Is Utrogestan Plant Based?

Utrogestan is a source of progesterone hormone often used as a part of HRT (hormone replacement therapy) to combat the symptoms of menopause. It is a medicine made out of plant sources like yam, making it suitable for those who restrict their consumption of animal products. Let us try to learn more about this medication to help you understand whether you can actually add it to your plant-based lifestyle.

So, is Utrogestan plant based? No, Utrogestan is not plant based. Though the main ingredient in Utrogestan is obtained from plant sources, it is manufactured in laboratory settings with several processes, making it unsuitable for a plant based diet.

Let us try to find out whether there exists a substitute that you can use for progesterone hormone when following a plant-based diet. 

Top 3 Utrogestan Substitutes For A Plant Based Diet

While Utrogestan is a plant-sourced medicine, it may not suit people who strictly restrict the use of animal-derived products. The main ingredients in this medicine are progesterone from plant sources along with soya lecithin and sunflower oil. The capsule shell is made out of glycerol, gelatin and other ingredients often derived from animal components. 

There are several plant-based items you can use to supplement progesterone while staying away from excipients that could interfere with your restricted diet. While progesterone itself does not exist in foods, a number of nutrients found in plant-based foods can boost its natural production in the body. Foods rich in vitamin C and other nutrients can help balance hormones and work as Utrogestan substitutes for a plant-based diet. 

Vitamin B6

The body needs adequate levels of vitamin B6 to maintain progesterone levels. This B vitamin combats stress and helps the liver break down the byproducts of estrogen to achieve a hormonal balance. Lack of this vitamin can reduce the progesterone levels, causing an imbalance in the body. 

Good amounts of vitamin B6 are found in foods like whole grains, walnuts, spinach, bananas, potatoes, beans, chickpeas and more. Supplementing with these plant-based foods is a great alternative for Utrogestan when following a whole food diet. 

Vitamin C

The most essential vitamin for hormonal balance, vitamin C not only boosts the levels of progesterone but also supports the adrenals and immune system whose function degrades under stress, affecting the production of these hormones. 

Try to add more vitamin C-containing foods to your everyday diet. Oranges, pumpkin, papaya, sweet potato, strawberries, kiwis and other citrus fruits contain this vitamin in a good amount. Some vegetables like tomatoes, broccoli and lemons are also rich in vitamin C. 

Zinc

Zinc is not only required for skin and immunity but also necessary for hormonal health. It is a mineral responsible for the release of follicle-stimulating hormones from the pituitary glands. This stimulates the ovaries to produce larger amounts of progesterone, thereby helping the body maintain adequate levels of the hormone.

Some of the best plant-based sources of zinc are watermelon, pumpkin, chickpeas, cashew nuts, almonds and kidney beans. Eating a diet rich in these foods is a great way to replace the use of Utrogestan for hormone balance.