WAVS—the Women’s Study for the Alleviation of Vasomotor Symptoms—found that diet changes can be much more powerful for treating hot flashes than scientists had thought.
In the study, postmenopausal women reporting two or more hot slashes per day were randomly assigned either to an intervention group—consisting of a low fat, vegan diet that included half a cup of cooked soybeans added to a salad or soup each day—or to a control group that made no diet changes for 12 weeks. The study used no hormone medications or extracts.
The results of the study, published in July in the journal Menopause, found that a plant-based diet rich in soy reduced moderate-to-severe hot flashes by 84%, from nearly five per day to fewer than one per day. During the 1-week study, nearly 60% of women became totally free of moderate-to-sever hot flashes. Over-all hot flashes decreased by 79%.
“This is a game changer for women aged 45 and over, most of whom we now know can get prompt relief from the most severe and troubling menopause symptoms without medication,” said Neal Barnard, MD, the principal investigator.
Barnard ND, Kahleova H, Holtz DN et al. The Women’s Study for the Alleveation of Vasomotor Symptoms (WAVS): a randomized, controlled trial of a plant-based diet and whole soybeans for postmenopausal women. Menopause. on-line July 12, 2021.