Thinking Of Using Soy For Hot Flashes

By Laura McFadden


When going through menopause, a lot of women will experience symptoms such as sweating at night, and hot flashes. Most will ask their family doctor for some kind of pharmaceutical treatment to help alleviate the symptoms and medication will be prescribed. Alternative medicine is now becoming more popular and many women will choose to use soy products for hot flashes and some thought is required if you plan to do this.

Many types of drug can be prescribed by physicians to help women who may be suffering menopausal discomfort. The most widely used is HRT and this has proved successful for a large numbers of people. Many women have reported that they have experienced some unpleasant side effects after taking HRT for long periods of time and decide to look at natural remedies to help them.

In the past few years, many women have started to drink soy milk to help them with their night sweats and hot flashes. This product contains phytoestrogens which counteract the body's chemicals that cause these sweats and flashes. Although this has yet to be medically approved, there have been some excellent results for many, and there is a great deal of research under way.

A lot of investigation had been done into whether soy is good or bad for women's health if used regularly. Some patients that have been questioned have reported digestive problems and other complications or side effects. At the moment there is a lot of research being done and the results have not yet been published and it may be a few years before there are any cast iron conclusions.

Other medical reports that have been published say that taking soy on a regular basis can increase the risks of cancer. Women who have previously suffered from breast cancer have been advised not to take soy due to the estrogens that it contains. Other studies have claimed that it prevents cancer so these results are conflicting at the moment. If you have ever been diagnosed with cancer it is advisable to consult a doctor before you include these products in your diet.

If you choose to try soy to help there are many other ways to take it than drinking milk. Milk is the most popular way but many people also use food made with it including burgers, snack bars and sausages. Soy beans can also be used when cooking and many vegetarian foods also contain it and these can be found in most supermarkets.

When using alternative medicines, some care is needed and some you need to take a few things into account. If you start to feel worse or any other symptoms develop you should stop using it and try an alternative. If the soy seems to be working and you feel that it is beneficial you can continue to use it as long as good health is maintained.

Before using any natural treatment you should speak with your own doctor beforehand as you may have other health problems. Gentle exercise and a well balanced diet will also help and you may react better to your treatment. A lot of web sites are available that are worth looking at with detailed information on soy.




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