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Isoflavones

Isoflavones are water-soluble chemicals found in many plants. In this article, we will discuss a group of isoflavones that are phytoestrogens, meaning that they cause effect in the body somewhat similar to those estrogens. The most investigated phytoestrogens isoflavones, genistein and daidzein are fund both in soy products, and the herb red clover. Soy additiuonally contains glycitein, an isoflavone that is more estrogenic than genistein and daidzein, but is usually present in relatively low amount. Red clovers also contains two other isoflavones: Biochanin (which can be turned into genistein) and formonenetein (which can be turned into daidzein).

Certain cells in the body have estrogen receptors, special sites that allow estrogen to attach. When estrogen attaches to the cell's estrogen receptors, estrogenic effects occur in the cell.Isoflavones latch into estrogen receptors too, but produce weaker estrogenic effects. This bads to an interesting two-part action. When there is not enough estrogen in the body, isoflavones core stimulate cells with estrogen receptors and partly make up for the deficit. However, whe there is plenty of estrogen, isoflavones may tend to block real estrogen from attaching to estrogen receptors, thereby reducing the net estrogenic effect.
This may reduce some of the risks of excess estrogen (such as, preventing osteoporosis).

Isoflavones also apear directly to reduce estrogen levels in the body, perhaps by fooling the body into thinking that it has plenty of estrogen.

Isoflavones are unsidely thought to be the active ingredients in soy products. However, growing evidence suggests that there are other active ingredients as well, such as proteins, fiber and phospholipids.