What's the deal with phytoestrogens? A current look at the benefits, risks & questions around these plant allies

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Phytoestrogens... 

What are they? How do they work? Are they helpful or harmful? 

Honestly, these questions are more complicated to answer than they seem, even though researchers have been diving into this topic for decades. 

In the end, the basics are that phytoestrogens are plant-derived compounds that act similarly to estrogens in our bodies. 

But they're milder acting than our natural estrogens so on the one hand they can reduce the effect of estrogen in our bodies when they bind to receptors (so can be helpful in excess estrogen conditions for example) but they can also encourage a mild estrogenic activity when we are in an estrogen deficient state (like say, perimenopause or post-menopause).

That said, not all phytoestrogens are equal, and actually there's even some new research showing that the makeup of our gut microbiome may have some effect on whether or not phytoestrogenic compounds have any benefit in our bodies. 

They're even being researched in estrogen-dependent cancer situations to act potentially as SERMs (or selective estrogen receptor modulator) type compounds. 

But all the current research aside, what benefits might they have in your body?

And what kinds of plants are even included in this category?

Listen in to learn:

• what phytoestrogens are
• how phytoestrogens work
• what makes these plant compounds a bit complicated
• how phytoestrogens help to modulate estrogen levels
• how phytoestrogens can reduce menopausal symptoms
• the latest on phytoestrogens and cancer
• when you might want to avoid taking phytoestrogens
• a few phytoestrogenic herbs and simple ways to work with them 

Resources:

• FREE GUIDE: 10 essential herbs for your hormonal health
• Today's shownotes: Get all the nerdy references here!
• Episode 18: Herbal uterine tonics
• Episode 30: 5 pillars of hormonal health the herbal way
• Episode 37: Easing into menopause with Dana LaVoie
• Episode 58: How does your gut health relate to your hormones?

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DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal heal

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