Soy(soya in the UK), has recently been hailed as the latest `discovery` in the fight against menopausal symptoms, although in actual fact, soy protein has been used as a food ingredient for over forty years.

How Would It Help?

As women move towards menopause and estrogen levels begin to drop, we experience symptoms associated with fluctuating hormones.  Soy products such as tofu, tempeh and miso are rich sources of a substance similar to estrogen, called isoflavones. Some people claim that foods containing soy are a simplified and natural form of HRT (albeit a weakened version). So what exactly do we know about soy as a menopause food?

In Japan, where soy foods are consumed daily, women are one-third as likely to suffer menopausal symptoms as in the United States or Canada. Interestingly there is no word in the Japanese language for “hot flashes”.

What Symptoms Does Soy Help With?

Soy seems to do very well in alleviating hot flashes and recent recommendations are that women take between 40 – 70 mg of soy per day to help with symptoms. That would equate to 1 – 4 servings every day.

To give you an idea of the approximate amount of isoflavones per serving, the following each contain 40 mg:

¨      Soy Milk – 1 cup

¨      Miso – ½ cup

¨      Tofu – 4oz

¨      Tempeh – 4oz

How Much Is Beneficial?

One study focused on post-menopausal women who consumed 40 grams of soy protein every day for 6 months. Researchers found that these women significantly increased their bone mineral density compared to the other group. Another study found that eating soy was associated with a significantly lower risk of fracture, particularly among post-menopausal women.

Regarding concerns of estrogen and breast cancer, it has been acknowledged that the phytoestrogens in soy foods, may block estrogen from reaching the receptors and therefore potentially protecting women from developing breast cancer. But for women who already have breast cancer, a few studies showed the estrogen like effects in isoflavones may prove harmful to them. If a women is post-menopausal,  concentrated soy supplements may add estrogen to the body and hence increase breast cancer risk. Therefore, post-menopausal women should avoid taking concentrated soy supplements until more is known.

As Yet, The Benefits Remain Unproven

American Institute for Cancer Research stresses that as yet, data on soy and breast cancer are not conclusive.  Prostate cancer seems to be very promising and many studies support the role of soy in the prevention and possible treatment of prostate cancer. Cancer research states that more work is needed in all areas of soy and cancer treatment before any dietary recommendations can be made.

Although vegetarians have been using soy as an alternative to meat for years—as it is a rich source of the B Vitamins– nowadays it can be found in a variety of foods, including, soy milk, soybeans and soy burgers. It is an excellent source of protein, calcium, iron, zinc and magnesium, low in saturated fats and has no cholesterol.

Now, while studies have shown that isoflavones behave like estrogens in the body and there has been improvement in symptoms for some women, it must be remembered that soy, manufacturers are keen to promote this message. After all, it`s good for business. But such a message may give women the impression that soy can be used alone to naturally relieve symptoms of menopause and as yet, this has not been confirmed by clinical studies.

As the connection of soy as an aid to menopause is quite recent, there is understandably lots of contradictory information and advice. As always, we have given you both sides of the story and the choice of whether to include soy products in your diet is of course entirely yours.

Please consult your doctor and a nutritionist if you do decide to change your diet dramatically.

Progesterone has a major role in our lives as it is essential for regulating blood sugar, developing intelligence, bone building and much, much more and, fortunately for us our bodies make it constantly.

What Is It?

The hormone progesterone is secreted by the ovary in the latter half of the menstrual cycle, although this does not mean that it is exclusively a female hormone.  In fact there is not much difference in the amount that men and women have in their bodies.

It develops when the body turns cholesteron into pregnenolone.  The pregnenonone is then converted to progesterone and finally, the body makes many other hormones from the progesterone, including the estrogens and testosterone.  Estrogen reduces greatly in menopause and progesterone starts decreasing in perimenopause and.  Many women have used progesterone creams during this time. Your doctor may give oral progesterine for ten to fourteen days each month to try and prevent erratic bleeding.

Progesterone has been around for a very long time, about 500 million years in fact and that demonstrates just how important it is to a great many living creatures.  It can be found in fishes, reptiles, birds and mammals, including human beings of course. It plays no part in the secondary sexual characteristics which develop at puberty. It is the precursor to the sex hormones estrogen and testosterone

Of course,Therefore, it must be appreciated how a progesterone deficiency would have serious implications on many functions of the body.  Similarly, progesterone therapy can be effective in treating a wide range of health problems.

How Is It Used In Hormone Replacement Therapy?

Progesterones in medications are usually made from plant sources.  When used in Hormone Therapy, there are two primary types of progestogen.   One which most closely resembles progesterone and the other derived from testosterone.  If any side effects are experienced on one type, changing the type or route of progestogen may help.

Which Symptoms Does It help?

Progesterone can be effective when used to regulate abnormal bleeding. If given continuously with postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy, progesterone will prevent menstrual sloughing as long as there is a small amount of estrogen present

How To Administer

It can be taken orally, as a vaginal suppository or as a cream. Price and convenience will have an influence on the method chosen and, absorption and longetivity will vary dependent on the type used.

When taken orally in tablet form between one and four hours in the peak absorption period.  The pills should be taken with food in order to increase absorption.  Orally on liquid form, such as oil, means that the peak absorption time is at approximately twelve hours after administration. Vaginal suppositories, peak absorption is around four hours.

Skin creams do not absorb through the skin very well but alcohol-based gels are more effective, with application recommended once a day. As with any medication, the dosage of progesterone must be carefully regulated as too much can cause excessive fatigue.  Vaginal dryness can also be a side effect, as progesterone counteracts the lubrication effect of estrogens.

While there plenty of medications to easy menopausal symptoms, some women prefer to stick to natural menopause remedies.

Regular Exercise

Exercise such as walking for 20-30 minutes three or four times a week is a natural menopause remedy, that can improve your health and add years to your life.  Exercise strengthens the bones, increases wellbeing and can help make sleeping easier.  The hardest part of starting a new exercise regime – is starting!  Be find to pick something that you really enjoy and you’ll find that it easier to stick to your routing.

Isoflavones (phyto-estrogens)

There has been a lot of talk about Isoflavones and their benefits.  Highlighted by recent studies that showed how Chinese and Japanese women suffered from fewer menopausal symptoms than Western women, consumption of soy(soya) products is currently being investigated more thoroughly.  The ladies of China and Japan, eat a  diet that is rich in soy and as it contains a weak compound similar to estrogen, this was suspected to be the reason.  So, that`s another great natural menopause remedy that`s easily accessible and affordable.

Vitamin and Mineral Supplements

It is much better to get the menopause vitamins and minerals you need from your food. There may be occasions when your diet is limited due to illness or other circumstances and in this case, speak with a dietician about your nutritional requirements.  It is important not to take in too many of certain vitamins, so expert advice is recommended.

Water

Who would have thought of water as being a natural menopause remedy? The importance of water for proper functioning of the body cannot be over emphasized.  Make it a habit to drink water regularly throughout the day.  For those nearing menopause, if you drink adequate water, you will eventually notice a reduction in amount of hot flashes that you experience..

Bitter Leaf

Bitter leaf is said to be one of the best woman friendly plants around.  It is good for the body either before, during or after menopause and especially good for the relief from hot flashes.  Bitter leaf does not supply estrogen but helps the body to produce the amount of estrogen it needs.  Squeezing the fresh leaves of bitter leaf in water and taking a glass every morning and night is recommended as a natural menopause remedy.

Vitamin E

It has been suggested that vitamin E may help to reduce hot flashes and the best way of taking it, is in your diet.  Some foods rich in Vitamin E are:

Avocado
Peanut oil
Almonds
Hazelnuts
Tuna in oil
Sunflower oil

So, if you prefer to try natural menopause remedies yourself, be careful what you buy over the counter.  Although the label may state “natural” this does not necessarily mean safe. These products are not subject to the strict regulations which apply to other drugs.

Reaching `middle age` is a special time in a womans life, but unfortunately not always an easy one!  By the time most women reach 50 they find themselves with an unfamiliar body that behaves in a totally alien way and over which they have little control. That`s why specific menopause vitamins are so important as a natural menopause remedy.

As the transitional years progress, they will become accustomed to that body and hopefully begin to make it work for and not against them.

Why Are Vitamins So Important?

As we all know, it is vitally important that we get the correct amount of vitamins, minerals and nutrients to enable our bodies to function at its peak.  Especially as we age and our body needs a little extra help, But what happens, during those times when this just is not possible? Perhaps during illness, or when women want to alleviate menopausal symptoms.

Which Ones Are The Right Ones?

Vitamin tablets have always been popular to `top up` our daily amount and to ensure that we receive adequate quantities. But how much do we actually know about these formulations and how do we go about selecting the right menopause vitamins for our needs?

If you believe that the one-a-day vitamin pill can provide you with all the nutrients your body needs, then think again. Trying to include all the nutrients and vitamins in one tablet, would make it impossibly large. There is a limit to how much can be put in one capsule before it gets as big as a ball.  So if a brand of multi vitamins claims to be the best in the world, but are the one-a-day type, it`s probably best to keep your distance.

Interestingly, one of the most popular one-a-day formulas for menopausal vitamins, contains only 30 IU’s (int’l units) of vitamin E, and only 150 mg. calcium.  It’s an acknowledged fact that, perimenopausal women require 1250 mg. of calcium per day and postmenopausal women 1500 mg. daily, to keep their bones strong.  In addition, folic acid is essential for heart health and so any formula not containing at least 400 mcg. is certainly not ideal.

Getting The Right Balance

An important point to remember, is that menopause vitamins, minerals and other nutrients work synergistically, meaning that other nutrients are required to enable any of the vitamins to perform at their best.  For example, calcium needs vitamin D to be absorbed and vitamin E must have zinc.  So it is worth doing your homework to find out which vitamins require `support` to do their work.

The ingredients used in multi vitamins also vary in their potency, from brand to brand.  And with the makers of these formulas being unregulated and some of the cheaper types containing fillers and other useless ingredients, how on earth are women supposed to know which is the best for us?

`Natural` Isn`t Always  Best

The trick is to educate yourself.  Find out as much information as you can about menopause vitamins and minerals before using anything.  Try different combinations until you find the right one.  If you’re using any prescription or over the counter medication(s), before adding extra vitamins to your diet, it’s important to check with your healthcare professional to be sure there is no chance of one counter acting the other.  Just because it may say “natural” on the label, doesn’t mean it can’t cause toxicity or other health issues.

It`s strange  that so many women enter “menopause remedy” into the search engine, looking for answers. I mean, it`s not as though there is a “cure” for menopause, there can`t be because it isn`t an illness. From personal experience, I believe that a large part of the issue is not simply the problematic symptoms of menopause, but what it means psychologically to a woman.

Menopause Highs and Lows

Menopause signifies the end of a womans fertility and the undeniable fact that she is now officially “middle aged”. Now to some (men and under 30`s), this may seem trivial, but believe me, it isn`t. It can be a stressful, depressing and highly traumatic experience for any woman. If you`re finding your menopause is a wonderfully pleasant and fragrant experience, then this article isn`t for you, if not, then please read on.

For any woman who has always taken pride in her appearance, paid attention to her beauty regime and strived to maintain a healthy weight, middle age and its associated “symptoms”, such as menopause sweats,  is not a welcome arrival.

So anything that offers a menopause remedy seems irrestistable.

Are We Past Our Prime?

Wrinkles, sagging skin, weight gain, loss of elasticity…and bladder control, all go some considerable way to battering ones ego. In fact, I became quite depressed about the mere thought of reaching 50. I mean, read any newspaper or magazine article and a 50 year old woman is seen as motherly, dependable, mature…which is fine, but not when you also consider yourself vibrant, sexy and desirable.

How is it that those words are rarely used when talking about a 50 year old woman? And how come most of the television and film actresses are under 35?  It`s almost as if you reach your middle years and wham…you become instantly invisible.

Perhaps this is just my interpretation on the menopausal years, but offer me a menopause remedy and I`d be there like a shot.

Can it Be Remedied?

It`s hardly surprising that many of the women I spoke with were either dreading their menopause, or going through it and wishing it over as soon as possible. Many felt that they had lost their identity and just didn`t feel like themselves anymore. The stigma of menopause seems to affect womens confidence far more than the actual symptoms.

And so, despite all opinion to the contrary, it is up to each and every menopausal women out there, to prove that we can give those 20 somethings dolly birds a run for their money. Remember, we have style, sophistication and experience.

 Always Look Your Best

When I was younger, my beauty routine was hit and miss to say the least, but now I pay special attention to my face and body and have regular beauty treatments. I don’t feel guilty about spending money on myself and always make sure that I`m looking my best…well you never know when opportunity may come knocking!

Nowadays, instead of getting up in the morning and avoiding the mirror at all costs, I put on my best lipstick and trot out of the house with a smile on my face and a spring in my step. I have goals that I want to carry out for the day, week, month and even the year ahead and I make sure that I complete each and every one of them. And I`m not talking about doing the shopping or that pile of ironing that`s been in the basket all week. I`m talking about things that I want to do.

Take dancing lessons, learn to scuba dive, re-train as a beauty therapist, it doesn`t matter what it is, so long as it makes you feel good and gets you excited about the future. Keep pushing those boundaries and surprise yourself, you never know what latent talent has been lurking within.

And yes, if there was a menopause remedy, I would be first in line.

FSH or Follicle Stimulating Hormone, to give it its full title, is always present in the body, not just at the time of menopause.  Its job is to stimulate ovulation and the ripening of the ova and it is the main hormone involved in producing mature eggs in the ovaries.

How Does It Work?

When a woman`s ovaries start failing to release eggs, which may be for a number of reasons, but reaching menopause is certainly one of them.  The pituitary gland, at the base of the brain, gets a signal to make more of the FSH in an attempt to get the ovaries to respond and cause the remaining eggs to mature.  FSH is the same hormone that is contained in the injectable gonadotropins which are used to produce multiple eggs for infertility treatment. A woman can be 42 and still have some good quality eggs and still be fertile, or she can be 25 with poor quality eggs and be infertile.

This hormone and this process are a vital part of fertility and if a woman is not ovulating, she will obviously not be able to conceive.  A test to check her FSH levels, will identify whether or not a woman is ovulating.  It will let you know, with reasonable certainty, whether a woman’s ovaries are beginning to fail.

Why Take A Test?

Usually, when a woman reaches her forties and experiences symptoms associated with menopause she will not bother to find out of she has in fact reached “the change”.  She will simply assume that she has and cope with the symptoms as and when they arise.  As there are certain medical conditions that can result in the ceasing of periods, a few women prefer to be certain that they are experiencing menopause and will therefore take a FSH test.  As some symptoms of menopause can be quite distressing, such as mood swings, memory lapses, forgetfulness, some women take a test to put to rest their fears of some more serious condition.

When To Do The Test

The test is carried out by taking a blood or a urine sample and is so simple that there are home kits available, therefore no doctor`s visit is necessary.  Although if preferred,  the test can certainly be carried out at the surgery.  If the woman is having a monthly periods and as the FSH level fluctuates throughout a woman`s monthly cycle, it is recommended that the test be carried out between the third to the fifth day of the period.  Levels of FSH over 40 mIU/ml are considered high and would suggest ovarian failure.

It is important that the woman is not taking estrogen based contraception.  Allow 6 weeks before taking the test and terminating therapy, otherwise a true reading will not be achieved.

If she is not having regular periods such as after a hysterectomy, it is advisable to obtain two samples 2 weeks apart.  These may give information about residual cycle activity.

Those women who have had a hysterectomy menopause and still have their ovaries, may wish to take the test to discover whether they are menopausal.  Hormone replacement therapy could then be prescribed at this stage rather than waiting for the symptoms to begin.