Good Herbal Health

The benefits of soy for women that has been experiencing menopausal symptoms are being discussed. This is because in Japan, where more women drink soy experience less hot flashes and night sweats compared to western women.

During the times when women menstruate, they will produce higher levels of estrogen. Long term exposure of a woman through estrogen can be life threatening, especially for the cells found in the breast. When these hormones cease to produce, a pathway exists for other dangerous chemicals.

Soy helps in this area because its proteins has two plant hormones namely; daidzein and genistein. They have phytoestrogens that can mimic human estrogen hormones behavior. These hormones can attach themselves to estrogen receptors that can prevent the entrance of the carcinogenic substances in organs.

The whole process is quite complex to explain. The important thing is that studies about consuming soy can help make the symptoms more bearable and prevent illness.

The effect of the soy’s protein also depends greatly upon the natural estrogen levels during the time of consumption. Women who take soy during their menstrual periods will only have little drop in their estrogen while menopausal women will have more estrogen.

It is also believed that soy’s proteins fights with the existing estrogen juts to get access tot hose estrogen receptors.

Here is a theory why soy can be able to mimic the hormones like estrogen. Plants produce chemicals to protect them against threat. The chemical that soy produces causes those who eat them have decreased fertility.

Other medical benefits of soy include lowering a person’s cholesterol levels. This makes the woman less prone to heart attack, stroke and hardening of the arteries.

Eating soy can also maintain a person’s weight. Unlike other proteins that contain high cholesterol and saturated fats, soy has no cholesterol and low in fats. So women who may experience weight gain when menopause hits may add soy in their diet.

Estrogen also helps maintain the density of women’s bones. Which means lower estrogen means bones become brittle. Eating soy that is calcium rich can help strengthen the bones during this period. The phytoestrogens also prevents bone degeneration.

There are still lost of studies being made as to what the exact effects of soy really are. Although all the benefits are not yet determined, the benefits that have been seen now are bountiful.

There is no harm in trying to drink soy. Just try it, it may not taste well for your taste buds. But compared to medication it will be better.