Menopause marks the end of the reproductive years for a woman, after which they stop menstruation permanently. While it may seem like a straightforward process, it is a difficult thing to go through. As your body experiences a lack of estrogen, there are different effects that take place. According to the National Institute of Aging, women who are going through the transitional phase of menopause experience things like hot flashes, night sweats, trouble sleeping, joint and muscle discomfort, moodiness and irritability, forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating. However, more often than not, these symptoms and difficulties get ignored or misidentified. Talking to a doctor can bring clarity as well as relief in the form of medication. If you are looking to get some relief from these disruptive symptoms though sustainable modes, changing your diet could be the answer. The food one eats can play a big role in how our bodies feel at a certain point in time. A new study published in journal Menopause suggests that a fully plant-based, or vegan, diet could offer a surprising and highly effective solution to alleviate many of these unwelcome menopausal symptoms, providing much-needed relief. Menopause And Vegan DietThe study has unveiled a remarkable finding: adopting a low-fat vegan diet could dramatically diminish the severity and frequency of hot flashes. The study’s results were striking, menopausal women who committed to this dietary approach for a period of just three months experienced an astonishing 92% decrease in severe hot flashes. This significant reduction indicates a powerful link between plant-based eating and improved menopausal comfort. Besides helping with menopause symptoms, the study also found another good thing: weight loss. Women who ate vegan for the study lost about 8 pounds on average. This extra benefit means that a plant-based diet not only helps with hot flashes and other menopause issues but also helps you manage your weight. It’s like getting two benefits in one for women in their middle years. Processed or Whole, Plant-Based Still WinsHere's an interesting part of the study: it didn't matter if the plant-based foods were whole and natural, or if they were processed like veggie burgers. The good results were still there. Researchers found that the most important thing was simply whether the food came from an animal or a plant. This shows that switching to plant-based eating, no matter how much the food is processed, can really help with menopause symptoms. Scientists think that a plant-based diet might help with menopause symptoms by changing the levels of something called advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) in women's bodies. These AGEs are like tiny troublemakers that can mess with how hormones work. They can affect important hormones related to insulin, reproduction, and even those released by fat cells. This suggests that what you eat can truly impact your hormone balance during menopause. Experts believe that a plant-based diet, especially one rich in soy, can offer significant benefits for managing both hot flashes and weight during menopause. They also point out that given the well-known advantages of such a diet in lowering the risks of heart disease and cancer, women in midlife should seriously consider adopting more plant-based foods into their meals.