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By Theresa Richards


When the human body begins to age, several factors come into play. For women, the most significant stage in this aging process is the onset of menopause. This is the period in which the level of female reproductive hormones reduces significantly that egg production stops. This period, however, is not pleasant and comes with a barrage of symptoms that are often uncomfortable. Nevertheless, there are remedies such as soy shakes for losing weight that can help these women live comfortably.

Various studies have shown that there is a positive correlation between hormone replacement therapy and breast cancer risk. Soy-based products are natural and hence do not pose any known health risks at the moment. However, the challenge is that these products contain varying amounts of the active ingredients.

May women undergo great suffering under the effects of menopausal symptoms such as night sweats and hot flashes. However, consuming products with high levels of phytoestrogens such as soy, could reduce these symptoms significantly. However, this is not a magic product like most hormonal remedies. It could take as many as three months for one to experience results.

Isoflavones is another type of phytoestrogens. Its chemical structure is similar to the human estrogen. However, its effect is weaker. It binds to the same receptors, but it cannot rigger the same functions. Although weak, scientists believe that this amount is strong enough to relieve certain symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes.

These hormones, however, do not have the supervision of the FDA. Hence, they are not medically approved and should not be consumed as medication. Soy products have been used in Asia as food and for medical purposes for centuries. This indicates that they are quite safe. However, because of the varying amounts of phytoestrogens in the different food types, they are not readily accepted in contemporary medicine.

Menopause comes with associated problems such as poor bone health and increased risk of heart problems. This is linked to the decreased levels of estrogen in the body, which decreases significantly from the onset of menopause. This leads to weak bones and heart. This hormone could increase the functions of estrogen.

Several studies have indeed pointed that soy-based proteins could, in fact, reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Postmenopausal women face the risk of calcium deficiency, and this compound could help to influence calcium levels positively and improve bone health. This could prevent these women from using hormone replacement therapy, which is known to have various risks.

Soy-based products can lower cholesterol levels considerably. Protein shakes have isoflavones, which is capable of lowering the levels of LDL cholesterol. They can also dilate coronary arteries and hence protect the heart. However, there is still a lot of research ongoing in this area to determine if there may be any side effects.

It is always advisable to consult a doctor before using any supplement. In case you wish to take protein-based shakes, talk to your physician first and discuss your situation. This will help ensure that you take supplements that have the right amount of isoflavones. This is because research is still ongoing on these products and there is still a lot to be discovered.




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