Benefits and Disadvantages of Soy

[R00kieDJ]

I started eating soy instead of meat, and i also started drinking soy milk and drinks based on soy instead of cow milk, some specialists say it's healthier. But which are the real benefits and disadvantages of soy in nutrition?

 

[DIESEL]

read this, be amazed.... then start eating like a man again.

http://t-mag.com/html/body_87prote.html

http://t-mag.com/html/body_143soy.html

http://www.t-mag.com/nation_articles/185soy.html

D

 

[Alpha male Female Catcher]

I don't know about the benefits but I know that it has at least one potential disadvantage. Soy contains Phyto-estrogens (which is a fancy name meaning plant chemicals that mimic the action of the female hormone estrogen when in the human body).

Even so the amount you are consuming probably isn't enough to have any visable effect (as in producing breasts, softer skin and female fat distribution - female pair shape etc). It probably does increase the risk of testicular cancer though (albeit from a not vary high risk to a slightly higher though still not very high risk).

There are studies out there that demonstrate that increased female hormone exposure in men is responsible for increased rates of testicular cancer and infertility problems. There aren't any studies out there that I am aware of that indicate that the male body benefits in anyway shape or form from increased female hormone levels.

The male body naturally produces female hormones anyway (albeit in lower concentrations than in women) and the soy probably isn't raising your female hormone level much when compared to what it is already naturally at. That being said I personally don't like the idea of consuming female hormones and if only for psychological reasons refuse to take the stuff.

Actually the topic has been discussed in some detail in previous threads. If you do a search on this topic you should find them (at least one thread had links to various scientific studies showing the negative consequences of taking soy products with there attendant female hormones).

 

[Alpha male Female Catcher]

Looks like Diesel just posted the links I was refering to - now you don't have to search the forum after all


Looks like I may have underestimated the harm soy can do (just as well I haven't been taking any)

From http://t-mag.com/html/body_143soy.html

Let's consider soy's affects on T production first. The ability of soy protein to decrease Testosterone levels has been well demonstrated. One study displayed a 76% reduction of Testosterone production in men, after ingestion of soy protein over a brief period of time.(4) In yet another study, an inverse association was found between soy protein intake and Testosterone levels in Japanese men.(5)

Finally, in yet another study, using healthy adult males, a diet containing soy was compared to a diet that consisted of meat protein in terms of sex hormone concentrations. Well, after evaluation, Testosterone levels were significantly lower in the soy diet. Not only this, but the estimated amount of free Testosterone was 7% lower after the soy diet as well.(6)


4.Zhong, et al. "Effects of dietary supplement of soy protein isolate and low fat diet on prostate cancer." FASEB J 2000;14(4):a531.11

5.Nagata C, et al. "Inverse association of soy product intake with serum androgen and estrogen concentrations in Japanese men." Nutr Cancer 2000;36(1):14-8.

6.Habito RC, et al. "Effects of replacing meat with soyabean in the diet on sex hormone concentrations in healthy adult males." Br J Nutr 2000 Oct;84(4):557-63

Scientists Protest Soy Approval in Unusual Letter
Scientists' Letter

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH and HUMAN SERVICES Public Health Service Food and Drug Administration National Center For Toxicological Research Jefferson, Ark. 72079-9502 Daniel M. Sheehan, Ph.D. Director, Estrogen Base Program Division of Genetic and Reproductive Toxicology and Daniel R. Doerge, Ph.D. Division of Biochemical Toxicology February 18, 1999 Dockets Management Branch (HFA-305) Food and Drug Administration Rockville, MD 20852

To whom it may concern,

We are writing in reference to Docket # 98P-0683; "Food Labeling: Health Claims; Soy Protein and Coronary Heart Disease." We oppose this health claim because there is abundant evidence that some of the isoflavones found in soy, including genistein and equol, a metabolize of daidzen, demonstrate toxicity in estrogen sensitive tissues and in the thyroid. This is true for a number of species, including humans.............and we subsequently have found 31 dose-response curves for hormone-mimicking chemicals that also fail to show a threshold (Sheehan, 1998a)...............Our conclusions are that no dose is without risk; the extent of risk is simply a function of dose. These two features support and extend the conclusion that it is inappropriate to allow health claims for soy protein isolate................. and provides evidence that soy (tofu) phytoestrogens causes vascular dementia.........While isoflavones may have beneficial effects at some ages or circumstances, this cannot be assumed to be true at all ages. Isoflavones are like other estrogens in that they are two-edged swords, conferring both benefits and risk (Sheehan and Medlock, 1995; Sheehan, 1997)............... Estrogenic and goitrogenic drugs are regulated by FDA, and are taken under a physician's care. Patients are informed of risks, and are monitored by their physicians for evidence of toxicity. There are no similar safeguards in place for foods, so the public will be put at potential risk from soy isoflavones in soy protein isolate without adequate warning and information.

 

[Trial Error]

Wow! Thanks so freakn much for the links, Diesel. hmm.... i'm beginning to question my tuna, it contains Soy.

 

[KmZDon]

Originally posted by Trial Error
Wow! Thanks so freakn much for the links, Diesel. hmm.... i'm beginning to question my tuna, it contains Soy.

what brand is your tuna?