Can switching to Soy Milk help cure insomnia?

Can switching to Soy Milk help cure insomnia?

Thank you to Stella Katsipoutis for suppyling this article on the benefits of Soy milk in helping to provide relief from insomnia…

Replacing whole milk with a soy version in dessert recipes, cereal and smoothies could help you sleep better. A recent study conducted by the Universidade Federal de Sao Paolo in Brazil has shown that isoflavones, a substance found in soy that is similar to estrogen, could help reduce the symptoms of insomnia in postmenopausal women.

Researchers studied the effects of soy on sleep patterns by randomly administering either 80 milligrams of isoflavones or a placebo to 38 postmenopausal women over a period of four months. Each participant’s sleep cycle, movements and vital signs were observed overnight throughout duration of the experiment. Questionnaires that allowed the researchers to gauge the intensity of insomnia experienced by each subject were also administered.

Test results revealed that the sleep efficiency of women who received isoflavones increased from 77.9% at the beginning of the study to 83.9%, while the sleep efficiency of women who received a placebo only increased from 77.6% to 81.2%. The percentage of participants in the isoflavone group experiencing “moderate or intense” insomnia also decreased from 89.5% at the beginning of the study to 36.9% at the end of the study, whereas the percentage in the placebo group only decreased from 94.7% to 63.2%.

Because the study focused on a small population sample—and because other health factors such as snoring and sleep apnea affected the level of sleep disturbance experienced by several participants—researchers suggested that isoflavones may not be as effective in alleviating postmenopausal insomnia for all women. However, they concluded that soy treatment is still an option that could prove to be beneficial for many women who are suffering from sleeplessness.

Stella Katsipoutis is a freelance writer who has written for Redbook, Fitness, Global Rhythm, and Bridal Guide magazines. She has also previously worked on TheNest.com and WeddingChannel.com, published by The Knot Inc. Her writing has covered a variety of topics, including health, nutrition, music, travel and weddings.


Dan Kennedy has written a free ebook on how to Cure Your Insomnia. To download it visit www.cure-your-insomnia.com