Novasoy - The Power of Soy

What is menopause?
Menopause literally means “cessation of periods” and most women reach natural menopause between ages 45 and 54. Sometimes called “puberty in reverse” it is a time when a woman’s ovaries shut down. During this transition, hormone levels fluctuate greatly, causing many of the symptoms we associate with menopause.

What are the most common signs of menopause?
Menopausal symptoms vary greatly among women, but hot flashes, night sweats and sleep disruption are the most common. Other symptoms include:

Mood swings, often due to irritability, depression and anxiety
Irregular periods
Vaginal dryness and painful sexual intercourse
Decreased sex drive
Vaginal infections
Urinary tract infections

What can women do to ease menopausal symptoms?
Women should first make positive lifestyle changes, such as not smoking, eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight and being physically active. Additionally, whole soybean-based soy isoflavone extracts have been shown to ease menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes.

How do soy isoflavones help ease menopausal symptoms?
Soybeans, soy-based foods and soy isoflavone extracts derived from the whole soybean contain phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens are a class of plant-based compounds structurally similar to estrogen. These compounds are known to interact with estrogen receptors in humans although isoflavones are also quite different from estrogen.

What is an effective dose of soy isoflavones?
Generally, 50 to 55 milligrams daily of total isoflavones, predominantly as glucosides with the appropriate ratio, are effective in relieving some menopause symptoms such as hot flashes. An example would be 140 milligrams of Novasoy soy isoflavones daily.

Can women get enough soy isoflavones through their diet?
Possibly, but it would not be easy. Women will need to eat one-half pound of tofu daily to get enough soy isoflavones for effective hot flash relief. Not surprisingly, women often find supplements easier to incorporate into their active, busy lifestyles.

How do we know soy isoflavone extracts are effective?
Many previous studies have been inconclusive about the efficacy of soy isoflavones. However, a recent critical analysis of previously published studies found that supplements with a high genistein content are consistently effective in reducing the frequency and severity of menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes.

What is a critical analysis?
A critical analysis is a second-examination of published scientific data. Researchers conduct this type of study to integrate findings across variables such as time, geography and test subjects.

Is a critical review as credible as primary research?
Yes. Conclusions are based on results of previous research, all of which have been peer-reviewed and published in reputable journals. Other researchers scrutinize the new conclusions, as well, to ensure the scientific soundness of the new findings.

Why weren’t these findings included in the original isoflavone and hot flash research?
Unlike the new research, the original research did not focus on the individual isoflavone ratios or compare the results of different types of supplements. Clinical studies are usually conducted to test the effectiveness of a single course-of-treatment. Later, researchers often have access to data and theories that were unknown when the original studies were conducted. Therefore, they review the findings from a different perspective than the original research team.

What about HRT?
HRT (hormone replacement therapy) has been considered a viable choice for women seeking relief of menopausal symptoms. More recently however, studies have indicated that the use of HRT should be considered more carefully. Talk to your doctor about your options.

How do I find the right type of soy isoflavone?
Because most manufacturers do not include individual isoflavones on the ingredient panel, the best and easiest way to ensure that you are getting the correct ratio is to look for the Novasoy leaf on packaging. Novasoy isoflavones are derived from virtually the whole soybean and therefore, include the isoflavone ratio that was shown in multiple studies to provide a statistically significant difference in effectiveness. For a list of soy isoflavone supplements that contain the right soy isoflavones, go to www.easingmenopause.com.

Where do I find whole soybean-based soy isoflavones?
Most health food stores, supermarkets and drug stores carry supplements. For a complete list of brands and where to buy, go to www.easingmenopause.com.