The Claim
A low-fat, plant-based diet supplemented with 86 grams of cooked soybeans daily for 12 weeks is associated with a 79% reduction in total hot flash frequency and an 84% reduction in moderate-to-severe hot flashes in postmenopausal women, with 59% of participants becoming free of moderate-to-severe hot flashes.
What the research says
Supports is higher
Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
Postmenopausal women who followed a low-fat, plant-based diet with 86 grams of cooked soybeans daily for 12 weeks experienced a 79% decrease in total hot flashes and an 84% decrease in moderate-to-severe hot flashes; 59% of them no longer had moderate-to-severe hot flashes.
See the scientific wording
A low-fat, plant-based diet supplemented with 86 grams of cooked soybeans daily for 12 weeks is associated with a 79% reduction in total hot flash frequency and an 84% reduction in moderate-to-severe hot flashes in postmenopausal women, with 59% of participants becoming free of moderate-to-severe hot flashes, suggesting this dietary pattern may substantially alleviate vasomotor symptoms.
Eating soybeans daily allows gut bacteria to turn a compound in soy into equol, which binds to a specific receptor in the brain that controls body temperature. This binding tricks the brain into thinking estrogen levels are normal, stopping the sudden blood vessel widening that causes hot flashes.
What the research says
1 studyWomen who ate a plant-based diet with half a cup of soybeans every day for 12 weeks saw their hot flashes drop by nearly 80%, and more than half stopped having the worst ones. The study proves this diet really helped.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.