Belgium, WI (PressExposure) May 06, 2010 -- Uterine cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, increased risk of blood clots, increased risk of gallbladder disease, and increased risk of heart attack or stroke are among the many possible negative side effects associated with HRT.
Realizing this, HRT drug manufacturers commonly recommend the lowest possible doze over the shortest possible duration. Unfortunately, severe menopause symptoms may persist for ten years or more, far longer than any drug company would recommend their product as a viable menopause treatment plan for persistent, long-term menopause symptoms.
Most women (and rightly so) have elected to stay away from HRT as either a short or long term treatment for menopause symptom relief.
The scientific community has long noted the many similarities between plant-based estrogens (called phytoestrogens) and the estrogens used in hormone replacement therapy. Some plant-based phytoestrogens are so potent, that they have been found to be "as effective as Hormone Replacement Therapy in treating symptoms associated with menopause, including hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings."
There are three basic types of phytoestrogens found in the plant kingdom.
Isoflavones are a class of phytoestrogens found in soy and chickpeas. It has long been thought that Eastern and Middle Eastern diets have greatly benefited from these plant-based phytoneutriets and may be one of the reasons that women in these countries seem to have less severe menopause symptoms than women in Western countries.
While soy-based products have traditionally been shown to be useful in treating the most common menopause symptoms (according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine), The National Institutes of Health notes that there is a higher risk of breast cancer associated with soy products.
Alfalfa and clover are the primary sources of coumestans, another class of phytoestrogens found in plants. However, there is currently very little scientific evidence which support coumestans as beneficial to humans. According to the National Institutes of Health, studies on animals that have had their ovaries removed show that an increase in dietary coumestans appears to help prevent bone loss. As many realize, bone loss (or osteoporosis) is one of the serious side effects associated with menopause.
Lignans are the third type of phytoestrogen found in plants and offer the most promising alternative to hormone replacement therapy for the treatment of menopause symptoms. In this class, ground flaxseed, flaxseed oil, and especially concentrated flax SDG lignans, are the most potent source of plant-based phytoestrogens.
In addition to representing a safe and effective natural menopause treatment, flax SDG lignans have been shown to be effective at slowing the growth of certain tumors, reducing cholesterol levels (in men and women), aiding in the elimination process, and reducing the risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes.
Women who chose to take plant-based supplements should always consult with their doctor beforehand to ensure that they will not interfere with any medications that they are currently taking.