[ad_1]
A new study suggests that a certain dietary pattern can relieve menopausal symptoms as well as hormone therapy, but without its unpleasant side effects.
THE menopause for most women it is a period that comes accompanied by a multitude of – usually unpleasant – changes. This is one of the periods with the most intense hormonal fluctuations, which cause a series of symptoms, such as weight gain, but also intense hot flashes.
In order to deal with the unpleasant symptoms, which affect their daily life and quality of life, women usually turn to hormone therapy, always according to their doctor’s instructions. However, like any medication, this too is characterized by certain side effects, the main ones being that, in long-term use, it seems to increase the risk of gynecological cancers, specifically of the ovaries and the breast. Trying to find alternatives to alleviate the symptoms of menopause, a scientific team found that a certain diet shows similar effectiveness. THE Women’s Vasomotor Symptom Relief Study (WAVS) published in Menopause.
In particular, the research team discovered that a diet based on plant products and high soy content can help to reduction of hot flashes by up to 88%. At the same time, this dietary pattern contributes to weight loss, which is usually observed during this period. “It is not yet clear why this diet is beneficial, but it seems to be due to three main reasons: The avoiding animal productsthe fat reduction and addition of soy. “The results suggest that it may not be a coincidence that in areas such as Japan, which follows a plant-based, low-fat, soy-rich dietary pattern, menopausal women experience fewer symptoms,” said the lead researcher. Neal Barnard, chair of the Physicians Committee and assistant professor at the George Washington University School of Medicine.
To reach these conclusions, the team studied 84 postmenopausal women who reported experiencing hot flashes two or more times a day.
RELEVANT ARTICLES
The participants were randomly divided into two groups:
- her intervention groupwho followed a low-fat vegetarian diet and consumed half a cup of cooked soybeans daily and
- her control teamwhich did not undergo nutritional changes
The trial lasted a total of 12 weeks. After this period, the researchers found that hot flashes of moderate to severe intensity were reduced by 88% in the women who followed the vegetarian diet, while the same they lost an average of 8 kg. These numbers are approximately the same as the success rates of hormone therapy (70%-90%), with the difference that dietary changes are a much simpler, but also harmless intervention, since they involve a significantly lower risk of medical complications.
In order to rule out the influence of seasonal temperature fluctuations on the effectiveness of the diet, the research was conducted in two different periods. The results showed that women who participated in the study during the spring had comparable benefits to those who participated in the fall.
Dr. Barnard and colleagues agree that their results not only support the role of diet and lifestyle in relieving hot flashes during menopause, but also in managing other complications, such as weight gain and the effects of chronic disease. “The study demonstrates the effectiveness of nutritional interventions in the treatment of menopausal symptoms. At the same time, the same interventions reduce concerns about the health risks posed by menopause, such as the increased risk of heart disease and breast cancer, but also memory problems”, concludes Dr. Barnard.