How to Alleviate Menopausal Symptoms
How to Alleviate Menopausal Symptoms
Brazilian medical researchers discovered that "genistein," a plant hormone found in soybeans, can relieve common menopausal symptoms in women without causing side effects, unlike current mainstream estrogen therapy.
Scientists identified a specific hormone component in soybeans capable of alleviating menopausal symptoms without the side effects associated with existing estrogen treatments.
Researchers from the Federal University of São Paulo conducted a six-month follow-up study on 80 menopausal women, finding that 85% experienced symptom improvement after taking genistein, a plant hormone. Moreover, 75% of participants showed reduced cholesterol levels after starting genistein.
Researchers were encouraged by findings that genistein could treat all symptoms estrogen therapy addresses, though slightly less effectively—but without estrogen's side effects.
After entering menopause, women experience declining hormone production, leading to insomnia, depression, bone loss, and sudden hot flashes, significantly affecting quality of life. Typically, 90% to 95% of women see improved symptoms with estrogen therapy, but this increases risks of uterine or breast cancer.
When researchers replaced traditional estrogen with genistein in test subjects, no cases of breast or endometrial swelling occurred. They therefore concluded that soy products carry no hormonal therapy-related side effects or risks.
Researchers emphasize that soy is among the most complete and functionally diverse foods known to humans. Besides high nutritional value, soy’s high-quality protein is ideal for treating or preventing diseases like cancer and osteoporosis.
Genistein is available in pharmacies in Brazil and the United States as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy. Brazilian researchers will present these findings at the International Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Washington D.C. on September 3rd (source: MedBo Health Information).