Soy for PMS
Jacqueline (Phoenix, Az) on 10/17/2010:
I actually think I went through something similar to you. I had used that same powder in the past and my PMS symptoms have just been seeming to get worse each month. After a food intolerance test revealed that I had a severe intolerance to SOY I cut it out and the pain I had under my left breast has gone away and my breasts are not swollen or tender like they usually are this time of month, so I'm hoping that next month some of my emotional symptoms will go away too from eliminating soy. View Entire Thread
Mika (Santa Barbara, California) on 09/20/2007:
Although PMS is supposed to happen the week before the period, i only get this way the day before and the first 2 days of my period. When I'm on the rag there is no terror as fierce as mine. I get terrible cramps, my mood changes rapidly, and i feel antsy all the time. The only thing that calms me down is drinking soy milk (hot or cold). It could be the B-vitamins, it could be something in soy, or it could be the protein. Another post on this topic said that women should avoid soy because of its phytoestrogens. For me, anyways, soy works wonders. It could be genetics. I grew up eating alot of soy (tofu, edamame, natto, bean juice, kinako...) and I come from a Japanese heritage. Maybe East Asians are less prone to soy-side effects?
Joella (Los Angeles) on 07/08/2007:
My husband and I started to make smoothies about 2 weeks ago every day, adding soy/green protein powder to the fruit smoothie. Well, this month I had the worst PMS symptoms ever! My breast size increased by one cup size (at least), I was terribly bloated and the bottom left side of my left breast had a constant shooting pain. As the symptoms got worse as my period approached, I realized the soy powder was probably causing the side effects. I continued to have my daily smoothies, but substituted rice protein in place of the soy powder. 2 days later (but 4 days before my period) all the symptoms disappeared. I think women should be very careful with soy as there is clearly a hormonal response. The soy powder I used was Alive by Nature's Way with non GMO soy. If I kept it up, who knows about truly serious side effects like breast cancer? Perhaps organic soy wouldn't have produced the same side effects.
