Hot flashes are all too familiar to women going through perimenopause. In fact, 65 to 75 percent of women have hot flashes during this time, according to MayoClinic.com. Hormone replacement therapy can be an effective treatment to combat the effects of the menopausal transition. If you are concerned about the safety of HRT, however, you may be tempted to try natural therapies like soy. Always talk with your doctor before starting any alternative treatment.
Soy and Phytoestrogens
Soy garners attention because it contains phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens are compounds found in plants that function like estrogen hormones in the body. Isoflavones are the type found in the soybean plant. Isoflavones attach to and stimulate estrogen receptors in your body. The most powerful of those available in soy is glycitein, but it is not as plentiful as genistein and daidzein. These latter two have received considerable attention in research studies evaluating the effectiveness of soy phytoestrogens.
Why Women Choose Soy
Isoflavones are why women turn to soy, particularly when dealing with the effects of menopause. These phytoestrogens can partially fulfill estrogen needs if your body no longer produces enough of these hormones. Yet isoflavones may also reduce risks associated with having excess estrogen because of their ability to block it from connecting to the receptors. Soy phytoestrogens are associated with reducing hot flashes and vaginal dryness for these reasons. They may also be beneficial if you're concerned about heart and bone health, two common concerns for menopausal women. Soy intake may lower LDL cholesterol while increasing the good HDL cholesterol, according to UC Davis's Center for Health and Nutrition Research. High soy intake may also be behind Asian women's lower risk for bone fracture.
Soy Sources
It's important to choose minimally processed options when increasing soy in your diet. Tofu, soy flour and soymilk are good sources. The highest amount of isoflavones are found in roasted soybeans and a cake made from fermented soybeans called tempeh. In fact, roasted soybeans contain 167 mg of isoflavones in just one serving, according to the NYC Langone Medical Center. Getting a consistent, regular dose of phytoestrogens for hormone replacement, however, likely involves taking a supplement.
Considerations
Taking a supplement containing isoflavones is not without potential risk. The University of Illinois's Dr. William Helferich fears that women turn to soy supplements because they are natural and therefore safer. He also points out that the phytoestrogen genistein can stimulate estrogen-responsive cancers, such as breast cancer. Genistein may interfere with breast cancer treatment as well. Questions also remain about how effective soy is for reducing hot flashes. A 2011 study in "Menopause: The Journal of the North American Menopause Society" found that HRT reduced more hot flashes in menopausal women than soy supplements. Understanding the potential risks of both HRT and soy is vital for making informed decisions with your physician.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Perimenopause; September 2010
- NYU Langone Medical Center: Isoflavones
- UC Cooperative Extension Center for Health and Nutrition Research; Some Facts About Soy; Karrie Heneman, PhD, et al.; November 2007
- University of Illinois; Soy Estrogens and Breast Cancer: Researcher Offers Overview; Diana Yates; May 2007
- MedlinePlus; Hormones May Be Better Than Soy For Hot Flashes; Leigh Krietsch Boerner; March 2011
