D. Lindsey Berkson
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 Whole-grain breads have more protective phytoestrogens than white breads because milling removes lignans and isoflavones. Fruits have very little phytoestrogens (except for berries, especially blueberries), but many vegetables have some. Pumpkin has the most, while zucchini, carrots, garlic, cabbage, turnips, red cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower have a little. Green and black teas have high amounts of phytoestrogens. The phytoestrogens in food are not destroyed by cooking. |
J. Robert Hatherill
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 Soy, and especially flax seeds, are a rich source of dietary plant lignans.
Limonene
Limonene is a potent anticancer compound that is found in citrus oils, caraway, thyme, cardamom, and orange flower.
Lipid peroxidation
Free radicals in the presence of lipids are capable of extracting hydrogen atoms from the lipid (fat), thereby generating a free radical. The lipid becomes unstable and oxygen may react with it, degrading its structure.
Lipoproteins
Compounds that ferry lipids through the blood to tissue sites. They consist of blood protein and fat. |
Jonathan Goodman ND
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 Scientists have learned that lignans weakly mimic the effects of estrogen in the body. By competing with the body's more potent estrogens at cell binding sites, they essentially lessen these estrogens' effects. This is important because estrogen acts as a fuel for some types of tumors, especially some breast tumors.
Flaxseed contains a lignan called secoisolariciresinol diglu-coside, or SDG. When you eat flaxseed, this compound is taken up by bacteria in the intestine, which convert it into protective estrogenic compounds. |
| We'll talk more about the link between EFAs, lignans, and cancer in chapter 9.
There's good evidence that the omega-3s in flaxseed may reduce the risk of heart disease by blocking the formation of blood clots in the arteries and also by lowering levels of harmful, LDL cholesterol—the type that sticks to arteries and may block the flow of blood to the heart or brain. Because the omega-3 s also block the effects of chemicals (such as
Breakthroughs in Healing: Brenda's Story
Some years ago, a colleague told me about one of his patients, a 54-year-old executive named Brenda. |
Dr. Gary Null
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 NUTRITION/DIET
Mice with lupus were helped to live longer by being fed diets supplemented with flaxseed and rich in alpha-linolenic acid and plant lignans.
A. V. Hall et al., "Abrogation of MRL/lpr Lupus Nephritis by Dietary Flaxseed," American Journal of Kidney Diseases 22, no. 2 (August 1993): 326-32.
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study, lupus erythematosus patients received 20g per day of MaxEPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) as part of a low-fat isoenergetic diet. |
| Data from epidemiological studies suggest that dietary fiber may have a protective role against the risk of breast cancer due to its influence on estrogen metabolism and excretion or because of the endocrine effects of the lignans.
D. P. Rose, "Dietary Fiber and Breast Cancer," Nutrition and Cancer13, nos. 1 and 2 (1990): 1-8.
HERBS/PLANT EXTRACTS
The Greek herbal combination IBV-BK, Aristolochia, and Iska has been shown to have an anti-breast-cancer effect.
I. E. Voloudakis-Baltatzis et al. |
Stephanie Beling
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 You find it in onions, leeks, scalhons, chives, shallots, and, most powerfully of all, in garlic. lignans in flax seeds, barley, and wheat are antioxidants that attack cell-damaging free radicals.Terpenes in citrus fruits increase the production and activation of a protein that interrupts the undifferentiated, out-of-control growth of breast-cancer cells in rats. Phytosterols in whole grains, legumes, and soy quite literally compete with the estrogens that promote cancer; while they don't destroy these cancer-causing agents, they do deflect them from their path. |
| The phenols inhibit the enzymes that can mutate critical genes and cause cancer. The lignans are antioxidants, and they also appear to suppress cell mutation. The coumarins, with their first-strike capability, block cancer-causing substances before they can get started. Phytosterols knock cancer-causing estrogen hormones off their path. The pharmacological activity of protease inhibitors offers numerous benefits. For one thing, they appear to lower cholesterol; populations whose diets are very rich in barley, for example, show extremely low incidence of heart disease. |
| In Ontario, Canada, the alpha-linolenic acid and lignans in flax seed were shown to be a potential treatment for lupus nephritis.
More and more studies brought more and more good news about phytochemicals from the front lines of the battle against disease. Foremost among the pioneers in phytochemical research was the National Cancer Institute, which launched a multimiilion-dollar project to find, isolate, and study phytochemicals, thus lending even greater support, in money and encouragement, to the search for knowledge about these substances. |
Gale Maleskey
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 In addition to fiber, flaxseed contains lignans, compounds that may have anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral effects, says Dr. Nelson.
Be leery of marketing claims that fiber supplements containing chitosan (a form of chitin, which is a component of the shells of shellfish) promote weight loss, says Dr. Brett. "I've never seen any evidence that it works for weight loss," she says. Even if chitosan did remove fat from the body as its proponents claim, it would also bind with and remove fat-soluble vitamins that your body needs, she says. |
| The oil contains only trace amounts of the cancer-protective lignans because they are removed during processing, says Diane Morris, R.D., Ph.D., a nutritionist in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Flaxseed is also an excellent source of fiber, whereas the oil has virtually none. As little as lA cup of ground flaxseed contains six grams of fiber?as much as IV2 cups of cooked oatmeal. The fiber is beneficial for treating constipation and diarrhea, says Dr. Janson.
Experts like Dr. Morris don't discourage the use of the oil. |
| Since then, scientists have learned that nettle contains about 20 different chemicals, including lectins, phenols, sterols, lignans, and histamines.
Histamines, which occur naturally in the body, are the culprits behind allergic reactions, says Stanley W. Beyrle, N.D., a naturopathic doctor at the Kansas Clinic of Traditional Medicine in Wichita. When you are exposed to allergens—substances that cause allergic reactions—your body releases histamines, which in turn cause hives, constrict bronchial vessels, and inflame the skin. |
| Research has shown that breast cancer rates are lower in women who excrete higher amounts of lignans in their urine.
The other beneficial compound in flaxseed is ALA. When researchers examined the levels of ALA in the breast tissue of 121 women with breast cancer, they found that the ALA seemed to be producing some distinct benefits. Among women who had low levels of ALA, the cancer was much more likely to have spread from the breast to the lymph nodes in the armpit and to other areas as well. |
Robert S. McCaleb, Evelyn Leigh, and Krista Morien
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 A recent laboratory study provided further support for this theory by showing that flaxseed and isolated lignans (such as SDG) included as 10 percent of the diet lengthened the menstrual cycle of rats. Flax's effects in this study were comparable with the drug tamoxifen, an antiestrogenic drug used in treating breast cancer.
Several other laboratory studies demonstrated that ground flaxseed and SDG significantly reduced the number and size of breast tumors in mice after 2 to 3 months of treatment. |
J. Robert Hatherill
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| Rich sources of lignans include soy and flaxseed.
Enzyme
A protein that speeds up or catalyzes chemical reactions in other substances but remains unchanged in the chemical process.
Epithelia
The purely cellular layer covering all free surfaces that lacks blood vessels, as in mucous membranes or lining the ducts of the breast.
Epstein-Barr virus
A herpes virus that was first described in 1964 by Epstein and Barr. Essential fats
The human body can make all of the fats it needs from carbohydrates except two: linoleic acid and linolenic acid. |
Textbook of Natural Medicine 2nd Edition Volume 1Michael T. Murray, ND
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| Many studies on phytoestrogens focus on the use of coumestrol, as it has more potent phytoestrogenic effects than lignans, genistein and daidzein. In vitro studies have found that both genistein and coumestrol inhibit the conversion of estrone to 17-beta estradiol. Coumestrol exhibited the strongest inhibition. |
J. Robert Hatherill
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| Indeed, studies have shown that women can significantly lower circulating levels of estrogen by changing to a low-fat/high-fiber diet
In addition, lignans and isoflavonoids have been proven to stimulate production of protein called the sex hormone binding globulin (SHGB). Extra SHGB binds up free estrogen, delaying its action and starving estrogen-dependent breast cancer cells.
Estrogen-lowering foods include: legumes, whole grains, berries, broccoli, and brussels sprouts.
Soy Protein
Soy proteins have shown exciting beneficial effects for both men and women. |
Dr. Vern Cherewatenko and Paul Perry
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 Commonly found in oil pressed from flaxseed, lignans is a powerful antioxidant that also contains omega-3 fatty acids that may protect against heart disease and colon cancer.
Monoterpenes. Commonly found in citrus fruits and caraway seeds, this phytochemical can prevent oxidation and keep potent carcinogens from taking hold.
Organosulfur compounds. Found in garlic, onions, and other foods from the Allium genus, this phytochemical has been found in studies to have a possible impact on reducing the risk of colon and stomach cancer.
Phenol. Tea, especially green tea, is a good source of phenol. |
Andrew L. Stoll
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 Flaxseeds also contain lignans, which have mild estrogenic, antiestrogenic, and steroidlike activity. These problems are not present with flaxseed oil.
As already noted, always take vitamins C and E when you are taking fish or flaxseed oil. These antioxidant vitamins protect the omega-3 s from excessive oxidation.
Potential Side Effects and Toxicity of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Because the omega-3 fatty acids are a normal part of a diet for optimal health, it is not surprising that there are very few side effects associated with even enormous dosages of supplements. |
Artemis P. Simopoulos, M.D., and Jo Robinson
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 The formulas are rich in flaxseed, lignans, fiber, and naturally occuring phyto-chemicals. Only the finest whole food ingredients are used—no fillers, wheat, gluten, or synthetics are added. Each tablespoon of the powder (and each food bar) contains a full gram of omega-3 essential fatty acids. The powdered form can be taken with juice or sprinkled on salads or cereals. The product is produced using proprietary cold processing and packaging that ensures long-lasting freshness without preservatives. The company also offers a line of products for dogs, cats, horses, and birds. |
Bradley J. Willcox, D. Craig Willcox, and Makoto Suzuki
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 Imo (purple saponins, lignans,
Sweet potatoes, sweet potato) carotenoids, lycopene, purple potatoes vitamin E i5-
Sweet peppers flavonoids, vitamin C
Green peppers
STEP 2: EAT TEN WHOLE GRAINS DAILY (Seven to Thirteen Servings)
Diets high in whole grains decrease risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer. We spoke at length about whole grains earlier in the previous chapter. |
| Seaweed is an excellent source of calcium, zinc, and iodine, and it also supplies a hearty dose of lignans. It tastes great and, if used wisely, should not tip you into sodium overload. Avoid the use of supplements because of possible iron overload, heavy metal toxicity, and thyroid toxicity.
SPICE YOUR FOOD WITH HEALING HERBS
The use of herbal tonics is a topic that is sure to generate controversy among nutritionists and doctors. While there are definite benefits to certain herbs, there are some risks involved as well. |
| Each cup of tea contains between 12 and 16 mg of flavonoids (and lignans), so even one cup a day theoretically should bring you some health benefits. The consumption among Okinawans is about three cups per day.55'66
Caution. Drinking extremely hot tea has been associated with cancer of the oropharynx and esophagus, likely due to recurrent heat injury.67 Tea does contain caffeine, so if you are caffeine sensitive you may wish to limit your intake or use decaffeinated versions. Those with heart arrhythmias should carefully watch their caffeine intake or stick to decaffeinated versions. |
| Note that we include all known flavonoids and closely related compounds. The lignans and boron are not flavonoids but are closely related in terms of structure and function, and we have included them in our analysis for this reason. The recipes in this book will show you how to incorporate these foods easily into your daily routine, so that you can get at least a daily dose of your favorite nutraceutical!
FLAVONOIDS AND RELATED COMPOUNDS (PHYTOESTROGENS): THE TOP 5024
FOOD
PHYTOESTROGENS*
PHYTOESTROGENS*
SERVING
(mg/ioog)
(mg/SERVING)
SIZE
Soy flakes, defatted
3II.7
87. |
| As we discussed earlier, flavonoids and lignans are natural SERMs, and while the evidence is only preliminary, we find it promising. These weak plant estrogens seem to form a buffer of sorts for Okinawan and Japanese women. They provide a mild estrogenlike effect postmenopausally, at sites where we want them to work (e.g., blood vessels), so that strong estrogen withdrawal effects such as hot flashes are reduced. This has been supported by at least two randomized, placebo-controlled interventional trials—the best evidence. |
| Va CUp (lOO g)
*Total of flavonoids (excluding catechins), lignans, and boron.
Tips for Increasing Your Flavonoid Intake
• Learn about soy products. Picking the right soy product is important. It needs to fit the texture and flavor of your meal. This guide will help you sort out any confusion.
Tofu is manufactured by coagulating soy milk with mineral salts, usually magnesium chloride (nigari), calcium chloride, or calcium sulfate (gypsum). Therefore, it provides a good source of calcium, complete protein, and good fats including omega-3 fat>not Just flavonoids. |
Daniel B. Mowrey, Ph.D.
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 However, Merck does report that asarinin, one of the lignans in Prickly Ash, has anti-tubercular properties (38). The herb was official in the USP for a considerable time: 1820-1926, and in the NF from 1916-1947.
BUCKTHORN BARK is included in this blend on the basis of its reputation as a part of the famous Hoxey cancer cure. There is, in fact, some small support for this claim in the form of a study in which certain Buckthorn preparations showed significant inhibition of P-388 lymphocytic leukemia in mice (39). The active principle was identified as aloe emodin. |
J. Robert Hatherill
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| The primary sources for lignans are flax seed (linseed), rye, buckwheat, soy, millet, oats, and barley.
Legume Group
One serving of soy each day can keep cancer away! Because soybeans are excellent sources of protein, they have been consumed for thousands of years. In East Asia soy forms a significant part of the diet, starting from early childhood. And in Asia, incidence of breast cancer and colon cancer is considerably lower than in the West. Vegetarians who consume soybean-based products in place of meat also have lower rates of breast and colon cancer. |
Christian Ratsch
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 Woodcut from Tabernaemontanus, Neu Vollkommen Krauter-Buch, 1731)
332 Two alkaloids and two lignans have been found in this plant, the pharmacology of which is unknown (D. McKenna 1995, 101*). leaves of this plant (possibly Homalomena belgraveana Sprague) were ingested together with the bark of Galbulimima belgraveana (F. Muell.) Sprague332 [syn. Himantandra belgraveana F. Muell.] and the root of Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Sm. [syn. Alpinia speciosa] (see Zingiber officinale). This allegedly produced strong visions followed by intense dreams (Barrau 1958). |
National Women's Health Network
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 You¥d nt to Supplement with Phytoestrogens
You can significantly increase your intake of lignans by eating more whole grains—especially rye—and by sprinkling a tablespoon of freshly ground flaxseed over your cereal and salad every day.
Soybeans, chickpeas (also called garbanzo beans), lima beans, other beans, and peas are excellent sources of isoflavones. And although soybeans are a rich source of phytoestrogens, other legumes are even better sources of genistein and daidzein. |
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