Wednesday Bubble: R.I.S.E and shine: help me help you burst the mysteries of soy

Posted by Liz on Sep 22, 2010 in Uncategorized | 2 comments

Should you try soy for menopausal symptoms?

Soy isn’t for everyone and as the comments from Monday’s post show, it may be downright dangerous for some populations. However, my goal is to present you with invaluable information about options for addressing troublesome menopausal symptoms — information that isn’t always readily available or accessible, — which is why posts about the evidence for potential benefits (and risks) of soy are so important.

That’s why I’m reaching out to you today. I want you to help me help you burst the mysteries and controversy surrounding the use of soy isoflavones for menopausal symptoms like hot flashes or mood swings.

Here’s how:

The University of Illinois at Chicago Center for Women’s Health is looking for healthy, perimenopausal women between the ages of 40 and 55 to take part in a research study. Sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, The R.I.S.E. (Research Investigation of Soy and Estrogen) study will compare a soy tablet  (Novasoy® ) to estrogen and placebo in order to evaluate the effect on hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms.  You  can learn about the specifics of the study at the RISE website.

Why it’s important to spread the word.

We will never know if phytoestrogens like soy, and other alternative therapies are truly effective without having ample evidence to back claims. Many Western practitioners, including former editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association, George Lundberg (who recently wrote that “there is no alternative medicine, only unproven medicine”) continue to argue against inclusion of alternatives in our medical system. My mandate and promise to you has always been to provide you with sound strategies that will empower you to make the best decision about your physical and mental health and wellbeing. Navigating the midlife transition — whether it’s menopause, general health issues, career changes or relationships isn’t easy — but it can be less challenging with the proper tools and roadmap to make decisions that work best for you.

We will never be able to take control of our journey without fully engaging in the process. Not only does this include educating ourselves but also taking responsibility  for the changes we wish to see.

Let’s face it; participating in a research study isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. However, the University of Chicago needs your support and so do I.

Let’s rise to the occasion shall we? Won’t you help spread the word?