Can Lignans be an Effective Treatment for Uterine Fibroids?
Millions of women suffer from uterine fibroids and many of these, well before other menopause symptoms present themselves. While most women may evidence uterine fibroids in their 40’s, many women may experience fibroid growth as early as their 20’s or 30’s. Unfortunately, fibroid growth has been on the rise and may occur at almost any age.
Decades ago, surgical procedures and (artificially produced) estrogen treatments were developed in an effort to remove or shrink uterine fibroids. In extreme cases, partial or total hysterectomies were performed, not only to eliminate uterine fibroids, but to insure against their re-growth.
Unfortunately, these treatment plans are (now as they were then) encumbered with heightened risks and unfavorable side effects.
Pharmaceutical drugs used to shrink uterine fibroids can only be taken for a short time period as they can produce very unpleasant side effects, including an increased risk of osteoporosis, thinning and drying vaginal tissues, hot flashes, night sweats, facial wrinkles, and short term memory loss.
Xenoestorgens are one of the primary causes for the increase in unterine fibroids in recent years. Americans are especially venerable.
Xenoestrogens can be found in a multitude of household products, including cleaners, detergents, cosmetics, shampoos, pesticides, containers used to hold food and water, and are present in the growth hormones fed to livestock and poultry, which produce meat, milk and dairy products.
Xenoestrogens (sometimes referred to as bad estrogens) can cause fibroid growth regardless of estrogen levels in the female body. As a result, uterine fibroids can increase in size and number following menopause, even as hormone levels drop.
Uterine fibroids can shrink or even be eliminated through a number of means, other than surgery. A more natural approach to foods, while at the same time reducing the number of harmful chemicals in the home, is a start.
Phytoestrogens (also referred to as good estrogens) found in lignans, can be an effective means of managing uterine fibroids. Flaxseed is the most potent source of phytoestrogens in the entire plant kingdom, especially those found in the outer hull of the flaxseed (flax hull lignans).
In September, 2006 the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reporting on a clinical uterine fibroid study of 170 young to middle-aged women (by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA) found that phytoestrogens, acting as weak estrogens or antiestrogens, can be effective at managing the number and size of uterine fibroids.
FemFlax®, is highly concentrated, all natural plant-based supplement with 7 to 10 times (by weight) the phytonutrient potency of whole ground flaxseed.
