Soy Diet May Ease Menopause

Leading researchers suggests that soy products may offer a gentle, safe and effective means of easing the hot flashes, depression and mood swings of menopause.

Dr. Dale Prokupek of the Division of Nutrition and Gasteroenterology at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles explains that soy foods contain high concentrations of plant estrogens with powerful hormone-balancing effects.

Prokupek recommends that women over age 40 consume four ounces of soy every day to ensure a healthier, easier change of life. He cited research showing that Japanese women, who regularly consume tofu, soybeans and soy milk rather than animal protein, report markedly fewer menopausal symptoms than American women. Prokupek and other experts contend that -- in certain cases -- a soy diet may provide an alternative to hormone replacement therapy, which remains a prime treatment method for menopausal women.

Soybeans Promise Pain Relief

Soybeans promise still another medical benefit. Recent studies have shown products from the multi-use plant can lower cholesterol and may lessen some symptoms of menopause. Now comes a report that soy derivatives may bring pain relief.

Scientists from Johns Hopkins and two Israeli universities say lab rats on a diet containing soy meal developed far less pain after nerve injury than rats on soy-free diets. The scientists say that's significant because of the similarities in the way humans and rats experience pain.

And, too, pain seems to have a variety of sources within the body, which explains why aspirin may work for inflammation but not for pain from a nerve injury.

Some People Should Just Keep Their Mouths Shut, Don't You Think?

Jenny McCarthy is outraged by comments that actor Denis Leary made in his new book Why We Suck: A Feel-Good Guide to Staying Fat, Loud, Lazy and Stupid. (Um, you could be outraged just by the title!). But when Denis wrote that people with autism are "... stupid. Or lazy. Or both," Jenny, who's the mother of an autistic child, let loose ...

"This community has been through so much and to compare and use the world 'dumb-a** lazy' with autism, it's just not fair," Jenny said to Access Hollywood's Billy Bush, explaining that the "autism community" has received more than 10,000 emails about Denis' comments, which have stirred up quite a bit of anger.

Soba Noodles with an Italian Twist

If you’re looking for a healthy alternative to spaghetti, try this garlic soba noodle recipe from 101cookbooks.com. This delicious dish puts an Italian twist on soba noodles, a staple in the Japanese diet.

Soba noodles are made with buckwheat and they're bursting with antioxidants that promote healthy digestion and prevent bad cholesterol from clogging blood vessels.

Ingredients

8 oz. dried soba noodles

3/4 cup bread crumbs

1/4 cup Parmesan freshly grated

big pinch of salt

12 ounces extra firm organic tofu, cut into 6 rectangular slabs

2 eggs, lightly beaten

a generous splash of olive oil

Sniff a Ripe Mango

One summer joy is the abundance of fruit in the markets. But if you're looking for exotics, how do you pick the best? When it comes to the more luscious, click to Mango, the site of the South African Mango Growers' Association.

Of course, mangoes are a summer fruit, and summer in South Africa is mid-winter in North America, but the wealth of information about the fruit applies wherever your market's mangoes grow. In addition to help in choosing a ripe mango, the site will give you nutrition information and tips for including mangoes in your menu.

Since mangoes vary in color from green to purplish red, determining ripeness can be a problem. Experts say mangoes are ready to eat if the flesh gives way slightly when you squeeze them gently. Growers suggest you ask your market's produce manager or greengrocer for help, because mangoes won't survive endless prodding and poking.

Sex Question: Could I Get Pregnant if My Boyfriend Pulls Out Before Ejaculation?

Dear Dr. Kate,

My boyfriend pulls out every time we have sex, but he ejaculates on or near my vagina. Could this make me pregnant?

Yes, though the chances aren't high. It is possible that when semen comes into contact with your own bodily fluids-even outside on your vulva-sperm could swim inside and head up towards your cervix. This is one of the reasons why the withdrawal method of birth control has such a high failure rate. Consider another form of birth control that will give you greater protection (condoms will also protect you against STDs). If you are relying on the pull-out method (which, let me say it again, I don't recommend!), have him ejaculate on your belly or off to the side instead of near your vagina.

Keeping Your Cognitive Abilities Intact

If you think living to be 100 or older is a long shot, think again.

Thanks to medicine and research, people are living to be much older by being a bit wiser and taking better care of themselves physically and mentally.

Nutrition experts recommend foods full of nutrients, antioxidants and minerals, often referred to as "super foods." Examples are berries, leafy greens, nuts, legumes and omega-3 fish available at stores such as Wild Oats. The natural and organic foods retailer is launching a campaign called Eating Well for Healthy Aging, to encourage people to engage in healthy nutrition.

A simple way to find healthy foods is by sight, said Sharon Stroud, certified nutritionist at Wild Oats in Tulsa, Okla.

Just Wondering: Do You Love It or Hate It When Your Yoga Teacher "Adjusts" You?

Charlotte over at The Great Fitness Experience wrote about the good, bad and just plain weird "touches" at the gym--the creepy guy who brushes up against you, the honest mistakes (like when you step off the treadmill and accidently collide with the gal behind you, grabbing her butt in the process), and the legitimate: your yoga teacher adjusting your form. But when it comes to teacher-student interaction, are you hands-off or hands-on?

Charlotte posted a good question: "My instructor never adjusts me. Is it appropriate to ask her to do so? She seems to be 'hands off' in general but otherwise a good teacher."

"I Survived the Gyno Visit"--Reader Update

Remember the recent health confession from a woman who is 31 and has never seen an OBGYN? She confessed that she was thinking of canceling her appointment this week, but thanks to the encouragement she got from all of you, she went! And, she's here to report back on the experience ...

"I went to the doctor, thanks in part to your readers," says the nervous patient. The veredict? Bad and good news, she says. "I hated every second of it. It was just as intrusive as I imagined it would be, and a little bit more painful. I can't say it was unbearable, or even truly painful, but I honestly felt attacked (and yes, I am a woose). Something I was not expecting was to have not only the doctor, but also a nurse involved in the pelvic exam. She was nice, but yikes! I don't even know her name and barely even saw her, but she definitely knows way too much about me now."

How Many Diets Have You Been on in the Past 5 Years?

A lot of my fitness clients over the years, including contestants on The Biggest Loser, had tried to lose weight or shape up so many times in the past before they finally made the change for good. Failures like that can be really hard to get over--you start to feel bad about yourself and expect that you're going to mess up. But I believe failure is an integral part of success. Find out why, take our poll and get a plan that works.

If you don't fail at least once (and this could be in your work life, in love, in weight loss) then you're probably not aiming high enough! If you are really living and really reaching for what you want, it's going to happen. It's happened to me so many times I've lost count! But here's how to use those flops to help you succeed:

Hot Fitness Gear: The Humble Foam Roller--Do You Have One?

Do you own a foam roller? It's one of those little fitness gadgets that might make you think, "hmm, do I really need that?" But, women who use them swear by them. Here's why ...

I'm kind of fascinated by foam rollers these days. Ever since I started running, my hips have been bothering me (likely IT band issues), and running gurus have advised me to stretch them out on foam rollers.

This fitness gadget can also help tone your abs (see the photo above), and can give a pretty good massage (just roll sore muscles over the roller). (The gals over at The Stir recently shared their love of foam rollers, too.)

Have You Ever Had an, Um, Accident?

In a recent post about laughter and happiness, one Vitamin G reader admitted that she laughed so hard that she accidentally peed her pants. Have you ever done that? If so, here's why you're not alone...

"Lily100" had this to say: "I made myself laugh so hard last night that I peed myself does that count? LOL! On my moms fine leather couch too! I was laughing so hard that it just...happened. I hate when that happens! I haven't wetted myself for so long since the last time I was at a slumber party..."

Haven't we all been there? According to this article, leaking while laughing is pretty common. When I was pregnant, sometimes a simple sneeze would lead to an almost-accident (a common complaint in the latter half of pregnancy).

Greens Hold the Vitamin Edge

The fad these days seems to be to turn to the pill bottles to replenish the body's supply of vitamins and other nutrients. But health expert Angela Dowden says good old common Brussels sprouts and other green vegetables can do the job even better -- and help keep you weight down in the process.

Admittedly, sprouts aren't everyone's favorite food, but Dowden says they supply more Vitamin C than oranges as well as "a wealth of anti-cancer compounds," including indoles, which may help protect against breast and ovarian cancers. And at only 31 calories for an average portion, the oft-castigated vegetable is an ideal addition to any weight-losing diet.

Get Britney Spears' Comeback Body

Britney Spears is back! After having a "hell of a year," the star has bounced back healthier, happier and fitter than ever. She talks about her long journey in an exclusive Glamour interview--along with just how she changed her Cheeto-eating ways. Planning your own comeback? Then you'll love these Britney-inspired moves to get your body back...

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There's something about Britney's road to recovery (and I use that term universally here) that is inspiring to me. After two kids, a very public divorce and some questionable personal decisions, she has reclaimed her life and pulled herself back up. Haven't we all been there in some way?

Gardening: A Boon for Bones

Lots of ThirdAgers enjoy getting their hands dirty while pulling up weeds and planting flowers. Well, a University of Arkansas study says they are on the right track, specifically when it comes to their bones. The researchers found that women 50 and older who gardened at least once a week had higher bone density than those who jogged, walked, swam or did aerobics.

Lori Turner, assistant professor of health sciences at the university, has spent many years researching ways to prevent loss of bone density in older women. She told ThirdAge News the results initially surprised her. "I had just started doing gardening myself," she said. "I just thought it wasn't as involved as it is." But, she said, landscaping gave her a "new appreciation for all the hard physical work that goes into gardening."