What Are the Benefits of Soy Products for Women in Menopause?

For many women, menopause brings uncomfortable symptoms. These may include hot flashes, insomnia, night sweats, incontinence, vaginal dryness, body aches and headaches, mood swings, depression and irritability. Fluctuating or plunging estrogen levels are usually the cause. Doctors sometimes recommend hormone replacement therapy, also known as HRT, but hormone replacement therapy can cause unpleasant side effects and is not appropriate for everyone. Soy products offer an alternative therapy that has shown promise in alleviating some of the symptoms of menopause.

Geography

Women who live in Asian countries, where more soy products are consumed, typically have fewer problems with menopause. Women in Japan, where soy food products are consumed almost daily, are only about one-third as likely to have severe menopausal symptoms as women in the United States. The Japanese language does not even have a word for "hot flash."
Soy is indeed responsible for preventing hot flashes, not just alleviating them. But even with these findings, the current recommended dosage of isoflavones is just 40 to 80 mg, which will only relieve, but not prevent symptoms from occurring.

History

The soybean is part of the legume family, along with peas, beans and peanuts. Featuring phytonutrients, legumes or beans have some positive indications for women in menopause. The most widely studied part of the phytonutrients is the isoflavones, and the soybean is absolutely rich in this.
Soy is also a food that is high in antioxidants, omega-3's and protein. It really is an amazing health food with the special healing power of isoflavones.

Function

Soy and the soy isoflavones support a wide range of concerns for women in perimenopause or menopause. Taking soy can improve insulin levels, bone health, promote weight loss, better nails, better heart health, fewer hot flashes and a lesser severity of a range of menopause symptoms. Soy is considered one of the best steps to take in a personal attack on hot flashes and the ongoing effects of menopause. However, about 20 percent of women do not respond well to the levels of protein that are contained in soy.

Potential

Women may want to consider discussing with their doctor or natural health care provider if there are any alternatives that are available for menopausal symptoms. Soy may provide an alternative to the typical hormone replacement therapy. Work with the physician to determine the best course of action in adding soy to your menopause arsenal. There are a couple of ways to introduce soy into your lifestyle, whether through supplements or soy food products. Incorporating the correct amount of soy can make a huge difference in the relief of menopausal symptoms in women. While some women can take 50 to 100 milligrams of isoflavones a day, it is often recommended to eat soy itself, rather than taking just a supplement. In it's pure form, soy food products are considered the most effective.
For those women who are considering including soy into the diet, there are many cookbooks available, and soy products can be easily purchased at a local grocer or health food market.

Considerations

Keep in mind, that while soy is promising in relieving some of the major discomforts and symptoms of menopause, no one has claimed that it will solve all menopause-related problems. It is still important to use good judgement, live a healthy lifestyle and eat a balanced diet. Include exercise in your daily regime, and always consult with your physician who can steer you in the right direction while treating your menopause symptoms.