The most common side effects of soy are digestive upsets, such as constipation and diarrhea. Soy may alter thyroid function in people who are deficient in iodine. Current evidence indicates that it's safe for women who have had breast cancer or who are at risk for breast cancer to eat soy foods.
It all began when the initial studies in 1998 and 2001 raised concerns about soy's ability to lower testosterone levels. Then came a 2008 report claiming soy caused a 60-year-old man to develop what scientists call “gynecomastia” (the rest of us call it, well, “man boobs”).
Premenopausal women have much higher circulating levels of estradiol—the major form of estrogen in the human body—than postmenopausal women. In this context soy may act like an anti-estrogen, but among postmenopausal women soy may act more like an estrogen.
Concerns about soy have been mostly theoretical. For example, people worry that if phytoestrogen can act like estrogen, it might have feminizing effects on men or disrupt fertility. Other concerns — like increased risk of breast cancer, thyroid problems, and fertility — have been based on animal studies.
However, a high-level intake of soy proteins (above 25.0% weight) can induce genotoxic and cytotoxic damage to the intestine, which can be lowered by adding fermentable fibres to soy-based diets. Fermented soy products, such as tofu, contain microbes such as Streptococcus, Bifidobacteria, and Enterococcus.
The reason why cutting soy from your diet is usually a good idea, is because naturally you will be cutting out a lot of processed foods from your diet. These processed foods also often contain refined sugar so you are also in turn eliminating sugar from your diet, which offers even more health benefits!
“There was an article back in the 1970s that tainted soy, that said it could disrupt your hormone balance,” says M. Elizabeth Swenor, D.O., a functional medicine physician at Henry Ford Health. “But especially within the last five years, a plethora of research and scientific reviews have debunked this idea.”
Isoflavones, which are found in soy, are plant estrogens. High levels of estrogen have been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. However, food sources of soy don't contain high enough levels of isoflavones to increase the risk of breast cancer.
Studies generally do not support the notion that drinking soy milk will cause men to grow breasts, or experience any other feminizing effects. Studies also refute the notion that soy increases the risk of breast cancer in women.
The high level of protein makes tofu a good alternative to animal-derived meat. Federal dietary guidelines include tofu as part of a healthy vegetarian dietary pattern, and a 2021 American Heart Association scientific statement emphasizes choosing plant-based proteins for heart health.
The author notes that many studies have not found a connection between eating soy products and altered serum testosterone or estrogen levels. In fact, a 2021 meta-analysis concludes that neither soy nor phytoestrogens have any effect on testosterone levels.
Yes, men can eat tofu. Tofu is a good source of protein, iron, and calcium, and it can be a healthy part of a balanced diet for anyone, regardless of gender. Some concerns have been raised about phytoestrogens in soy products like tofu, which can mimic estrogen in the body.
After rice and wheat, the great modern-day staples of China, the soybean sits firmly on the third rung on the Chinese food hierarchy. From a dietary point of view soy food offers a ton of protein and calcium to a population that gets precious little of either from meat or dairy products.
Edamame provides a number of nutrients necessary for health, including protein, iron, magnesium, and potassium, and adding this tasty legume to your diet may benefit the health of your heart, digestive system, and more.
Can eating soy impact your hormones? Research suggests that eating soy products might decrease FSH and LH in people who are premenopausal, which may impact fertility. And it might increase estrogen in people who are menopausal (19), leading to a reduction in menopausal symptoms.
Soy protein is good for lowering cholesterol levels, low-density lipoproteins (LDL or “bad” cholesterol), and triglycerides. There's no cholesterol or fat in soy protein isolate. Protein. If you're on a vegetarian or vegan diet, soy protein is a healthy way to reach your protein goals.
Eating soy in moderation does not impact thyroid health, according to current research. Excessive soy consumption, however, may alter thyroid hormone levels and interfere with the production of thyroid hormones.
We have found that excessive amounts of soy can in fact lead to increased acne, both hormonal and topical. So, does soy cause acne? Recent studies suggest a link between soy and acne, indicating that it might trigger breakouts in some individuals.
Soy 'milk' is generally recognised as safe for most people unless you have a soy allergy, in which case it should be avoided. Soya beans are also considered to be goitrogenic, which means they interfere with the activity of the thyroid gland.
The basis of the controversy surrounding soy stems mainly from the phytoestrogens it contains. Otherwise known as isoflavones or isoflavanoids, these may be a concern for people with, or at high risk for, breast cancer.
Soy contains isoflavones, which are converted in the body to phytoestrogens, similar to human estrogen that occurs naturally in both men and women. Theoretically, a high isoflavone intake could stimulate production of estrogen and decrease production of testosterone, with one result being enlarged breast tissue.
Soya is not a lean source of protein . It contains carbs and fats with equivalent amount of protein. Also it gives rise to estrogen in the body which can increase the chances of having a gyno too !
