Lignans are natural plant compounds locked in the cell matrix of certain seeds, beans, legumes, fruits, and vegetables. Lignans bear a strong resemblance to estrogen in shape, structure, and some functionality. While lignans resemble estrogen, they are much gentler to the body.
The resemblance of certain and specific lignans to estrogen is highly relevant because estrogen can instigate mutations in cellular DNA that may result in breast cancer. To add insult to injury, estrogen may further fuel these cancers once developed.
The strong resemblance between lignan and estrogen enables lignan to compete against estrogen for estrogen receptor sites on breast cells. Once displaced, excessive or bad estrogens are harmlessly flushed from the body as waste. The interaction between lignans, estrogen, and estrogen receptors has occurred throughout time immemorial, purportedly to buffer and balance the more powerful human hormones. Lignans have a much weaker attraction and must significantly outnumber estrogen molecules in order to effectively compete for, and block, these receptors. A high-in-lignan diet, or supplementation with Brevail, can raise the percentage of lignan to estrogen to a protective 10,000/1 ratio. This appears to be the body's way of self-regulating plant lignans and related compounds in concert with estrogens and other hormones produced by the body. The result is a gentle balance between body and nature, just as nature intended.