Non-nutrient dietary components – Phyto-estrogens

The discussion of the role of non-nutrient components of the diet in cancerprevention emphasizes substances and classes of substances that have received considerable recent attention. These compounds are grouped according to the major potential mechanism for cancer prevention.

• Phyto-estrogens
• Flavonoids
• Isothiocyanates
• Diallyl sulphide
• Polyphenols

Our theme of interest here is phyto-estrogens


Phyto-estrogens

What are phyto-estrogens?

Phyto-estrogens are also substances from the plants, they are not steroids, but have similarity in structure with estradiol, the female sex hormone. They have the ability to cause weak estrogenic activity.

What are the uses of phyto-estrogens?

They have got several applications:

• They regulate the bone density in post-menopause women and prevent osteoporosis.
• They protect the heart by regulating cholesterol.
• They are anti-cancer to prostate, breast, bowel and other cancers and help to prevent further disorders.

What are the foods rich in phyto-estrogens?

Soya beans are the best source for phyto-estrogens but they vary with the various processing techniques. Other legumes, whole grains and seeds contain much phyto-estrogens. Soya bean and its products including tofu and soya milk, sesame seed, linseed, wheat, barley, lentils, beans, rice, apples, berries, carrots, ginseng are the food rich in phyto-estrogens. Actually phyto-estrogens are present in most of the plants.

Are there any adverse health effects from phyto-estrogens?

Phyto-estrogens may mimic estrogens, thus large quantities present in the body may disturb the hormone balance. This fact was not proved because phyto-estrogens do not get accumulated in the body. They are absorbed well from the food and the excretion is also simple with the kidneys.

What is the connection between phyto-estrogens and men?

The dose makes the poison once again, it is as usual important. If you take normal quantity there is no problem and intake of excess amount may affect the hormone balance mildly. It has no effect on sperm concentration, thus the fertility. The mild estrogenic activity is the possible reason of the protective effects of phyto-estrogens in prostate cancer prevention.

Do the phyto-estrogens affect the health of women?

There are many contradictory results from the studies. The present recommendations are, it may be useful to healthy women, but it is better that the women with known breast cancer history better avoid it until the scientists explain us clearly. But it is responsible for the reduction of menopause symptoms. This is scientifically established from the studies with Chinese and Japanese women.

Have phyto-estrogens any relation with xeno-estrogens?

Both are having estrogenic activity, but the xeno-estrogens which are man made insecticide and herbicide, have estrogenic activity. The problem is, xeno-setrogens accumulates in our body and gives adverse effects. Phyto-estrogens are absorbed, circulated in the blood and excreted immediately through the kidneys. The research about phyto-estrogens is not yet over.

What about infants and phyto-estrogens?

Phyto-estrogens are not good to infants. They may cause thyroid disorders, behavioural and developmental disorders and cancer. Never use Soy formula for your infant. Cow milk is also not good because of asthma and allergy risks in later life. Breast milk is the best and gives your infant at least one year breast milk.

Relationship between “Early Puberty, Pregnancy and Breast Cancer”

There are no advantages of early puberty. Early puberty and first menstruation, late or no child birth and late menopause are considered the risk factors for breast cancer.

Are there any disadvantages of early puberty?

There is one very important disadvantage of early puberty. When a girl reaches puberty her breast cells undergo a rapid growth and development. It is the time when there are more undeveloped breast cells which are vulnerable to cancer-causing agents like chemicals, radiation, virus and estrogens. So when girls reach puberty earlier the risk for breast cancer also starts. To make it clear in the beginning of 20th century the first menstruation was between 16 to 18 years and now it is between 9 to 13 years.

How this risk for breast cancer could be avoided?

There are three possibilities to minimise this risk and they include:

• Avoiding early puberty
• Avoiding risks like environmental poisons, radiation, virus etc.
• Pregnancy

Avoiding early puberty: If a girl is physically very active with aerobic exercises, sports, swimming, walking, gym, bicycling, team sports like basket ball and volleyball her puberty starts later. Intake of too much of carbohydrates including rice, sweets, chips and chocolates consumption is also a main cause of early puberty. Late puberty and normal pregnancy between 20 to 25 years decrease the risk of breast cancer.

Avoiding risks like environmental poisons etc.: Pesticides and many chlorinated chemicals (xeno-estrogens) which are in our environment, food or water have low estrogenic activity which also favours early puberty. It is better to avoid these chemicals. For example, organic vegetables, fruits and whole grain foods are the best. If organic vegetables are not available, buy fresh vegetables and wash them well with enough water so that up to 30% of the pesticides residues could be removed.

Fast food, junk food and processed food must be avoided. Food containing hormones should be avoided.

An individual diet plan from an expert is important from the childhood because unfortunately many mothers know very little about the right selection of the foods. The ads in the media spoil them also.

(Read the author’s book “Food and our Health, Facts and Misconceptions” and “Environmental Poisons and Illness” from Aaron Verlag Publishers Private Ltd.)

Pregnancy: The hormones of pregnancy, particularly estriol and progesterone, make these undeveloped breast cells to mature to cell types which cannot be easily damaged and transformed into cancer cells. Late puberty and early pregnancy between 20 to 25 years can decrease the risk of breast cancer.

Phyto-estrogens (Plant-estrogens) are important to our health, the action mechanism is completely different and these are not stored in our body. But, xeno-estrogens are fat soluble and are stored in our body fat.

The rest hereditary risk is always there.