Soy: Natural Menopause Relief

If you’re in the midst of that transitional part of every woman’s life called menopause, than you’re no stranger to the hot flashes that accompany it. And it’s likely that you are constantly searching for some sort of relief.  Well, there’s good news. There are many different natural methods you can try before you give in to prescription medications which can cause you to have more symptoms and other side effects.  One option making a big splash these days in menopause relief is soy.

Soy has actually been classified as a menopause “superfood” and has been proven to reduce the frequency and severity of hot flashes.  There are three main types of soybean isoflavones, but the most effective ones used for menopause symptoms are genistein and daidzein.

Soy and soy isoflavones help to support many perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms.  They help decrease:

• Frequency and severity of menopausal discomforts
• Hot flashes and night sweats

Soy and soy isoflavones also help with:

• Insulin regulation
• Weight loss
• Bone health
• Nail, skin and hair health
• Heart health

Women going through premenstrual syndrome (PMS) as they enter perimenopause tend to experience more severe symptoms, such as increased irritability, increased breast tenderness and more severe headaches.  Soy can also help relieve or minimize these symptoms.

Soy is considered to be the next best step when addressing symptoms of menopause, aside from core nutrition, stress reduction and botanical endocrine support.  However, it does not work for every woman.  Nearly 20 percent of people report that they cannot handle the protein from soy. 

Even More Health Benefits
Not only is soy excellent for helping with menopausal symptoms, but it is also high in antioxidants, omega-3s and protein, and has a number of other health benefits.

Women who eat foods that are rich in soy protein are helping to protect their heart.  Studies show that the more you can minimize your risk of heart disease, including inflammation, as you enter into menopause the better your chance of living a longer, healthier life.

Soy also helps benefit aging brains and improves verbal memory.  Also, because of the glycemic index of soy, it can help keep your weight at a healthy level.  Foods low on the glycemic index, such as soy, will help lower your blood sugar and insulin levels, help you feel full longer and cause fewer calories to be stored as fat.

Women in menopause will be happy to learn the great benefits soy has on bone health.  Soy isoflavones have a positive effect on bone density.  Menopause tends to rob 20 percent of your bone density, therefore this is an important benefit of soy and you should consider adding it to your diet for this benefit alone.  Genistein is the most common isoflavone that is linked with decreased bone turnover and increased bone formation activity.

Newer research has shown that the protective effect of genistein has the greatest benefits when eaten as an adolescent and child.  Therefore, soy is essential for your daughter or granddaughter. 

If you’re a woman going through perimenopause or menopause, consider including soy in your daily diet to help relieve hot flashes and other symptoms. Not only will you reduce the effects of menopause, but you’ll improve your overall health as well.