Your post-menopausal diet has an impact on your health and wellbeing. With the hormonal changes you’re facing, you need to be educated about what your diet should consist of.
Your post-menopausal diet has an impact on your health and wellbeing. With the hormonal changes you’re facing, you need to be educated about what your diet should consist of. In fact, according to OBGYN Montgomery County Dr. Rania Ibrahim, choosing the right foods can help you fight the discomforts post menopause such as hot flashes, the heart disease risk, weak bones, etc.
There is only one food that can help you a great deal in fighting the symptoms of menopause and post-menopausal discomforts – and that food is soy.
How does soy help during menopause?
It decreases the discomforts of hot flashes: Decrease in estrogen levels post-menopause leads to this uncomfortable symptom – hot flashes. However, eating soy in one form or the other – such as soy milk, tofu or nuggets – can help. Soy is rich in phytoestrogen, which is a plant-based compound (like estrogen) that can imitate the function of the hormone.
This compound found in soy combines with estrogen receptors to elevate estrogen levels. While it cannot mimic the levels of natural estrogen in the body, it can still help to some extent. To be on a safe side, use the natural form of soy rather than the supplement form.
It protects against heart diseases: Soy is also a rich source of protein that helps reduce LDL (bad cholesterol). It is also a great source of essential fatty acids, omega-6 fatty acid, linoleic acid, omega-3 fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid that keeps the arteries healthy and prevents plaque deposition.
It can help in the fight to prevent breast cancer: If you have been consuming soy throughout your life, that’s great! Increasing your soy intake after menopause just to safeguard yourself from the risk of breast cancer might not help. You should include it in your diet regardless of age. In fact, soy can reduce the risk of having a relapse of breast cancer by 25% but consumption while being treated for breast cancer isn’t advisable.
It strengthens bones: Estrogen plays an important role in maintaining bone density in women. So the chances are that your weak bones can strengthen with soy intake, due to its phytoestrogen content. However, there aren’t many studies that conclude a strong link between intake of soy and better bone health, so even if it can help you to get fit, you’ll still need to take your calcium supplements to keep your bones stronger.
If you have any questions – or are suffering from the symptoms of menopause – don’t hesitate…call the office of OBGYN Montgomery County Dr. Rania Ibrahim today to schedule a consultation. You don’t have to suffer in silence!