greens and the root vegetables kohlrabi and rutabaga contain glucosinolates, which help protect DNA from dam- age, according to a study published in Current Science. Also, ever-increasing preclinical and clinical evidence shows that consuming cruciferous vegetables reduces the risk of more than 100 health problems, including a wide range of cancers, like those affecting the bladder and breasts.
Flax
Unwelcome symptoms of perimenopause (which can last years before the completion of menopause) can be offset through daily ingestion of ground flax, which can be added to cereals, salads and other foods. Ground flaxseed mixed with
dried berries is particularly palatable. As the ovarian reserve of naturally manufactured hormones exhausts itself and prompts an imbalance, flaxseed is particularly effective in rebalancing levels of desirable estrogen metabo-
lites, such as breast-friendly 2-hy- droxyestrone. It contains a fiber, lignan, that upon digestion produces two important phytoestro- gens capable of stimulating the body’s natural estrogen receptors in cases of estro- gen deficiency and blocking both synthetic and natural estrogen when there is excess (as with estrogen-dominant conditions from puberty to menopause). These properties have been confirmed in human clinical studies performed at the University of Toronto’s Department of Nutritional Sciences and the University of Texas MD An- derson Cancer Center. Thus, flax- seed may be considered a source of plant “estrogen” capable of prompting regression of estrogen- sensitive cancers, including those of the breast and prostate. Extremely versatile in culinary applications, combining flaxseed with ground cumin provides a medicinally potent homemade seasoning supporting women’s hormonal health.
Cumin
Cumin—actually a fruit disguised as a spice—has tremendous hormone-modulating properties recently confirmed by findings in Experimental Biology and Medi- cine. Japanese scientists dem- onstrated that cumin seeds can inhibit loss of bone density and strength as effectively as estrogen
in a female rat model of age-associated osteoporosis. They further found that the cumin seeds did not have estrogen’s weight-promoting and possible carci- nogenic effects on the uterus. Imagine the potent hormone-bal- ancing properties of a dinner of steamed rutabaga dressed with ground flaxseeds and cumin with a side of mustard greens with olive oil and pomegranate dressing. It beats a serving of Premarin with a serv- ing of unwanted side effects any day.
Sayer Ji is the founder of GreenMed
Info.com and advisory board member of the National Health Federation. Tania Melkonian is a certified nutrition- ist and healthy culinary arts educator. Learn more at
GreenMedInfo.com.
natural awakenings
May 2013
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