Women in their forties and fifties eventually must go through menopause, when their menstrual cycles end. The onset of menopause is characterized by hormone imbalances, resulting in irregular cycles and bleeding. Once estrogen is no longer produced in the ovaries, reproductive capacity is lost. A year after a woman first stops menstruating, she is considered postmenopausal.

As menopause approaches, a variety of symptoms appear. Hot flashes, cold sweating, and disturbed sleep are the most common symptoms. During hot flashes, women experience an intense heat, causing perspiration and accelerated heartbeat.To alleviate these symptoms, many women turn to hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which involves the introduction of estrogen and progestin into the body. Unfortunately, HRT can elevate the risk of breast cancer, heart attack and stroke.

Consequently, many women are now searching for alternatives to HRT. These alternatives involve taking dietary supplements. There is strong evidence pointing to the benefit of increased soy consumption, which diminishes the incidence and intensity of hot flashes. Black cohosh, an herb, also relieves hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause, including cold sweats, irritability, and insomnia. Other supplements such as vitamin E, ginseng, flaxseed, and St. John's wort can also help to relieve symptoms of menopause.A serious condition that occurs in postmenopausal women is osteoporosis, or loss in bone density. Before menopause, the production of estrogen protects against bone loss, but at the onset of menopause, estrogen is no longer produced. Reduced bone density causes bones to be brittle and fragile. Both soy and black cohosh can be beneficial in osteoporosis. However, a combination of calcium and vitamin D is most effective and is able to prevent osteoporosis after menopause if it is taken in the premenopause stage.