Hot flashes, a common menopause symptom, can range from mild to severe. You may experience a damp upper lip or sweat heavily for several minutes at a time. Hot flashes, even mild ones, can prove uncomfortable and embarrassing. You may find relief from hot flashes through drug therapies or alternative treatments such as soy.
Estrogen Levels and Hot Flashes
A hot flash occurs when your estrogen levels drop. Estrogen levels affect your hypothalamus. Your hypothalamus acts as your body's thermostat. When estrogen levels drop, your hypothalamus reads your body temperature as overly hot. Your heart rate increases and the blood vessels in your skin dilate. This can make you sweat, a method of cooling your body.
Soy Isoflavones
Soy contains isoflavones, chemically similar to estrogen. Soy isolfavones provide low levels of estrogen-like hormones. Since soy isoflavones act in ways similarly to estrogen, soy supplements could help relieve hot flashes. Some studies suggest that soy makes an effective treatment for hot flashes but, overall, research remains inconclusive about the effectiveness of soy in treating hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause as of 2011.
Research
H.J. Teede, a researcher at Monash University in Australia, led a three-month study to test the effects of soy on symptoms of menopause. Some of the 50 women in the study took soy isolates containing 40g of soy protein and 188mg of isoflavone. The other women took placebos. The women who took soy and the women who took placebos experienced the same level of hot flashes, according to Teede's study, published in the March 2004 edition of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition." A scientific review of other soy studies found that soy provides low levels of relief for symptoms of menopause.
Considerations
You may find relief from hot flashes without taking drugs or soy supplements. Some simple solutions might help you tolerate mild to moderate hot flashes. Wear layers of clothing so that you can remove layers as necessary when experiencing a hot flash. Wear fabrics that breathe, such as cotton, and avoid tight or restrictive necklines. Keep a glass of your favorite cold beverage handy so that you can sip it when you feel a hot flash coming on. Lower the temperature in your home or open a window or turn on a fan. Reduce your intake of caffeine, alcohol and spicy foods. Relaxation and deep breathing techniques may help.
References
- Breastcancer.org; All About Hot Flashes; Jan. 27, 2010
- Isoflavones.info: Isoflavones
- "Journal of Women's Health"; Botanical and Dietary Supplements for Menopausal Symptoms: What Works, What Doesn't; Stacie E. Geller; January 2007
- MayoClinic.com; Hot flashes; June 12, 2009
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Dietary Soy Containing Phytoestrogens Does Not Have Detectable Estrogenic Effects on Hepatic Protein Synthesis in Postmenopausal Women; H. J. Teede et al; March 2004
