In the United States, cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 death of women.
In 2009, CVD was the cause of 1 out of 4 female deaths in the US.
A new study suggests that women who before the onset of menopause switched to a diet rich in soy products, are less likely to suffer from heart disease.
Soy is a plant from the legume family that grows in Asia. Soybeans are a popular product that is often added to soups and salads. Soy protein can be found in tofu, soy milk and many meat substitutes. Soy is traditionally used in Asian dishes, such as tempe and miso.
Previous scientific studies have demonstrated the benefits of soy for the body. In 2011, for example, scientists have reported that a diet with a high content of soy products can protect against prostate cancer.
In a recent scientific paper published in the Menopause magazine, members of the Wake Forest School of Medicine in Winston-Salem (North Carolina, USA) decided to test the effectiveness of a soy diet for the prevention of atherosclerosis. As you know, atherosclerosis is an important risk factor for cardiovascular events in men and women of advanced age.
For this, scientists fed monkey females before menopause with high protein animal feeds, and another group was given a diet with a large number of proteins and soy isoflavones.
After this, the researchers induced menopause in animals by surgical removal of the ovaries, and divided them into four groups. Two groups continued to receive that diet, which they received before menopause. And the other two groups changed the diet in some places.
At the end of the 34-month follow-up period, the researchers found that monkeys who sat on a soy diet before and after menopause had a lower level of cholesterol compared to the relatives who were given mostly animal feeds.
In those animals that used soya forage for life, the degree of atherosclerotic lesion of the arteries was much less.
Moreover, when monkeys were transferred from animal feed to soybean, the available deposits on the walls of arteries in some cases gradually decreased in size.
Overall, the study showed that a soy diet before and after menopause is useful for the heart and blood vessels.
Commenting on the results, Dr. Margery Gass, Executive Director of the North American Society of Menopause, said: "This study underscores the importance of good cardiac and vascular status before menopause. Healthy habits need to start before she comes ".
medbe. en.