Amount of Soy to Take During Menopause

Menopause occurs when the ovaries stop producing estrogen. In natural menopause, the reduction in estrogen levels is more gradual. However, surgical menopause, in which the ovaries are removed, can cause the levels to drop sharply.

The drop in estrogen levels causes menopausal symptoms. Some, such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness, are usually mild to moderate, while others, such as osteoporosis and heart disease, can be more dangerous.

How Soy Works

• Soy products contain phytoestrogens, which are a weaker form of the natural estrogen that your body would normally make. One type of phytoestrogen is isoflavones, considered to be one of the most beneficial forms of soy estrogens.

  Because soy isoflavones are similar to the structure of natural estrogen, they are believed to be able to bind to estrogen receptors in the body. When this occurs, they produce the same benefits of estrogen, but without causing any negative side effects.

How Much Soy To Take

• Soy is considered to be a safe, effective and beneficial supplement to your diet, especially if you are approaching or have already entered menopause. For this reason, doctors say it is safe to take between 60 and 160 mg of soy isoflavones every day.

  If taking soy isoflavones is going to help, you should start noticing an improvement within three months, specifically in the areas of hot flashes and night sweats.

Considerations

• Some medical practitioners believe that soy products have the propensity to reduce breast cancer, while others say that the opposite could be true. Those who support the idea that soy aids in lowering breast cancer risk use evidence that the rate of breast cancer occurrence in Asian women is lower than that of American women. The articles point out the fact that soy is a staple in the Asian diet.

  Some evidence exists that suggests that soy consumption does lower breast cancer risks in women who have not yet approached or entered menopause; however, because soy contains phytoestrogens, which are similar in their chemical makeup to estrogen, there is chance the body may interpret phytoestrogens as true estrogen. This can increase the breast cancer risk in women who are going through or have finished menopause.

  Women who have already had breast cancer, as well as those whose family history puts them at risk for breast cancer, are cautioned about increasing their consumption of soy products because of the fact that the isoflavoids can stimulate cell growth.

  You will need to take your family history as well as your current breast health into consideration before deciding to increase your soy consumption. You may also want to consult with your health-care professional.