What exactly are phytoestrogens, and how can we use them to our benefit in the development of the breasts, as a hormonal balancer for menopausal symptoms, and as a healthy, preventative addition to our diet? Phytoestrogens are also quickly becoming the buzz as natural breast enlargement alternatives, and hormone replacement therapy for women going through menopause.

The word "phytoestrogen" is derived from "phyto", meaning plant, and then "estrogen" is because of their ability to affect estrogenic activity in the body. It is important to know that although phytoestrogens may have some similar actions to estrogens, they are not the same as the true hormonal estrogens that our bodies produce. Phytoestrogens are actually a group of compounds found in plants that influence our own estrogen activity by mimicking it's effects in the female body.

Categories of Phytoestrogens
Phytoestrogens are categorized into four main groups and these are then further subdivided. The four groups of phytoestrogens are soy isoflavones, lignans, coumestans and resorcylic acid lactones, though the latter is not a true phytoestrogen.6, 7 The most chemically effective as a phytoestrogen (estrogen-mimicking supplement), and structurally similar to estrogen, are the soy isoflavones. Soy isoflavones are now being touted as a healthy supplement for menopausal and pre-menopausal women for their "healthy estrogen" enhancing abilities.

Now, what about phytoestrogens as a breast enlarging or breast enhancing supplement? There are several products out there marketed as breast enlargement supplements using phytoestrogen technology combined with other natural herbs known for varying degrees of breast enhancing and hormone balancing qualities. The question is, do they work and are they healthy?

The answer to that is two-fold. You should never stay on any supplement like this for more than nine months at a time, as this may become harmful to your health since it is unnatural to sustain higher estrogen activity for such a long period.

However, under the correct usage and when used with proper diet, phytoestrogens can be used, and have been used, successfully to enlarge and enhance breasts, and even to alleviate symptoms of hormonal imbalance, decrease libido and other hormone-related issues common to women - especially premenopausal or menopausal women.

The bottom line is, we are only beginning to understand the benefits that natural phytoestrogens and phytoestrogen-based supplements can have for women, be it for purposes of breast health, breast enhancement, menopause symptoms relief, and hormonal imbalances.

One must be careful in choosing any phytoestrogen product, as they vary greatly in quality and purity standards. Examine the company you are buying from closely. Don't go on price alone - see if they have credible testimonials or a proven track record for success and quality. pueraria mirifica

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.

Another 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.

Actually, 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.

Phytoestrogens Unveiled

As 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.

One 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.

The 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. http://www.phuketherb.com/pueraria-mirifica.html

There are plenty of ways to address menopause symptoms. Of these methods, alternative therapy seems to be the most popular one. It consists of you undergoing different procedures like acupuncture and including herbs in your diet. In this article, we'll discuss herbs for menopause.

It's not surprising that herbal remedies seem to be the most considered method to try when treating menopausal symptoms. This is because the intake of herbs are considered safer (compared to other methods) and have received a lot of positive feedback from those who have actually tried them.

If you want to try herbs for the relief of menopausal symptoms, note that there are two basic types of herbs you can use. These are the phytoestrogen and the non estrogenic herbs. Phytoestrogen herbs are those that contain estrogenic properties (i.e., they help produce estrogen in a woman's body). Black Cohosh and Dong Quai are examples of these herbs.

Phytoestrogen herbs, however, are not best for treating hormonal imbalance. In addition, if you're taking something that's already increasing the production of estrogen, your body might decrease its own natural production of it, resulting in the further decline of hormones in your body. This may result in your body's hormonal balance to go hay-wire.

On the other hand, non estrogenic herbs do NOT provide additional estrogen into your body. Instead, they nurture the hormonal glands, prompting them to create natural hormones better. In the end, these herbs aim to help your body produce your natural hormones, aiding in the better functioning of your endocrinal and pituitary glands.

As mentioned, more and more women are turning to herbal remedies to alleviate menopausal symptoms due to their perceived safety. However, not everything is perfect and there is a certain disadvantage to using herbs too: time. People who turn to herbal remedies for treatment of menopausal symptoms must be prepared to take these remedies for a longer period of time for them to truly take effect. If you want instant results, herbal remedies are not for you. http://www.phuketherb.com/pueraria-mirifica.html