Soy and menopause
Does a low GI diet have an impact on menopause discomforts?
Does cortisone have an impact on blood sugar and weight?
Soy and menopause
Is it correct that eating soy beans against menopausal discomforts can give the same side effects as estrogen when it comes
to for example breast cancer?
Answer:
Soy beans contain substances called isoflavones, which belong to a group of substances called polyfenoles. These have a weak
estrogen-like, but also an anti-estrogen effect. We still don’t know for sure whether these substances can cause problems
with breast cancer over time. What we do know is that Japanese women have a lot less hot flashes and breast cancer. Japanese
women have a high intake of soy, but they also eat a lot more omega 3 fatty acids from fish.
Lab tests have shown that soy isoflavones can protect against breast cancer. However, animal studies may indicate an increase
in breast cancer risk. Here we need to take into consideration that there is a difference between rats and humans, and the
rats were given a very large dose. Using soy isoflavones in treating hot flashes has not shown greater effect than placebo
in controlled studies, but a lot of women experience improvement. There is no indication that a normal intake of isoflavones
increases the risk of breast cancer, and there are no studies that compare the effect of soy and ordinary estrogen, which
increases the risk of breast cancer, cervical cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer. Until this is clarified, women who have
had breast cancer should not take supplements of soy isoflavones (but may include soy beans in their diet), although some
studies indicate that soy is beneficial after breast cancer. The problem is that the results are not conclusive.
Unless you have had breast cancer, or there is a lot of breast cancer in your family, it would be all right to try soy isoflavones
against hot flashes. Other alternatives could be a better balance between omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids, as well as medication
that increases serotonin levels, and progesterone supplements.
Best regards, Dr. Lindberg
Does a low GI diet have an impact on menopause discomforts?
Answer:
Hot flashes and sweating during menopause is worsened considerably by the lack of omega 3 (fish oil) and omega 6 (GLA-evening
primrose oil). Many patients benefit from supplements. Unstable blood sugar will also give more symptoms (mood swings, sweating)
because of increased adrenaline and cortisol production. A low GI with more protein, fiber and healthy fats and fewer carbs
will stabilize your blood sugar.
During menopause a lot happens to your hormones, and women with insulin resistance have low levels of a substance called SHBG
(sex hormone binding globulin), which is produced in the liver and works as a kind of sex hormone storage. With low SHBG levels
there will be more free and active sex hormones in the blood, and there will be too much testosterone in particular. This
will, among other things, give women a more masculine shape (“apple shape”). Women who take estrogen supplements also have
estrogen dominance and too little progesterone.
Best regards, Dr. Lindberg
Does cortisone have an impact on blood sugar and weight?
Answer:
Cortisone increases blood sugar and insulin, and this causes fat cells to absorb more fat. A balanced diet with supplements
of omega 3 and 6 and antioxidants are recommended.
Best regards, Dr. Lindberg
