Phyoestrogens

Phytoestrogens are a group of chemicals found in plants that act like the hormone estrogen. Estrogen is a hormone that is necessary for childbearing and is involved with bone and heart health in women ("Phytoestrogens and breast," 2001). However, higher exposure to estrogens over a lifetime is linked with increased breast cancer risk. With breast cancer, animal studies have shown that one form of phytoestrogens, soy phytoestrogens can decrease breast cancer formation in rats. However, animal and human studies suggest that soy phytoestrogens can behave like estrogen and potentially increase breast cancer risk. Some scientists have suggested that "women should be cautious about eating large amounts of the soy products or soy supplements, because of the possible harmful effects of soy phytoestrogens" (Phytoestrogens and breast," 2001). Working as estrogen mimics, phytoestrogens may either have the same effects as estrogen or block estrogen 's effects. With which effect the phytoestrogen produces can depend on the dose of the phytoestrogen. The phytoestrogen can act like estrogen at low doses but block estrogen at high doses (Phytoestrogens and breast," 2001). Estrogen activates a family of proteins called estrogen receptors. There are many positive benefits with a phytoestrogen-rich diet, especially one rich in legumes, fruit and other fibers ("Phytoestrogens: pros and," 2000). With the negatives, doctors are concerned that women who have had hormonally dependent cancers - breast, ovarian, uterine - may be causing more problems than they solve with diets rich in phytoestrogens, since they act similar to estrogen naturally produced in the body - but are much weaker ("Phytoestrogens: pros and," 2000). Furthermore, there is not enough evidence that supports that phytoestrogens are the correct supplement to take instead of estrogen for specific health conditions such as osteoporosis, heart disease or high cholesterol.

References Cited
Phytoestrogens and breast

References: Cited Phytoestrogens and breast cancer. (2001, July 1). Retrieved from http://envirocancer.cornell.edu/BCEResearch/  Phytoestrogens: pros and cons. (2000, May 31). Retrieved from http://www.chieftain.com/editorial/phytoestrogens-pros-and-cons/article_0b59e129-c7ea-5083-a3a4-441c82b71bd3.html  http://www.scribd.com/doc/83838273/AP-2-Lab-Report-Lab-01-the-Endrocine-System