Menopause

In addition to the vast array of benefits derived from the consumption of soy products, there is a steady stream of information indicating that soy phytoestrogens have a powerful connection with the ability to alleviate menopausal discomforts. 

Menopause is a very traumatic experience.  It does not have the same devastating physical effects of heart disease, cancer, and osteoporosis, but women experiencing it can be very miserable.  Women often experience menopausal discomforts for many years.  These symptoms include hot flashes, insomnia, heavy sweating (especially at night, which further contributes to insomnia), headaches, mood swings, nervousness and irritability, and depression.  Although women can reduce postmenopausal discomforts by taking estrogen, the vast majority choose not to have this hormone replacement therapy.There are noticeable differences in menopausal discomforts between women from the East and the West.  For example, it is estimated that while up to 85 percent of women in Western cultures have hot flashes and night sweats, less than 10 percent of Japanese women have hot flashes and less than 4 percent have night sweats.  There is enough research to conclude it reasonable for women suffering from menopausal discomforts to take advantage of the possible benefits of adding soy foods that contain phytoestrogens into their daily diets.  The research is on their side, and soy foods have a long track record of safety, having been consumed in Eastern countries without negative effects for thousands of years. 

Whether you suffer from menopausal symptoms or not, studies confirm that soy foods boost health at all ages!  Eating foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol are important components to a healthy lifestyle.  Soy foods in particular contain no cholesterol, protect against heart disease, and taste great.  Exciting new studies indicate not only benefits for reducing menopausal symptoms, but that soy foods show promise for boosting mental ability, and protecting against bone loss and some types of cancer.  If you are interested in soy as it relates to menopause, in being more heart healthy, want to lose weight, or are seeking healthful snacks, soy foods will fit into your lifestyle!  Scientists continually study the soybean and find exciting new ways soy foods can benefit your general health. So Gain Health, Lose Weight, and Eat Soy! 

Menopause - FAQs

Isoflavones, a type of phytochemical or plant chemical, are found almost exclusively in soy. They are considered by most to be responsible for the observed health benefits of soy (lowering cholesterol, reducing menopause discomforts, and preventing osteoporosis). Some isoflavones are phytoestrogens, meaning that their chemical structure is similar to estrogen. They are a weak form of estrogen--apparently acting like the hormone in some circumstances and blocking its action in others. This has led some to extract the isoflavones and use them in supplement form. But many believe that the health benefits are maximized when the isoflavones are consumed as part of soy protein. Other possible beneficial phytochemicals in soy include saponins, phytic acid, and protease inhibitors.

The isoflavone "families" in soy--genistein, daidzein, and glycitein--are found almost exclusively in soy. The isoflavone content of soybeans varies, depending on the soybean variety and other factors like growing conditions. The ratio of the three primary isoflavone families naturally occurring in soy varies between different soy foods and soy ingredients. Genisoy products are made with the highest-quality soy protein isolates and contain approximately 55% Genistein, 35% Daidzein, and 10% Glycitein.

If you see a product made with soy protein isolates that contains isoflavones in a ratio quite different from those listed in Genisoy Products, in all likelihood, the naturally occurring isoflavones have been removed and isoflavones have been re-added from another source. For example, a product with a label that shows a lot more daidzin/daidzein than genistin/genistein may contain isoflavones extracted from the hypocotyl, the main stem of the soybean, instead of from the cotyledons, the main part of the soybean, which is used to make soy protein isolates. Safety and efficacy data are not available on extracted soy isoflavones.

What the Experts Say:

Years of intensive research and development have yielded the benefits of soy.  Soy protein with naturally occurring isoflavones not only help reduce menopausal symptoms, it may well prevent certain types of cancer and reduce the risk of heart disease and osteoporosis.  And soy isoflavones have not been shown to have any negative effects when they are consumed in the amounts typically present in foods.  Eating the recommended daily allowance of 25 Grams of soy protein is definitely a “win-win” situation!

And now, Genisoy provides the benefits of soy in an amazingly delicious way, and make it easy for you to benefit from the highest quality, best tasting and most affordable soy products available.

More Information:

If you are looking for more information about soy, please see the links below.

www.soyfoods.org