Estrogen: The Natural Way: Over 250 Easy and Delicious Recipes for Menopause [Paperback]

Nina Shandler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 28, 1998

Women need estrogen, but estrogen levels diminish with age. In the short term, estrogen's departure leaves most women in a frequently overheated, uncomfortable state. In the long term, its exodus places their hearts, bones, and brains in harm's way. And conventional hormone replacement therapy, with its potentially distressing side effects and increased risk of breast cancer, doesn't provide a reassuring rescue. Faced with every menopausal woman's frightening estrogen dilemma, Nina Shandler discovered exciting news: Some foods contain estrogen. She headed straight for the kitchen and created this easy-to-swallow alternative. Part eating program, part cookbook, Estrogen: The Nat-ural Way shows women how to make fast, fun food using nature's estrogenic ingredients. From breakfast bars to soups, from main courses to desserts, Estrogen: The Natural Way provides a gentle yet effective version of estrogen replacement therapy.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Estrogen: The Natural Way is a cookbook with a difference: every recipe is high in plant estrogens, which can relieve menopausal discomforts such as hot flashes, sweats, and sleep disturbance. Plant estrogens may protect against heart disease and osteoporosis--without the increased risk of breast cancer. In fact, they may protect against cancer, say author Nina Shandler and her endorsing team of physicians. Shandler tells her story of menopausal distress ("I felt like a middle-aged bed wetter") and her reactions to hormone replacement therapy (nausea, headache, rage against males). Her quest for other solutions led her to plant estrogens. She offers rich information in a simple, accessible style; she's like an educated friend reporting back after library trips and personal revelations.

The winners among estrogen-rich foods are soy and flaxseed. Shandler uses soy to create creamy foods that taste decadent despite their low calorie count. She adds ground flaxseeds to recipes for a crunchy texture. The 250 recipes in Estrogen: The Natural Way are a tasty array of breakfasts, breads, soups, snack bars, salads, pastas, entrees, and desserts, most of which are quick and easy to prepare. Menopausal women seeking the benefits of estrogen without drugs will find this book a practical and pleasant solution. --Joan Price

From Library Journal

Those desiring alternatives to standard hormone replacement therapy (HRT) during menopause will find useful information in each of these books. All focus on menopause as a natural process and on the alleviation of menopausal discomfort through healthy living, especially diet. All explain menopausal symptoms, current HRT treatment and side effects, the importance of particular hormones, and the use of plant hormones instead of synthesized drugs. And all discuss in varying detail hormones and their relationship to breast cancer, heart disease, and osteoporosis. Laux, a naturopathic doctor, and Conrad, his former patient and founder of the Natural Woman Institute, espouse the Natural Woman plan in their book. They include an interesting historical overview of both the medicinal use of plants and the pharmaceutical industry, also detailing what the "naturals" are and how to get them. The MEND Clinic Guide usefully covers a variety of alternative therapies for menopause, including herbal therapy, aromatherapy, homeopathy, mind-body therapies, massage, acupressure, and relaxation techniques. Maas is an M.D., Paula Brown an anthropologist, and Susan E. Bruning a health writer (Healing Homeopathic Remedies, Dell, 1996). An A-Z of menopausal symptoms and alternative remedies provides quick reference, and one chapter discusses diseases, including diabetes. Cookbook author Shandler concentrates on obtaining estrogen from plants. Each of her 250 recipes, ranging from yellow cauliflower curry to chocolate snack bars, incorporates either tofu, soy products, or flax seed and estimates the estrogen content per portion. While many of the recipes look tempting, only the determined are likely to follow this diet. While these three books are recommended for alternative-medicine collections, Dr. Susan Love's Hormone Book (LJ 3/1/97) is likely to become the menopause book of choice.?Kate Kelly, Treadwell Lib., Massachusetts General Hosp., Boston
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Villard; 1st Pbk. Ed edition (April 28, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375751416
• ISBN-13: 978-0375751417
• Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 0.9 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,018,378 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #99 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Personal Health > Women's Health > Menopause

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Warning regarding over dose of flax seed, January 20, 2000

By 

Edith DesMarais (New Hampshire) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Estrogen: The Natural Way: Over 250 Easy and Delicious Recipes for Menopause (Paperback)

I was very enthusiastic regarding this book. The recipes were very well done and I did find great relief from menopausal symptoms. However, while traveling I relied on several "portable" flax seed foods for my daily "portions" for estrogen. Shortly thereafter, I was found to have a very irregular heart beat. I have no history of heart problems and, in fact, am an athlete. Research into flax seed showed that more than 2 ounces or 60 grams a day should not be taken internally. It can cause increased respitory rate, gasping, staggering, or convulsions. In early history, it was used as a heart medication - indicating a heart link. There is no warning in the book and in fact, the book encourages higher doses. Please use extreme caution in using these flax seed foods. Use only small amounts per day. There are beneficial amounts (very low doses), but it is toxic in small amounts as well if consumed regularly. There are no warnings on the flax seed bags in stores.

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Well...., December 29, 1999

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Estrogen: The Natural Way: Over 250 Easy and Delicious Recipes for Menopause (Paperback)

The information in this book is very good, and that's why I keep it around. I found the recipes hugely lacking, and since this book is billed primarily as a cookbook, that's primarily how I should rate it. The author claims desserts are her specialty. I tried seven, and only one (lemon lace cookies) didn't strike me as needing serious tinkering before I would serve it again. Several I wouldn't even bother with a second time. I found it frustrating that the author didn't describe her more unusual ingredients (there are several)--I finally found barley malt (expensive)only to find the taste virtually identical to molasses (same consistency, too). I have no idea if the author had nutritional reasons for choosing barley malt as she didn't explain any of her more unusual choices, but cooks may want to test these recipes with molasses first before tracking down the barley malt. The only thing I've garnered from this book (recipe-wise)is to continue experimenting with ground flax seeds--they have mild flavor and a moist quality. If you already have information on soy foods and flax seed, I suggest you choose another cookbook (try Louise Hagler's Tofu Cookery) as I doubt these recipes will convert the soy-wary in the family. However, if you need info, this is a good, solid resource.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great info, not so great recipes, March 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Estrogen: The Natural Way: Over 250 Easy and Delicious Recipes for Menopause (Paperback)

This book was the answer to my prayers ever since I discovered there was a reason for my bad tempers, breast pain, short cycles and weird periods: perimenopause! Plant estrogens really do work, and now I'm a nice person again. Nina lays it out for you why some estrogens (such as are in HRT) may have negative effects while others (such as are found in soy and flaxseed) appear to have all the benefits with none of the side effects. It's worth the price of the book for this information alone. On the other hand, Nina admits she doesn't like soy and I think her recipes reflect it. A food that does us so much good should be honored instead of disparaged--soy should be a joy instead of a chore! There are lots of good soy-food cookbooks out there; two that come to mind are "The Whole Soy Cookbook" by Patricia Greenberg and "Tofu Cookery" by Louise Hagler. C'mon get happy--say goodbye to menopausal symptoms and HELLO to health.