Soy & Estrogen Levels

Soy, a legume that provides enough vegetable protein to make it a good substitute for meat, also contains isoflavones. Isoflavones are compounds similar to the female hormone estrogen. Soy may prove helpful as a natural hormone replacement for women experiencing menopause. Studies, though promising, remain limited. Talk to your doctor before taking soy as a hormone therapy.

Relief For Symptoms of Menopause

Some women seek relief from hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause by adding more calcium, vitamin D and other supplements to their diets. Exercise and shedding unnecessary pounds may also help. Your estrogen levels drop as you enter menopause. If you want to make up for the loss of estrogen without taking medication, you might find a diet rich in soy a viable option.

Soy and Menopause Study

Dr. Francine Welty, an internist who practices in Boston, led a study that evaluated the effects of soy on symptoms of menopause. All of the 60 women in the study followed a healthy diet, but half of the women included 1/2 cup of soy nuts in their daily plan. The women who ate soy nuts reported a 45 percent decrease in hot flashes, according to the report published in 2007 in the "Journal of Women's Health."

USDA Database

The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides a database to help physicians and scientists understand the level of isoflavones in soy products. This helps the doctors assess the specific soy products that may help in reducing hot flashes, bone loss and other problems associated with lower estrogen levels. The database provides isoflavone values for nearly 130 different soy products. Foods high in soy isoflavones include meatless bacon, chicken and burgers, miso, soy milk, soy cheese and tempeh.

Considerations

Traditional hormone replacement therapy -- estrogen and progesterone -- remains under study for its potential for increasing your risk for cardiovascular problems. If you opt to take soy in food or supplement form as an alternative to traditional therapy, discuss your choice with your doctor. The benefits and risks of taking soy supplements also remain inconclusive. To obtain benefit from soy, aim to include about 30 mg to 60 mg of soy isoflavones in your daily diet and no more than 150 milligrams.