The unspoken problem
WHILE puberty is a phase of life where a mother would usually play a primary role in preparing her daughter, there will come a “second puberty” in a phase of life called perimenopause, more commonly known by the term “midlife”, which she would have to face alone.
When do hormonal imbalances occur?
Hormonal imbalances can happen at any time, but are more prominent during certain periods such as during puberty (around 13 to 20 years) and perimenopause (around 40 to 56 years). When hormone imbalances occur, oestrogen levels fluctuate. This erratic behaviour of hormones leaves women feeling overwhelmed. What is perimenopause? For 10 to 15 years before menopause is established (average age 51 years), women would already be undergoing a period of change in perimenopause.
How will women know when they are experiencing “midlife” or perimenopause?
One of the earliest signs is changes to the menstrual cycle, a signal that ovulation is slowing down. When this happens, symptoms such as weight gain, belly fat accumulation, skin dryness, body aches and pains, disrupted temperature control akin to minor hot flushes, vaginal dryness, urinary tract infections and forgetfulness may occur.
How can soy isoflavones like organic genistein help?
Organic genistein is a standardised, organic source of soy isoflavones.
As a plant source phytoestrogen, organic genistein mimics the properties of oestrogen in the body.
When oestrogen levels are low, genistein helps fill in the gaps. When levels are high, genistein will compete with oestrogen in the body, regulating such irregularities.
Coupled with natural antioxidant and fatregulating benefits, genistein also benefits areas of the body such as belly fat (inhibition and prevention of fat accumulation), brain (mood and memory improvement), bones (regulating bonebuilding) and heart, without any adverse effects on breast or uterine tissues.
How is organic genistein different from evening primrose oil (EPO) commonly used also for hormonal imbalance problems?
Although long touted as a “hormonal balance product”, EPO is really a precursor to prostaglandin E1 – hormonelike compounds that help inhibit or reduce inflammation in the body, which may be useful to help relieve symptoms of PMS such as breast tenderness, stomach cramps and headaches.
However, EPO is not a phytoestrogen per se and therefore is unable to help regulate hormonal irregularities in the body at the core of the problem.
This article is brought to you by Nuvanta NUVAceuticals division.
For details, call 1300 881 712 or 035636 3758 or email pharmacist@nuvanta.com