|
PROACTIVE BREAST HEALTH
WITH
PLANT LIGNANS
Article by herbalist
Dave
Hawkins, MH, CNC
We’ve all heard
our mothers and grandmothers say it, “An ounce of
prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Ladies, when it comes to breast health, this statement is
true in spades. According to Ross
Pelton, Ph.D., it is estimated
that one in eight women will be afflicted by breast cancer
in her lifetime. Perhaps the largest
misconception concerning breast health is that if there is
no family history of breast cancer, the patient is at low
risk. On the contrary, in the majority of newly diagnosed
cases, there is no family history of the disease.
The most
commonly documented cause of breast cancer is an excessive
lifetime exposure to natural, synthetic and environmental
forms of estrogen. Undue exposure can
both initiate and fuel breast cancers.
One way to eliminate excess estrogens is to bypass hormone
replacement therapy in treating menopause symptoms in favor
of the naturally occurring phyto-estrogens
found in plants. Medicinal studies have
concluded the plant-based diet of Asian women is most
certainly a contributing factor to their low rate of
menopausal symptoms, breast cancer, heart disease, and
osteoporosis.
In keeping with
this theory, The National Cancer Institute has begun to
place a large part of their focus on a diet as a preventive
measure when dealing with hormonally driven cancers.
Of the recommended foods, perhaps the most essential
is flaxseed. This ancient grain
contains phytonutrients called
lignans, which compete with
estrogen for binding sites on estrogen receptors.
The result is a flushing of excess estrogens, linked
to high incidence of both breast and colon cancers, from
the body. In addition,
lignans have anti-tumor,
anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties.
These lignans also
contribute to a woman’s overall good health in several ways
including: prevention of metastasis of
cancerous tumors, reduction of hot flashes, reduction of
bloating, reduction in breast tenderness, regulation of
menstrual cycle, improved nail strength, improvement in
skin texture and appearance, and improvement in hair sheen.
According to
the Tuft University Health and Nutrition Letter, “
today’s studies focus on foods containing
phytoestrogens. The notion is that
phytoestrogens my relieve symptoms of
perimenopause and reduce the risk of heart disease
and osteoporosis with fewer adverse effects than hormone
replacement therapy. In other words, we
may be able to eat our way through menopause rather than
medicating ourselves against it.”
Unfortunately,
modern food refinement and a departure from whole foods
have diminished dietary intake of
lignans to nearly nil in Western diets.
The good news is that you can get your
lignans in a couple of ways to
ensure the proper amount is being delivered daily.
If you choose flax seed oil, it is recommended that
all women consume at least one tablespoon of the
lignan-rich variety every day.
The oil is typically refrigerated and should be
labeled Lignan Rich.
If you prefer a tablet,,
the first standardized lignan-based
product to provide a clinically determined dosage is now
available. This product, sold under the
trade name Brevail, was
researched and developed scientifically to raise
lignan levels in blood and
urine to those shown in women who demonstrate an
exceptional history of breast health.
Nothing can
replace the importance of breast self-examination and
regular check-ups with a healthcare provider.
The odds of beating breast cancer can be improved,
regardless of family history, by taking a proactive
approach to breast health.
|
.gif){kind=logo}
.gif)
.gif){kind=logo}
.gif)
.jpg)
.jpg)