Effisoy to help Menopause Symptoms

What is Soy?

You have likely heard a lot about soy and its wide range of health benefits including menopausal relief in the news lately. But what exactly is soy and what about soy is good for you? 

‘Soy’, ‘soy protein’, ‘isoflavones’ and ‘phytoestrogens’ are commonly mentioned when discussing natural methods used to reduce menopause symptoms. Although there are similarities, there are also distinct differences between the various soy foods and supplements available.

Pertinent Points:

»  Soy beans and other legumes contain isoflavones and are an important source of dietary phytoestrogens. 

»   Soy protein and soy isoflavones are not the same thing.  Therefore, for optimal benefit of the soy isoflavone, it is important to ascertain the isoflavone content of any particular soy product or food chosen.  

»   Soy based compounds must be absorbed in sufficient quantities before they can have any effect in the body, which can cause the effectiveness of various products to differ.     

Breast Cancer:»  Recently in the news, a fermented soy bean  paste called miso was linked to a substantial decrease in the risk of breast cancer among Japanese women.  Soy foods contain isoflavones, but could not be linked, by themselves, with breast cancer risk reduction. The main difference between miso soup and other soy foods consumed by the Japanese is the fermentation process. 

Menopause Symptoms:»  Several studies have shown that women who consume large amounts of soy-based phytoestrogens have fewer menopausal complaints. 

»  Twelve studies using soy or soy extracts were evaluated. Soy appeared to have a ‘modest’ benefit in reducing hot flashes. 

» As with all natural approaches, you should also allow sufficient time for the treatment to take effect, generally in the range of 4 to 12 weeks. 

Bone Health:»  A recent study showed that post-menopausal Japanese women who consumed higher amounts of soy isoflavones had a higher bone density. 

Cardiovascular Health:»  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. 

»  The FDA did not make clear whether it was specifically the soy protein, the isoflavones, or a combination of both that is responsible for this benefit.   

Dosage Recommendations:»  Current recommendations for phytoestrogen intake are as follows:

    1) 40 to 160 milligrams of isoflavones per day may be beneficial.

    2) 25 grams of soy protein via dietary intake. This equates to approximately 1/2 cup dried soy beans -or- 1 cup tofu -or- 1/3 cup isolated soy protein. 

Side Effects:» Minor stomach cramps and bloating can be associated with intake of soy foods that contain starches.