Menopause Treatments and your Diet

For any woman that has suffered the horrible effects of menopause, there is some welcome news on the horizon. In the popular press, there has been a lot of talk about the potential of soy as a treatment for the effects of menopause. While some studies have suggested that soy is not the all-natural solution women have been waiting for, recent studies have shown that the regular consumption of soy can indeed help alleviate the symptoms of menopause.

Soy contains a number of ingredients that have been proven beneficial for optimal health. It has been suggested that the protease inhibitors found in soy could play a critical role in preventing cancer. Soy is extremely high in compounds known as isoflavonoids, which have shown great promise in lowering the risk for osteoporosis and heart disease. This is generally attributed to the biological similarity between isoflavonoids and estrogen.

The general consensus seems to be that ingesting 30-40 grams of soy per day can have a dramatic effect on one's health. In some studies, soy has been known to lower cholesterol levels by 15 to 20 percent. A recent study conducted in Asia suggests that North American women suffer the effects of menopause significantly more often than women in Asia. Scientists have attributed this to the fact that women throughout Asia consume significantly more Soy products in their diet.

While it may seem like a daunting prospect, there are some simple and effective ways to include Soy in your diet. Soy milk, tofu, roasted soy nuts, and soy flour are some of the most popular soy-based foods. Tofu is simply wonderful, if the proper steps are taken to prepare it. Simply cut it into cubes, and allow it to marinade in soy sauce and fresh herbs for a few hours.

Once the marinade is complete, mix some soy flour and yeast flakes in a bowl and add the tofu cubes. Be sure the cubes are well covered, and then you can pan fry them with a bit of olive oil. Crispy fried tofu is a wonderfully healthy dish that is sure to please everyone in your family. Eat right! Eat healthy! And when it comes to dealing with menopause, just keep on keeping on. Things will get better!

Caren Killtral is a big believer in natural health therapies, and a proud member of the editorial team at menopauseinsight.com - an online guide to women's health issues with important information about diet considerations, vaginal dryness, hormone replacement therapy and more.