Although menopause--the end of menstruation and biological fertility--is a natural phase of life, some of its symptoms can be bothersome and uncomfortable. The hormonal changes during menopause, when your body stops producing estrogen and progesterone, can cause mood swings, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, vaginal dryness and an increase in body fat. Understandably, many women pursue medications and other remedies in an attempt to ease these symptoms. One potentially helpful remedy is soy. Soy-based foods are rich sources of plant-based estrogens, called phytoestrogens, which may help treat menopausal symptoms.
Step 1
Discuss soy for menopause symptoms with your physician. To date, evidence for soy as an effective treatment for distressing menopausal symptoms is mixed. In addition, there is some concern that the ingestion of soy may contribute to an increased risk of breast cancer, so women with a vulnerability to breast cancer may be ill-advised to take soy for menopause. Discuss your unique situation with your physician to evaluate the safety of soy for your symptoms.
Step 2
Add soy foods to your diet, if your doctor approves. According to Columbia University's Health Services, it is not difficult to obtain an appropriate level of soy isoflavones--50 to 100mg is the typically recommended amount--via diet alone. Therefore, if you enjoy the taste, incorporate soy products such as soy milk, tofu, edamame, soy nuts, tempeh and soy crumbles into your daily diet.
Step 3
Take soy supplements if your doctor approves and if you cannot or do not prefer to obtain soy through food alone. Your physician will direct you regarding an appropriate daily dose. More research is needed to determine how beneficial soy supplements are for symptoms of menopause; however, they may be helpful for some women.
Things You'll Need
- Soy food products
- Soy supplements
