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By Melissa Fleur Afshar
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A new study has found that a low-fat vegan diet—regardless of how processed the food is—can significantly reduce hot flashes and promote weight loss.
The research, conducted by The Menopause Society and published in the journal Menopause, explored how plant-based eating can benefit women in midlife.
"This study highlights the potential positive effects of a plant-based diet rich in soy, regardless of the level of processing, in terms of both hot flash and weight management," Dr. Stephanie Faubion, medical director for The Menopause Society, said in a statement.
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"Given these and the other known benefits in terms of lowering heart disease and cancer risk, women in midlife should consider leaning into a plant-based diet."
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The study followed existing data that found a plant-based diet can reduce hot flashes, in part by aiding with weight loss.
But with many plant-based foods being highly-processed, the Ohio-based society wanted to find out whether the type of food consumed, be it vegan, ultra-processed or animal-based, affected hot flash severity.
Participants in the trial were randomly assigned to follow either a low-fat vegan diet supplemented with soybeans or an omnivorous diet under supervision. Both groups reported similar levels of hot flash frequency and severity at the outset.
Over a 12-week period, those in the vegan group reported a 92 percent reduction in severe hot flashes. Their average weight loss was 3.6 kilograms, compared to a negligible 0.2 kilogram change in the omnivorous control group.
Significantly, the benefits in the vegan group remained consistent whether their food was minimally processed or highly processed, indicating that the critical factor was the source of the food—plant-based versus animal-based—rather than the degree of processing.
The findings challenge traditional views that all processed foods are detrimental to health, at least within the context of a vegan diet.
For alternative ways to manage hot flashes, Newsweek spoke with Tonie Reincke, M.D., a Texas-based specialist in interventional radiology who has experienced hot flashes firsthand.
"Speaking not only as a physician, but also as a woman who has experienced hot flashes, several things that I found helpful to reduce these include layering my clothing to quickly cool down, carrying a portable fan, and drinking ice water throughout the day," Reincke said.
"Herbal supplements such as black cohosh and primrose oil may help some women, though results can vary, and hormone replacement therapy is an option under medical supervision."
Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about menopause? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.
Reference
Kahleova, H., Znayenko-Miller, T., Jayaraman, A., Motoa, G., Chiavaroli, L., Holubkov, R., & Barnard, N. D. (2025). Processed foods in the context of a vegan diet, and changes in body weight and severe hot flashes in postmenopausal women: A secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial. Menopause. https://doi.org/10.1097/GME.0000000000002563
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