So, how good is SDG (the primary flax seed lignan)? :)

Recently I have been taking SDG, around 60mg a day... I know that I could just have flax seeds but at the point of buying the lignan I thought I would be taking Holy Basil, and someone warned me that the blood thinning effect of HB might not mix well with the (uncommon) bleeding side effect of flax seeds.

Sooo I grabbed some SDG!

Am I right in saying that the SDG lignan balances levels of both testosterone and estrogen to their like.. correct levels? And even that it stimulated the release of SHBG? I even read that it has some effect on 5ar...

It seems simply PERFECT as a foundation for beta-sitosterol as a kinda "quick fix" while I look at the bigger, deeper problems like thyroid issues, insulin sensitivity etc

So, what are your opinions on the primary flax lignan, and is it a good thing to take as well as beta-sitosterol?

Thanks everyone!

Mike

Hoppipolla - Initially I replaced beta-sitosterol with flax hull lignans, then I eventually switched to spruce lignans (7-HMR), basically a more effective enterolactone precursor.

I have a little info about it here: http://www.immortalhair.org/theoryinpractice.htm

Eventually I gave up the enterolactone precursors all together. The simple reason was, their effects were not quite universal in everyone and I suspect the reason were differences in predominant bacterial strains. In other words, we all have diverse microflora ecological systems.

Hmm, I'm trying to get this! So.. 7-HMR last longer and is more potent than SDG? That's good to know for future - it isn't worth considering switching until I've gone through this lot of capsules though is it?

And, thing is I'm not really totally sure how these phytoestrogens work! I always thought that by taking SDG, I was basically lowering my testosterone levels, as they were being balanced to their correct level as opposed to being too high. I thought as well that it was doing the same thing with estrogen, and stimulating SHBG release.

Oh, but here it says it binds to SHBG... isn't that a bad thing? Sorry, I think I'm just really confused! heh

All I really wanted to do was balance my T and E, and achieve a kind of increased SHBG effect to "mop up" excess sex hormones in my blood. Am I doing roughly the right thing?

I mean of course this is a quick fix until I get down to the very core of my hormonal imbalance, but I just want to make sure I'm not doing anything wrong!

So, is it that by binding to estrogen receptor sites they encourage the body to make more SHBG, so that mops up the testosterone and the estrogen too but to a lesser extent as they're both competing for the sites? Sorry, I'm such a noob

Hoppipolla - The following is taken from here: http://www.npicenter.com/anm/templates/newsATemp.aspx?articleid=15316&zoneid=8

Enterolactone stimulates the synthesis and circulating levels of a biochemical called sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). Through this activity, enterolactone appears to reduce the free bioavailable pool of circulating estrogen, thereby reducing estrogen penetration in tissues and diminishing risk for adverse estrogen balance. Third, there is evidence that enterolactone may also inhibit biosynthesis of estrogen by blocking aromatase, a key enzyme in biosynthesis of estradiol. Collectively through multiple mechanisms of action, lignans appear to positively influence optimal estrogen balance in the body.

Awesome, that's exactly what I want! Lots and lots of SHBG!

Of course, SHBG is also influenced by diet, lifestyle, the liver's activity and all kinds of things, but i can't help to encourage it more directly as well!

Result ^_^

And next time I have to buy more, I will switch to 7-HMR!

*it can't help to

**it can't hurt to ...

rofl


see we NEED an edit button lol ^_^