| Scientific research concerning plant foods that contain | | | | concluded, "These findings suggest that red clover |
| estrogen (referred to as phytoestrogens) is still in | | | | isoflavones are effective in reducing skin aging |
| the preliminary stages. Most research concerning | | | | induced by estrogen deprivation." |
| estrogens and red clover isoflavones (a type of | | | | Research concerning foods that contain estrogen |
| phytoestrogen) has been performed using laboratory | | | | focuses primarily on soy isoflavones. The health |
| animals. As with hormone replacement therapy, plant | | | | benefits of soy is the subject of some debate, but |
| foods that contain estrogen are the subjects of | | | | the majority of the scientific evidence indicates that |
| much research and some debate in the scientific | | | | replacing high fat red meat with soy products is good |
| community. Here we look at some of the most | | | | for the heart, may reduce cholesterol and may |
| recent research, on both sides of the debate. | | | | prevent some types of cancer. It is a good source |
| Red clover is a plant that grows throughout the | | | | of omega-3 fatty acids, protein and carbohydrates. |
| world. It was a food source for humans, at one time, | | | | Soy isoflavones have an estrogen-like effect on the |
| but is primarily grown today to feed livestock. It has | | | | body. On the plus side, this means that isoflavones |
| many uses in herbal medicine, including the treatment | | | | may relieve some of the symptoms that typically |
| of coughs, bronchitis, eczema, sores, mouth ulcers | | | | accompany menopause, such as hot flashes and night |
| and sore throats. Isoflavones, a type of plant | | | | sweats. On the negative side, some experts fear |
| estrogen or phytoestrogen, isolated from red clover | | | | that isoflavones may increase a woman's chances of |
| are included in many natural remedies for menopausal | | | | developing breast and uterine cancer. These types of |
| symptoms. | | | | cancer are seen more often in women taking |
| Scientific research concerning plant estrogens and red | | | | hormone replacement or estrogen replacement |
| clover is in the preliminary stages. The School of | | | | therapies. |
| Pharmacy in Messina, Italy recently published two | | | | The research results are mixed. One long-term study |
| separate studies concerning estrogens and red clover. | | | | of Japanese women concluded that women whose |
| In both, laboratory animals were studied for the | | | | diet was high in soy were less likely to develop |
| effects of decreased estrogen production after | | | | breast cancer than women who did not eat soy. Of |
| removal of the ovaries, in order to mimic the effects | | | | those women eating soy who did develop breast |
| of menopause. | | | | cancer, their survival rate was better. As with most |
| The first focused on osteoporosis, which is bone loss | | | | things, genetics apparently plays a role. |
| that is often found in menopausal and | | | | Researchers have learned that some women have a |
| postmenopausal women. The study found that | | | | genetic predisposition to suffer numerous menopausal |
| animals that were fed red clover had less bone loss | | | | symptoms. Likewise, it is clear that certain types of |
| than animals that ate their normal diet. The | | | | cancer, particularly breast cancer, occur often in |
| researchers' conclusion: "These findings suggest that | | | | some families, but not at all in others. Regretfully, |
| red clover isoflavones are effective in reducing bone | | | | there is no way to predict, with any certainty, how a |
| loss." | | | | woman's body will respond to the changes |
| The second study focused on the skin. Many | | | | accompanying menopause, nor to adding plant foods |
| symptoms may accompany menopause and are | | | | that contain estrogen to the diet. The safest advice |
| believed to be associated with decreased estrogen | | | | for women who have a history of breast cancer in |
| production. The skin tends to become dryer, thinner, | | | | themselves or their family is to avoid estrogen in all |
| has less moisture and less collagen. These skin | | | | its forms, until scientific research can give us better |
| problems show up in female lab animals, just like they | | | | guidelines. |
| do in women. In this study the researchers | | | | |