs in that tissue. For example, estradiol (a strong estrogen) is released from the ovary and travels to one of its target tissues in the uterus. Once bound to the receptors in the uterus, the result is an increased thickening of the endometrial lining. Phytoestrogens have a similar structure to the estrogens produced in a woman’s body. However, phytoestrogens can produce an anti-estrogenic effect in a woman who already produces too much of the hormone or an estrogenic effect in a woman who is lacking estrogen. How does this work?

The effect of the phytoestrogen depends on the level of estrogen in the bloodstream and the saturation of the receptors on the target tissues. Allow me to explain. A woman experiencing menopause would obviously have a low level of estrogen. Therefore, the receptor sites would be unoccupied. Phytoestrogens can attach to these empty receptor sites and create a weak estrogenic effect. In contrast, a woman with endometriosis or PMS has high levels of estrogen in her system and the receptor sites are saturated. Phytoestrogens can compete with our body's own estrogens for binding to the receptors. Because phytoestrogens exert a weaker estrogenic response than the real hormone, when they beat estrogen to the receptor sites the result is a decrease in estrogen activity overall.

In addition to the benefits mentioned above, phytoestrogens have also been linked to a decreased risk of breast and endometrial cancer, increased bone density, decreases in LDL cholesterol, and antioxidant activity.

Foods rich in phytoestrogens:

• Whole grains (rye, barley, wheat)
• Soy
• Seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, sesame)
• Fruits (cherries, grapes, apples)
• Beans (soy beans, chickpeas, red lentils, baby lima beans)
• Olive oil and flaxseed oil
• Leafy greens and seaweed (parsley, cabbage, broccoli)

Phytoestrogenic herbs/supplements:

• Black Cohosh
• Red Clover
• Chasteberry
• Licorice
• Agave Root