Soy & Menopause

Soy is among the alternative remedies suggested for relieving menopausal symptoms. You have likely heard a lot about soy and its wide range of health benefits including menopausal relief.

There is evidence suggesting that soy foods may be particularly beneficial to menopausal women by helping to not only alleviate hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue, mood changes and skin changes but also to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis and cancer.

Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention

The FDA has stamped their approval of soy dietary supplementation. They state that 25 grams of soy per day with a prudent diet may reduce the risk of heart disease and show a significant cholesterol lowering effect. This was based on evidence that including soy protein in a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may help to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Clinical trials have shown that consumption of soy protein compared to other proteins such as those from milk or meat, can lower total and bad cholesterol levels by 3-5%.

Soybeans and other legumes contain isoflavones and are an important source of dietary phytoestrogens. Soy protein and soy isoflavones are not the same thing. Soy isoflavones are sometimes referred to as phytoestrogens and have the most potent estrogen-like activity of all common phytoestrogens. Therefore, for optimal benefits of soy isoflavones, it is important to ascertain the isoflavone content of any particular soy product or food chosen..¹ Another study found that women who consumed the most soy isoflavones were 39 percent less likely to report having a stroke or heart attack compared to women consuming little isoflavones. A similar comparison among postmenopausal women found that risk of stroke and heart attack was reduced by 75 percent.²

Bone Health

Other research suggests that soy foods, because they contain isoflavones, may promote bone health. There is considerable interest in the bone health benefits of soy foods. Studies generally show that soy intake is positively associated with higher bone mineral density. A recent study showed that post-menopausal Japanese women who consumed higher amounts of soy isoflavones had a higher bone density, and a higher bone density is associated with fewer fractures. Furthermore, a study found the fracture risk was reduced by approximately one-third in the women with the highest soy protein consumption compared with those with the lowest consumption of soy. The clinical data suggest that isoflavones reduce bone loss.³

Cancer Prevention

Soybeans and soy foods in the diet may provide strong anticancer activity because they are natural sources of isoflavones. The isoflavones that are found in soy appears to help block tumor-cell growth. Recently in the news, a fermented soybean paste called miso was linked to a substantial decrease in the risk of breast cancer among Japanese women.

How to Get Your Soy

Because soy protein can be added to a variety of foods, it is possible for consumers to eat foods containing soy protein at all three meals and for snacks.¹ Perimenopausal and menopausal women can have long-term benefits of incorporating more soy foods into their diets.

Find out more... http://www.menopauserx.com/health_center/well_nutrition.htm

1. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ANSWERS/ANS00980.html
2.http://www.soyconnection.com/pressroom/press_release_view.php/Women+May+Enjoy+Boost+of+Heart+Health+with+Soy?id=68
3. http://www.soynutrition.com/SoyHealth/SoyAndOsteoporosis.aspx