Menopause is the stopping of the monthly menstrual cycles in women. This is a natural part of life for women and with it comes night time sweats, hot flashes and changes in sexual feelings. It is during this period that most women have an increased risk for breast cancer, osteoporosis and heart disease. There are many different ways to help sooth some of the symptoms of menopause and one of these is taking flaxseed oil.
Flaxseed oil is an extremely popular dietary supplement and it contains plant lignans. These lignans can help to keep estrogen at normal levels as they are similar to the human hormone estrogen. They have a very weak hormonal effect on the body and it is recommended that women who are suffering menopause consume foods that contain lignans. Despite the good of these lignans, there is a downside to its use. These phyto-estrogens are very similar to estrogen and taking too much of it can be problematic. If a woman consumes large amounts of flaxseed oil she can get large amounts of the hormones into her body.
Flaxseed oil is good for the heart, especially for women who are at risk for cardiovascular disease during menopause. The estrogen in the body is normally used to regulate the cholesterol levels. It is for that reason why high cholesterol is often attributed to menopause. Taking flaxseed oil can increase estrogen levels and at the same time reduce the risk of heart disease. It also has anti-carcinogenic properties that make it effective at protecting against different types of cancer.
Flaxseed oil however does not seem to affect bone metabolism, which is often associated with osteoporosis.
Flaxseed oil is a good treatment for different symptoms associated with menopause. It is cheap, safe and can be mixed in with a host of different products. For women who are experiencing menopause, they should consider taking flaxseed oil supplement.