Can Soy Benefit Our Bones?

Although many Americans suffer from the chronic disease known as Osteoporosis, the fact of the matter is over 80% of those diagnosed are women. There are several types of osteoporosis, the most common is called postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Because women's estrogen levels drop around the time of menopause, bone density is affected. Usually women between the ages of 50 to 75 are most affected. However, bone density loss can occur earlier or later. Studies show that women can lose up to 20% of their bone density and bone mass within the first 5-7 years following menopause.

The Cost of Osteoporosis

This disease takes a great toll on the body. Many women suffer with chronic pain and this disease accounts for over 1.5 million fractures each year; the majority of fractures involve the vertebrae or spine area. Many times death can even be associated with this disease. Approximately 24% of all people over the age of 50 who fracture their hip will die within one year.

Some Great Soy Results

In a study, at the Shanghai Women's Health Study, of 75,000 Chinese women aged 40 to 70, scientists concluded that higher intakes of soy protein was associated with lower risk of fracture. More specifically, women who were given two cups of soymilk per day for the first ten years following menopause saw an even better reduction in bone density loss and fractures.

Other Asian studies have generally shown that soy intake is positively associated with higher bone mineral density (BMD). Currently the US government is conducting their own studies regarding the affects of soy intake on bone density and skeletal make-up.

The Role of Isoflavones

Although some soybeans and soy products do contain calcium, the concentration has been focused on the estrogen-like substance called isoflavones found in soybeans. Isoflavone studies have concluded that Japanese women eating a higher amount of isoflavones than their counterparts have higher bone density rates. Not only do isoflavones reduce the common lowering of bone density in post-menopausal women, but they also build bone mass.

In 2000, the nonprofit organization known as North American Menopause Society (NAMS) issued a consensus on the matter of soy products and its health benefits to women. The statement addressed the potential benefits of isoflavones on conditions associated with menopause. The society reported the following quantities and amounts of isoflavones may have health benefits for postmenopausal women:

* 50 milligrams per day to reduce cholesterol
* 40 to 80 milligrams per day to strengthen blood vessels and improve blood pressure
* 50 milligrams per day for bone health
* 40 to 80 milligrams per day to reduce hot flashes and night sweats

For those of you wondering how much isoflavone is in your favorite soy products, please see the information below:

* 1 cup of soy milk has 40 milligrams of isoflavone
* 4 ounces of tofu have 40 milligrams of isoflavone
* Textured soy protein has 35 milligrams for every 1/2 cup
* Soy flour has 25 milligrams of isoflavone for every 1/2 cup
* Both 4 ounces of tempeh and 1/2 cup of miso have approximately 40 milligrams of isoflavone

So as you see, it doesn't take a lot of soy to help those bones!

About the Author

Dee Overly is a mother who discovered the health benefits of soy milk and now sells a Soymilk Maker at www.SoymilkCrossroads.com. Stop by and pick your free Vegan recipe book and check out the blog.

Bone Head by Half Japanese (ALBUM REVIEW)

US Auctions Australian Auctions Austrian Auctions Belgian Auctions Canadian Auctions French Auctions German Auctions Irish Auctions Italian Auctions Dutch Auctions Spanish Auctions Swiss Auctions GB Auctions

Best Match Items Ending First Newly-Listed Items First Price + Shipping: Lowest First Price + Shipping: Highest First

Antique Japanese Netsuke with Ox Bone Happy Old Man Carry Calabash $8.99 Time Remaining: 25d 9h 59m Buy It Now for only: $8.99 Buy It Now

Exquisite Japanese Carved Ox Bone Figure ca1900 NO RESERVE $90.10 (12 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 11h 3m

Superb Japanese Carved Ox Bone Figure ca1900 NO RESERVE $26.16 (13 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 11h 13m

vintage oriental chinese japanese ox bone vases signed $18.18 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 8h 8m

Japanese NETSUKE of SKULL with Rabbit ox bone Antique signed $99.00 Time Remaining: 1d 7h 45m Buy It Now for only: $150.00 Buy It Now

Ox Bone Antique Japanese Netsuke Happy Long life Old Man Hold Peach $17.00 Time Remaining: 16h 20m Buy It Now for only: $17.00 Buy It Now

Japanese Ox Bone Netsuke Man with bag Fruit Signed $18.18 (6 Bids) Time Remaining: 2d 14h 47m

ANTIQUE SIGNED Japanese carved ox bone FROG OCTOPUS figure NETSUKE okimono $28.27 (11 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 13h 42m

Japanese Ox Bone Netsuke Man with Child $11.86 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 2d 14h 50m

WONDERFUL OLD CARVED OX BONE MONKEY FIGURE JAPANESE CHINESE $8.69 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 16h 51m

Vintage Oriental Asian Japanese Bone Carving $100.00 Time Remaining: 29d 11h 2m Buy It Now for only: $100.00 Buy It Now

FATHER SON beautiful ox bone netsuke uk441 $128.83 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 13h 25m

Japanese Hand Carved Ox Bone Okimono Four Frogs on Leaf Signed 160mm Long $472.63 Time Remaining: 8h 58m

SMALL INTRICATE JAPANESE OX BONE OKIMONO OF MAN PIPE $112.21 (10 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 14h 54m

Antique Japanese Ox Bone Netsuke with Crab about 2 long signed $1,750.00 Time Remaining: 29d 8h 42m Buy It Now for only: $1,750.00 Buy It Now

Japanese Ox Bone Netsuke Man Resting on Sack $18.18 (5 Bids) Time Remaining: 2d 14h 26m

Japanese Carved Ox Bone Okimono Figure $50.00 Time Remaining: 1d 21h 12m

Fine 19th 20th Century Ox Bone MOP Panel Picture of A Japanese Man Boy $178.62 (14 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 11h 8m

Fine 19th 20th Century Ox Bone MOP Panel Picture of A Japanese Woman Boy $148.59 (10 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 11h 53m

Antique Japanese Bone Bud Vase Carved Wood Base $149.99 Time Remaining: 6d 19h 50m Buy It Now for only: $149.99 Buy It Now

MOUSE on SLIPPER beautiful ox bone netsuke uk444 $7.82 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1d 13h 25m

Antique 65 Japanese Meiji Carved Ox Bone Signed Scribe Okimono Statue c1800s $34.78 (5 Bids) Time Remaining: 5d 12h 30m

TURTLES LOTUS beautiful ox bone netsuke uk445 $18.16 (6 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 13h 29m

Japanese Ox Bone Netsuke Man with Hoe $11.86 (5 Bids) Time Remaining: 5d 14h 37m

Ox Bone Antique Japanese Netsuke Happy Long life Old Man Hold Peach $16.00 Time Remaining: 6d 18h 20m Buy It Now for only: $16.00 Buy It Now

Antique 19thC Japanese Meiji Signed Bronze Ox Bone Cow Elephant Statue c1800s $7.89 Time Remaining: 5d 12h 29m

Antique Signed Japanese Carved Smiling Face Mask Ox Bone Netsuke 25 $5.50 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 3d 18h 2m

Japanese Ox Bone Netsuke Brooch $16.60 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 2d 14h 20m

Amazing antique japanese ox bone column with engravings $70.20 Time Remaining: 28d 16h 56m Buy It Now for only: $70.20 Buy It Now

Beautifully carved Japanese Ox Bone Netsuke In the Form of an Ape Amazing Detail $37.76 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 2d 6m

Antique 19thC Japanese Meiji Signed Signed Bronze Ox Bone Bull Elephant Statue $49.00 (8 Bids) Time Remaining: 5d 12h 28m

Hand Carved Ox Bone Okimono Three Frogs Climbing on Leaf Signed Japanese $197.59 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 8h 58m

antique ivory color ox bone carved NETSUKE MAN WITH BIRD SIGNED japanese $49.00 Time Remaining: 20h 58m

Japanese Stainless Steel Tweezer Sashimi Fish Bone Puller Remover 3284 J1884 $5.50 Time Remaining: 12d 18h 25m Buy It Now for only: $5.50 Buy It Now

ANTIQUE MEIJI JAPANESE CARVED OX BONE OKIMONO MAN BASKET SIGNED NR $26.00 (12 Bids) Time Remaining: 5d 18h 26m

Japanese Carved Ox Bone Okimono of Five Dancing Geishas $55.31 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 6d 5h 55m

Antique Japanese Hand Carved faux Ivory Ox Bone Netsuke $49.00 Time Remaining: 1d 16h 3m

FINE MEIJI JAPANESE CARVED OX BONE OKIMONO FARMER MAN CHILDREN GROUP SIGNED NR $34.00 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 5d 18h 43m

Japanese sushi chef tools Fish bone Tweezer square 4 1 8 105cm $7.60 Time Remaining: 26d 19h 58m Buy It Now for only: $7.60 Buy It Now

FINE ANTIQUE CARVED OX BONE JAPANESE PANDA BEAR OJIME BEAD SIGNED NR $15.50 (6 Bids) Time Remaining: 5d 17h 57m

ANTIQUE VINTAGE CARVED OX BONE JAPANESE OKIMONO LADY FIGURINE STATUE $139.99 Time Remaining: 1d 20h 8m

Japanese Hand Carved Ox Bone Netsuke Skeleton with Skull Macabre $109.07 Time Remaining: 3d 7h 29m

FREE SHIPPING Photo Book Japanese Netsuke Bone wood Yokai Bakemono antique Edo $35.00 Time Remaining: 21d 21h 52m Buy It Now for only: $35.00 Buy It Now

Very Sweet Bone Japanese Netsuke Netski p3 $5.69 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 3d 4h 11m

RABBIT on CABBAGE beautiful ox bone netsuke uk448 $25.29 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 2d 13h 29m

Japanese Hand Carved Ox Bone Netsuke Laying Horse with Monkey $197.59 Time Remaining: 8h 58m

NICE OX BONE OKIMONO FIGURE WOODCUTTER 8 1 2 inches $23.69 Time Remaining: 5d 12h 34m

Antique Japanese Fine Scrimshaw Ox Bone Polychrome Pendant Bead Necklace signed $229.95 Time Remaining: 28d 18h 37m Buy It Now for only: $229.95 Buy It Now

ANTIQUE VINTAGE CARVED BONE JAPANESE OKIMONO EGG FARMER STATUE ON WOOD STAND $379.99 Time Remaining: 1d 20h 29m

Japanese Hand Carved Ox Bone Okimono Standing Horse $197.59 Time Remaining: 13h 39m

FROG beautiful ox bone netsuke uk453 $7.82 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 5d 13h 27m

Hoodie Mens Heather Gray " I LOVE MY Japanese Chin - BONES " Dogs XXX-Large Sale Price: $26.99   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 6-10 business days See Reviews For This Product

Kotobuki Japanese Fish Bone Tweezers Sale Price: $8.91   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description These fish bone tweezers are an essential tool for gently pulling bones from a fish without tearing the flesh.

Bone Head Sale Price: $9.99   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product

The Lovely Bones (Japanese Edition) Sale Price: $40.30   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product

Bone Head Sale Price: $11.46   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product

Blood And Bones List Price: $29.95 Sale Price: $26.99 You save: $2.96 (10%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Internationally acclaimed actor and director Takeshi Kitano gives his most captivating performance yet as Kim Shunpei, a Korean immigrant in Japan whose life is a disturbing tableau of cruelty, abuse and shocking violence...

Pedre Women's 7955SX Silver-Tone/ Bone Leather Strap Watch Sale Price: $75.00   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Modern touches and sleek styling make the Pedre Women's Silver-Tone/Bone Leather Strap Watch a dynamic addition to the contemporary woman's wardrobe. The white, square dial features rounded Arabic numbers marking the hours while angular hour and minute hands and a slim second hand track the time...

Nintendo Entertainment System Control Deck, Top Loading NES See Reviews For This Product Description This is the second generation nintendo very limited production run. Released after the Super NES came out. The system was redesigned with a double sided pin connector to fix the blinking problem the original NES sufferd from...

Deps Jr. 1/2 oz Buzzjet, Blue Citrus Bone List Price: $27.99 Sale Price: $17.77 You save: $10.22 (37%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description The Buzzjet has been voted Japan's #1 Wakebait year after year. The reason is simple, it catches monster fish day in and day out. This bait is a no brainer. Cast it out, hold your rod tip up around 10 o'clock and start retrieving slowly...

Dry Bones ~2.75" Mini Figure Swing Keychain - New Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Japanese Import) Sale Price: $8.99   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product Description Brand new keychain series featuring characters from the New Super Mario Galaxy 2 video game. The series is made up of 10 mini figures (EACH SOLD SEPARATELY)