Soy Milk for Menopause
 

Does anyone drink soy milk for Menopause or other reasons? My doctor suggested this for symptoms instead of Hormone replacement because of the serious side effects of the drugs.I have too many problems with the medicines and I am hoping to find other alternatives.

There is controversy relative to soy and hormones. I don't know enough to explain it, but do some research to learn both sides. Critics argue that Americans are consuming far more soy than Asians, whom advocates always point to when touting the benefits of soy. If you look at the ingredients on any processed food, you will find significant soy included.

Thanks, I read a lot about both sides and not sure who is right. But there is also so much controversy with HRT and, breast cancer, strokes and blood clots. My doctor suggested 2 glasses of soy milk a day, I am just tired of feeling horrible everyday.

What about trying meditation? Can Meditation Be Used To Treat Menopause? | Meditation Benefits | Meditation At The Daily Heal

Horrible isn't it? It all drags you down so much. I was on HRT for almost a year but realised it was making me feel worse than the actual menopause. And as you say, the side effects are horrific. So I personally am trying to just get through it naturally :( There was quite a big article in the UK papers the other day - apparently liquorice is meant to be very beneficial, I haven't tried it, but it might be worth a try? :) Good luck. Sally + Harry x

I drink one glass of soy milk everyday. Not sure it helps with the big M, but at least I am getting some calcium.

Never thought of this, worth looking into, Thanks

The soy milk isn't too bad, if I add Hershey chocolate syrup, Thanks for understanding.

I am going to try it for 3 weeks, what the doctor suggested, fortunately I drink no caffiene or alcohol just water and milk. She gave me an antidepressant if this doesn't work, Effexor XR, several women I talked with said this helped them a lot. Thank you for you suggestions.

Soy has increased estrogen in it. When we were doing IVF, I drank soy to increase my uterine lining. My first IVF cycle I didn't do soy and my lining got to 7mm. 2nd and 3rd cycles included soy and my lining was 14mm and 16mm. I didn't get pregnant the first time. I did the second time and the third time I got pregnant with twins.

My reproductive dr suggested it as well as acupuncture. However, most everything nowadays contains soy-maybe that's why breast cancer is more prevalent in younger women, as well as girls menstruating and developing at an earlier age? Add that to the hormones we inject into the cows, chickens and pigs we eat, and it's a nightmare waiting to happen!
We tell pregnant moms to not take soy because of the increased estrogen and there's no studies on it affecting babies in utero.

How does it taste. I would love help with these hot flashes I have cream I use but nights are horrible

Soy milk tastes kind of like 'beany' thinner milk. My son had to have it when I stopped breast-feeding him (mind you, this is 30 years ago!! :)) as he was allergic to formula and cows milk. So I tasted it to see, of course ;) !

What cream do you use (and where do you put it? :confused:).

The days aren't so bad are they - it's the night time hots that I really hate - and so does my husband! Have you tried one of those cool gel filled pillows? Sally + Harry x

Progesterone it's a cream I put on the backside of my wrist. I have never been able to sleep with a fan on. But if I don't put one on me before bed I feel like I can not breath. It sucks. Hubby says I keep it way to cool. Only way I can sleep and still wake up many times... Had a hysterectomy a few months ago and that made full blown menopause. Hoping it doesn't last to long.. I have not had to take anything else at least.

I drink Silk Vanilla and absolutely love the thick, rich taste of it.

My mom refused to take the medications for menopause. She swears by the use of Soy. She is finished with Menopause so I am thinking the Soy must of done the trick for her! :)

I always have a hot drink and a cold drink available. My internal thermostat is totally off. If I'm not in a sweat, I'm freezing and can't get warm. This has been going on for 11 years. :eek: I doubt I'll ever feel 'normal' again.
I'm still thinking about HRT as the dosages have been lowered alot (so I've heard) from when it was first used to treat 'M'. As for the other stuff, I am miserable without caffiene, chocolate, salt (felt like I was going to pass-out), etc., and never noticed a (good) difference anyway. I've tried the creme and many OTC remedies and most work for a week or two but then Not! So they are a big waste of money to me. Plus I hate taking pills of any kind... meds or supplements. I tried religiously even recently, but pills get stuck in my throat very easily, even when cut in half.

I highly recommend the use of a fan, the fold up kind you can carry with you. Works the best for me (when drinks aren't available). Good Luck, and I hope you feel better soon! :D

I wished I had known about this when I was trying to get pregnant but God finally thought I neede a son so I got pregnant naturally when I was 36. After what I have read figure the negative of soy is better than the Estradiol side effects I was taking. I think I am drinking a low enough amount to not be too harmful. Congratulations on twins.

Hate the thought of that nasty cream, the first carton was Organic Kroger brand and it was horrible, I added lots of chocolate syrup. Today I bought the Chocolate Silk, at Walmart and it is 100% better tasting and about the same price, they also have several different flavors and a chocolate Light. Silk is suppose to be the best there is.

Thanks I sleep with a wet rag on my forehead, doctor told me that makes the flashes worse. I am like you I have tried 4 different meds, combinations, and OTC one a day Menopause formula, nothing has helped only made me worse. The Dr. I saw is not my regular doctor, she is from India and believes in more natural methods. Her instructions were 2 glasses of Soy Milk, exercise, positive thinking, sex 3 times a week:eek: and Effexor XR if this doesn't work. I told her I was too old and did not have the energy or the interest for 3 times a week. She is 66 years old and has been in Menopause since she was 42.

Your mom must be one of the more fortunate ones, glad this worked for her. I have women telling me they never had any symptoms and didn't even know they went through Menopause. I guess I can't be that lucky.

Lol! I can't remember! The hot flashes did tail off a bit and aren't quite as severe as they were at the start, after 3-5 years or so. So I have gotten better. I seem to do better overall when I'm outside, or maybe I don't notice it as much? Antidepressants just made me not care. About anything! Plus made me nauseous for the first two weeks on them. And gave me headaches. I'd rather be depressed! And hot!

The only problem with the mood swings is I am afraid I will hit my DH with a sledge hammer about a 100 times a day and then I would probably go to jail and leave my 17 year old son. but I could plead insanity and probably get released.:D

I am going to try the soy. How many ounces a day?

[QUOTE=horsnaround;3703892]I am going to try the soy. How many ounces a day?[/QUOTE
She told me 2 glasses which to me means 16 oz.total, from what I have read on the internet they suggest 20-40 oz but then there is the controversy of that being too much. Let me know how you do, I can't tell much deifference yet but I only started this Thursday night.

:eyetearss:eyetearss

I am in the perimenopause stage right now. Between the hot flashes that occasionally occur and my mood swings, I completely understand. I haven't started taking anything yet as my doctor did not recommend it at this point. But I can certainly understand wanting to hit your DH with a sledge hammer!! ;):D:p

OMG the estradiol made me crazy!!!!! The twins aren't mine, I was a surrogate for another couple, that's why we did IVF. After 3 IVF cycles, I will never again touch lupron, estradiol or synthethic progesterone again! I seriously wanted to kill other people, as well as myself on that stuff.

Sex 3x a week?? Is she trying to make you better or your DH?? Lol, actually the sex is supposed to release feel good hormones, that are supposed to put you in a better mood. My DH isn't home during the week, so I'd have to find a pool boy (we don't have a pool) or invest in BOB.

I did a glass of soy in the AM and a glass in the PM, so 16oz a day.
I more worry about the estrogen receptors for breast and ovarian cancer than anything.

And along those lines! - Funnily enough, there's an article in a UK newspaper this morning which says:-

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Can Yoga really cure hot flushes

"Women in the menopause experience a range of symptoms - for 1 in 5 they will be severe, while a lucky 3 in 5 will suffer only mildly. Bloating, aches + pains, headaches, hot flushes, night sweats, insomnia, weight gain, depression, irritability, forgetfulness, lack of concentration, the amount of times you need the loo and painful sex.

Quite a list! And they really interfere with the quality of your life. But could Yoga be the key to relief? Since oestrogen deficiency is the cause of menopausal symptoms, hrt is the most effective treatment. All kinds of alternative remedies are recommended, but very few have been proven to work. So, women who are reluctant to take hrt are always looking around for something more natural that will help them.

A new scientific study from India has shown that yoga could help you a lot if you're one of those women. The women who took part in the study were scored on 11 menopausal symptoms, which covered physical, emotional, sleep, joint + muscle complaints and psychological symptoms, bladder symptoms and sexual problems.

One group of those studied performed yoga on a daily basis including breathing techniques and meditation. Alongside a control group, both groups filled in a questionnaire to analyse changes in their symptoms at the end of the study.

When the 2 groups were analysed, the women who'd been practising yoga were found to have significantly lower scores on all the symptom scales. There was a significant difference in the total score and the scores of all the separate tests in the yoga group. There was no improvement in the control groups symptoms".

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So, that's what the article said (by the way, it was written by a Doctor) - I've never tried yoga, but wondering if it might be worth a try? Sally x

I think so far the only side effect I have is the hot flashes and I do seem to forget things. Very unlike me. I have not been to moody. But have recently had many headaches. This stuff is for the birds. My youngest daughter is having some problems with getting pregnant. Maybe I will talk to here about the soy also. I have not wanted to hit my dh. But of course he trucks and is not home a lot. I may if he was around. Lol.