Eight-five percent of women experience uncomfortable symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, according to Breastcancer.org. Tremendous hormonal changes not only affect women physically, but emotionally as well. At one time, women relied on hormone replacement therapy to help them cope with this phase of their lives. However, reports that linked medicines used in this therapy with an increased risk of heart disease, stroke and breast cancer have brought increased focus on natural remedies, such as soy lecithin. Consult with a health care professional before replacing medicines with natural alternatives.
Menopause
Doctors define menopause as the point when a woman does not have her periods for 12 consecutive months because her ovaries have stopped producing eggs. The onset of this stage of a woman's life usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. The accompanying hormonal changes during the transitional perimenopausal phase can result in troublesome symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats and irritability.
Soy
Soybean is a leguminous plant that is widely grown in East Asia. It provides a rich source of dietary fiber and proteins, as well as being an excellent source of vitamin B6, which is a key component in the manufacturing of various amino acids. It contains many phytochemicals, most importantly isoflavones and lecithin. Isoflavones play a role in reducing menopausal symptoms, preventing cancer and slowing down osteoporosis. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recognized their role in reducing coronary artery disease and has permitted foods containing at least 6.25 grams of soy per serving to claim this benefit.
Soy Lecithin for Menopause Symptoms
The low incidence of menopausal symptoms experienced by Asian women may be due to the high soy content in their diet. A study published in 2004 in the journal "Maturitas" came to the conclusion that an intake of soy isoflavones reduced the number of women suffering from hot flushes during menopause. A similar study published in 1995 also showed that the incidence of hot flushes diminished when the daily diet of women was supplemented with soy flour. Another study published in 2004 in the journal "Menopause" found that the beneficial effects of soy on menopausal symptoms were evident only after 1 to 3 months of regular intake. Soy lecithin significantly improves the lipid profile in healthy menopausal women, as demonstrated by a study published in "Menopause" in 2007.
Soy Consumption Concerns
Critics of soy consumption assert that the legume has a high content of phytic acid, which blocks the absorption of minerals such as calcium, iron and magnesium. Soy also contains trypsin inhibitors, which suppress the action of this enzyme in the pancreas. Some diseases of the thyroid gland have also been linked to soy. In addition, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recognized soy as a common food allergen.
References
- "Maturitas"; Benefits of Soy Germ Isoflavones in Postmenopausal Women with Contraindication for Conventional Hormone Replacement Therapy; E. Nahas, et al.; 2004
- "Maturitas"; Dietary Flour Supplementation Decreases Post-Menopausal Hot Flashes: Effect of Soy and Wheat; A. Murkies, et al.; April 1995
- "Menopause"; Effects of Genistein on Hot Flushes in Early Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized, Double-Blind, EPT- and Placebo-Controlled Study; A. Crisafulli, et al.; 2004
- "Menopause"; Effect of Soy Isoflavone Protein and Soy Lecithin on Endothelial Function in Healthy Postmenopausal Women; M. Evans, et al.; February 2007
- Breastcancer.org; All About Hot Flashes; May 2011
