Excessive estrogen in the body is a problem for many women. Most women lead stressful lives, don't get enough exercise, and have poor diets, which all put stress on the liver. According to chinese medical theory, the liver (not always the organ itself, but more of a functional system) is responsible for moving blood and energy in the body.
When this pathway is blocked, stagnation occurs which can cause many symptoms: PMS, depression, irritability, abdominal pain, etc. In traditional western medicine, the liver is responsible for breaking down hormones in the body to then be excreted. When the liver is not working properly, hormones (specifically estrogen) can stick around in the body for longer periods of time. If hormones are allowed to remain at higher levels in the body, we are opening up the possibility for many female health issues to occur, even cancer.
There are many solutions to this dilemma though! It is something that I am particularly interested in since breast cancer (and other female issues) run in my family. Something that I am trying out right now is a new product called Brevail.
Brevail is a new natural supplement on the market made to address this problem. It is comprised of lignans, which are natural plant compounds that are actually able to bind to excessive estrogen in the body, not allowing the excess to bind to receptors in the breast, preventing excessive cellular replication.
Photo compliments of Brevail website
Since most people have a diet low in plant lignans, they are more prone to developing PMS, menopausal symptoms, and cancer. As mentioned in a previous post, flax seed is a great source of plant lignans, but the problem is that the amount of lignans can vary depending on the batch and brand. The great thing about Brevail is that the amount has been standardized, so you are getting a high dose in every pill.
I'm excited that there is finally research being done on how to PREVENT cancer! Even if Brevail doesn't end up panning out, they are helping to pave the way for future research on natural supplements.
Herbs are not popular NOT because they don't work, but because no one is doing the research to study them!
My one disclaimer for this post is that there is conflicting research information regarding the effects of phytoestrogens (the component found in flax and other plant). There has been no conclusive research that has suggested whether it prevents or promotes cancer, although epidemiological suggest that it PROTECTS against cancer. More research is definitely needed on the effects of phytoestrogens on the body. If you're hesitant to take a concentrated supplement like Brevail, but want to see if lignans can help you, you can try supplementing your diet with ground flax seed instead.
I started taking Brevail about a week ago, so we will see if there are any positive results. I will be sure to post the results after about a month. There are positive reviews for it on Amazon, which is definitely a good sign.
For more information:
http://www.brevail.com/index.html
*Update*
I took Brevail for a month and I can't say that I have seen any results. Others might have different results though. It may also be that it needs to be taken for a longer period of time. In general, my body is pretty stubborn and I rarely get relief through a pill, but others should still remain hopeful and open to trying it.
*Update*
I took Brevail for a month and I can't say that I have seen any results. Others might have different results though. It may also be that it needs to be taken for a longer period of time. In general, my body is pretty stubborn and I rarely get relief through a pill, but others should still remain hopeful and open to trying it.
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