Manage Menopause Symptoms with a Vegetarian Diet

Menopause. It’s a time of life associated with a host of symptoms that range from mildly irritating to potentially dangerous. Weight gain, heart disease, hot flashes, bone loss and more send millions of women to their doctors in search of relief each year. As the baby boomer generation continues to age, menopause is gaining widespread attention as more than a simple annoyance. Women want relief … and they want it now!

The good news is that one vegetarian benefit is the ability of the diet help manage the symptoms of menopause without harsh chemicals or expensive prescriptions!

Research currently being conducted by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) is examining the use of soy estrogens to prevent bone loss and other menopausal symptoms among women who have recently gone through menopause.

Earlier research by the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) indicate the possibility of significant potential health risks associated with traditional hormone replacement therapy. In response to this and other similar findings, there is a growing interest in using naturally occurring compounds similar to estrogen, such as those derived from soy, in the hope that estrogens from plant sources can provide benefit without the adverse effects caused by prescribed estrogens.

It’s easy to get started with vegetarian benefits; simply look for the low fat, high nutrition foods including soy-based meat replacements. Fantastic Foods carries a line of soy-based Tofu Scramblers and veggie burgers that can help you reap the benefits of vegetarian diet plans!