Soy & Women's health

Menopause
Menopause - 'or the change of life' - is a normal part of a women's life when reaching their middle years, usually 45-55 years of age. It's a time to assess individual health and personal needs as the body's production of the hormone oestrogen declines, leading to the onset of menopause. Menopause is the permanent cessation of menstruation.

As the experience of menopause differs for all women, Vitasoy has carefully put together the following information, detailing common signs and symptoms, as well as valuable lifestyle advice about diet, physical activity, bone and heart health to be aware of during this time of change. It aims to help answer some of the questions you may have about menopause. However, please seek the advice of your general practitioner for further advice and information.

Symptoms of Menopause

A women's experience of menopause is very personal, and whilst some may progress through menopause without any symptoms, some may be mildly affected, and others more so.

There are a number of common physical and emotional symptoms that women may experience at menopause, including hot flushes, night sweats, sleeping difficulties, changes to the menstrual cycle and irritability:

• Changes in the menstrual cycle - Due to the changes in hormone levels being produced, menstrual cycles can become longer, shorter or irregular. Blood flow can also vary, becoming lighter or heavier. Your general practitioner is best consulted for any concerns.
• Hot flushes and night sweats - Hot flushes, sometimes referred to hot flashes, are due to a rise in the body's temperature. Blood vessels expand in an effort to help the body lose heat. Hot flushes produced at night are called night sweats, and can interfere with sleep.
• Changes to vaginal health - Lowered oestrogen levels can also affect the tissue of the vagina. The vaginal lining can become thinner and dry, and may cause discomfort.
• Urinary flow problems - A reduced oestrogen production can also affect the urethra, which may lead to urinary tract infections. Symptoms may include painful and frequent urination, feeling a need to urinate when the bladder is empty, or a strong, unpleasant odour to the urine.
• Other symptoms - Oestrogen is linked to other body functions including learning, memory, awareness and mood. Therefore, other symptoms that may be experienced at menopause include forgetfulness, anxiety, irritability and other mood changes.

How are the symptoms of Menopause managed?

There are a number of strategies that can assist in achieving a smoother transition through menopause. As with all stages of life, following a healthy, balanced diet and exercising regularly can help with physical health and feelings of wellbeing.

Many women choose natural alternatives rather than hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to help relieve symptoms of menopause. One such example is phytoestrogens, or isoflavones – a type of phytoestrogen, either from the food you eat or a dietary supplement. A recent review of scientific studies found that soy isoflavones may help with managing menopausal symptoms by reducing the number and severity of hot flushes – particularly in women who frequently experience hot flushes.

Soy beans are the greatest source of natural phytoestrogens (plant hormones), similar to the human body’s own oestrogen. Soy based isoflavones are not as strong as human oestrogen, but their benefits have been widely studied for their ability to positively affect the health of women in their later years. Combining soy foods into the diet may be beneficial for women’s health issues.

The benefits of dietary phytoestrogens in menopause have been based on studies comparing the high dietary intake of phytoestrogens in Asian women with the generally low intakes in Western women. In Asian countries where there is a high intake of soy foods, the incidence of hot flushes is only 20%. In Western women, who traditionally follow a diet low in soy based foods, 80% tend to experience hot flushes during menopause. Asian women appear to experience fewer menopausal symptoms possibly due to the increased levels of isoflavones in their diets.

Vitasoy's vitality + soymilk has over twice as many naturally occurring isoflavones per serving than any other branded soymilk* on the market - 13mg/100mL.

Why is women's health important after Menopause?

Hormonal changes that occur during menopause may affect women post menopause, and may increase the risk of other health concerns such as heart and bone disease and breast cancer. Recent research recognises this and encourages health promotion that includes a healthy, balanced diet and regular exercise for women post menopause - particularly adequate calcium.

Women's Heart Health

Heart disease is often thought of as a man's disease. However, after menopause a woman's risk of heart disease can increase. The good news is that a healthy, balanced diet and lifestyle can help reduce the risk of developing heart disease.

Tips to help manage heart health include reducing the intake of saturated fats by using lean cuts of meat and low fat dairy products, and avoiding excess snack foods such as cakes and biscuits. Increasing your intake of whole grain foods, fruit and vegetables, oily fish and physical activity can also help protect the heart.

All Vitasoy soymilks are 100% cholesterol free. And, Vitasoy vitality + has less than 2% fat - good news for heart health.

Click here for more information on soy and heart health .

Women's Bone Health

Enjoying a low fat diet with plenty of calcium and vitamin D is particularly important as bones lose calcium at a faster rate for a few years after menopause, which can increase the risk of osteoporotic fractures. Women should aim to have 1000mg of calcium each day, achieved through calcium rich foods such as fortified soy products, dairy foods and nuts, or a calcium supplement.

In fact, there is some emerging research to suggest that isoflavones may actually reduce bone loss in postmenopausal women. However, further research is required to confirm this benefit.

Vitasoy vitality + can provide 300mg of calcium per 250mL serve, or over a third (37% RDI*) of your daily calcium requirements. Regular physical activity is also important for bone health, particularly weight-bearing, muscle building and balance exercises, such as walking, yoga, dancing or lifting weights.

Summary

Diet and lifestyle play a crucial role in women's health during and post menopause. With support and chosen strategies to assist, menopause can be a positive time in a woman's life.

Exciting new research indicates that including soy foods containing isoflavones may be beneficial for women's health during the menopausal years.

* Accurate as at May 2006

Glossary

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