Healthy B.P.M.

Years ago I used to be platinum card member of the clean plate club. After many pounds and promises to extract myself from the group I did. Now I hold a not so exclusive membership in another club; Your Own Private Summer Club. Requirements for membership are as follows:

Must have body drenching night sweats, and be able to remain in sweaty night clothes

Dexterity to flip the covers on and off to create a breeze

Must be able to tolerate a floor fan, a ceiling fan, open window, and an air conditioner, simultaneously

When a hot flash subsides members should be able to put back all the clothes they have taken off in under 30 seconds

Should be able to stand in with your face in the freezer until the flash passes

The symptoms of menopause are things you don’t pay attention to until you experience them, why should you? You hear older women comparing hot flash stories and you smile thinking that it’s light years away from you. When you have the first one, you’ll want to hug your mom, your grandma and your aunts. They’ll smile politely and you’ll know that membership does have it’s privileges. As annoying as the night sweats and hot flashes are, I take comfort knowing that everything is working as it’s supposed to. And as with most other things, this too shall pass.

Here’s a bit of info from the research and scientific community about what may help; other than time.

Soy beans have been used for a long time to help relieve some or all of the symptoms associated with hot flashes. Soy has chemicals in it called isoflavones, which are a type of phytoestrogen (plant estrogen). These compounds are similar to estrogen and act like human estrogen in your body. Not only have studies shown that women countries with higher soy content have fewer hot flashes than women in cultures that eat less soy, many women who begin getting more soy in their diet report fewer and less severe hot flashes. While soy does have the benefits of acting like human estrogen, its effects are fairly weak. Many women with mild to moderate hot flashes report decreases in their symptoms, but women with more severe symptoms will probably not experience much relief. Soy can be found in many different forms. Not only can you get it in supplement or as a food, there’s also various types of soy food products. Here’s the disclaimer. Consult your doctor before making major dietary changes; he/she can help you figure out if soy is right for you.

As with any supplement, you should only take soy isoflavone supplements if it is impossible for you to get enough soy (or other isoflavone sources) in your diet. While taking a pill is probably easier, food is the natural way to absorb chemicals and it’s generally more effective. When it comes to specific soy foods; soy milk doesn’t contain as many isoflavones as other types of soy and probably won’t be as effective.

There are concerns associated with soy. One is that because it acts as an estrogen in the body, it could result in an increased chance of breast cancer. This is why it’s important to have regular mammograms and self exams, hopefully you’re already doing this. You should also monitor your soy intake. More than 50 grams per day may increase the associated problems.

While you can’t avoid going through menopause, there are breakthroughs that can alleviate some of the symptoms. If you have problems with hot flashes and night sweats, eat right, get exercise, and add some soy to your diet.