However, these patients are still at increased risk of heart disease. Lupus causes inflammation of the heart, resulting in an increased rate of heart attacks and artery disease, even in young patients in their 20s.
Phyto- is from the Greek phyton meaning plant. A phytoestrogen is a naturally-occurring plant nutrient that exerts an estrogen-like action on the body. Scientists have discovered hundreds of phytoestrogens including soybeans, whole grains, seeds (especially flax), nuts (especially walnuts) and many herbs.
Some of the most extensively researched phytochemicals are phytoestrogens (FY-TOH-ESS-TRO-JENS), which include isoflavones (EYE-SO-FLAY-VONES) (high amounts of which are found in soy foods), coumestans (COO-MAY-STANS), and lignans. These chemicals may protect against breast cancer by protecting cells from estrogen. Because of their similar structure to estrogenâhence the name phytoestrogenâthese plant estrogens are able to take up space on estrogen receptors where the body's estrogen otherwise would have attached.