Phytoestrogen: The Sensational Substance Against Menopausal Symptoms

Menopause is something that almost every woman is dreading. Women know that at the onset of menopause, the aging process starts to accelerate. Aside from this, multitudes of symptoms also go with this undesirable phase in a woman's life. No woman in her right mind will welcome hot flashes, insomnia, fatigue, hair loss, dry skin, mood swings, night sweats, decline in sexual libido, weight gain, vaginal dryness, and many other signs of menopause.nnAnother problem with menopause is that the main treatment that will help manage drastic hormonal changes, which is the root cause of all menopausal symptoms enumerated above, may bring about serious side effects, including increased risk in developing ovarian, breast and other types of cancer. As a result, majority of women opt to just suffer in silence for fear of the numerous adverse effects linked to the use of Hormonal Replacement Therapy (HRT), which is believed to be the best way to keep a woman's estrogen levels in check.nnActually, you don't have to suffer the symptoms of menopause. There are a lot of alternative treatments to HRT that are available in the market. In fact, many of the things that can help you deal with your menopausal symptoms can be found in your kitchen, pantry, supermarket, or on the Internet. You really do not have to climb the steepest mountain or cross a raging river just to find your menopause cures. Just read on and discover the role of phytoestrogens in helping you survive your menopause woes.nnPhytoestrogens UnveilednnAs mentioned earlier, almost all the menopausal symptoms that a woman undergoes are due to the dramatic fall in the levels of estrogen, the female sex hormone. Thus, it is safe to say that the best way to manage menopausal problems is by finding a means to maintain levels of the said sex hormone to as normal as possible. Since the synthetically created Hormone Replacement Therapy has a lot of side effects, it is best to look for natural sources of estrogen substitutes.nnOne estrogen replacement that comes from nature's bounty is phytoestrogen. This natural plant compound has a very similar structure with the female sex hormone so it can help balance the effect of the dwindling supply of estrogen in menopausal women. Moreover, phytoestrogens also have antiviral and antibacterial properties so they can help in giving women in their fifties their much needed immune system boost.nnThe effectiveness of phytoestrogens was highlighted by studies showing that Japanese and Asian women are more able to cope with menopausal symptoms than their Western counterparts. Studies have shown that the regular diet of Asian women, particularly the Japanese, is high in phytoestrogens. Aside from helping minimize menopausal symptoms, specifically, night sweating and hot flashes, phytoestrogens are also believed to aid in bringing down women's risk of developing breast, ovarian and other gender-related cancers.nnPhytoestrogen-rich FoodnnThe most common types of phytoestrogens are lignans, coumestans, and isoflavonoids. You will not have a problem looking for natural sources of this plant compound because over 300 foods contain this substance.nnLignan-rich food sources include soybeans, cereals, bran, rye, flaxseeds, several types of berries, broccoli, pumpkin seeds and other foods that are high in fiber. Aside from helping with menopause problems, lignin is also a popular antioxidant.nnThe top dietary sources of isoflavonoids are soy products and soybeans. This type of phytoestrogen can also be found in beans, particularly those that come from the legume family. Aside from menopause, many studies are being conducted on the usefulness of isoflavonoids against dementia, postpartum depression and even certain types of cancer.nnPinto beans, split beans, alfalfa, soybean sprouts, lima beans and clover sprouts are just some of the foods that are rich in coumestans. This type of phytoestrogen, which share many similarities in structure with isoflavonoids, also has anti-cancer properties.nnOne way to get the right amount of phytoestrogen you need to aid in minimizing the effects of menopause is by taking natural supplements that contain phytoestrogen. One product that contains the right amount of this natural plant compound is Zalestra. Visit www.Zalestra.com for more details about this supplement.