Isoflavones: Uncover The Facts of This Nutrient
Updated Apr. 17th, 2024 | Read Time: 2 Minutes | What You Will Learn:
- Key Health Benefits of Isoflavones & How They Work In Your Body
- Finding Quality Isoflavones In Supplement Form
- Potential Side Effects, Contraindications & Cautions
Isoflavones are phytoestrogenic agents. This means that they contain plant estrogens, compounds that look similar to human estrogen and can interact with estrogen receptors in the human body. The important thing to remember is that these plant estrogens only stimulate the receptors a fraction of the amount that the hormone estrogen would.
Key Health Benefits of Isoflavones & How They Work In Your Body
These phytoestrogenic agents can be used to treat conditions, including:
- High estrogen activity by blocking the activity of the hormone estrogen.
- Treat conditions of low estrogen activity by binding to vacant receptor sites and causing a bit of hormonal stimulation.
- Used to treat menopausal symptoms, like hot flashes, anxiety and depression, and PMS.
- Estrogen is an important hormone for stopping bone resorption by osteoclast cells; therefore the phytoestrogen isoflavones prevent bone loss (osteoporosis).
- Lower LDL (harmful) cholesterol and triglycerides.
- Increase HDL (beneficial) cholesterol thereby decreasing your risk of heart disease.
- May also be recommended for hormonal imbalances, PMS, menopausal symptoms, osteoporosis and high cholesterol.
Ipriflavone is a synthetic isoflavone that inhibits bone resorption but does not have any estrogenic effect.
Finding Quality Isoflavones In Supplement Form
These phytoestrogenic agents are found in many plants. Supplemental isoflavones are usually purified from soy or red clover. They can be purchased in capsules. Be sure to purchase a product that has been standardized to the isoflavone content (usually genistein) and guarantee an amount of isoflavones per dose. This is an assurance that the product contains isoflavones and has some active properties. These phytoestrogenic agents can be found in formulas for hormonal balancing and osteoporosis prevention. Ipriflavone is a synthetic isoflavone that can be purchased separately.
Potential Side Effects, Contraindications & Cautions
Phytoestrogenic agents should not be used concurrently with estrogen medications. Women with a history of estrogen-sensitive tumours should use isoflavones with caution. Individuals with sensitivities to soy should use isoflavones sourced from red clover or other plants.
