Bad for those allergic to it.
Are soy based food products bad for you?
Hello!
I guess that you cannot say definitively whether a plant is
bad for your health, despite the fact that various studies have been conducted
on this issue. A lot of people eat soy without it having any negative effect on
them. However, you should ensure that you are not allergic to it.
Is Soy Good or Bad for Your Health?
1).
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www.healthline.com/nutrition/soy-good-or-bad#benefits
Today, soy is widely consumed, not only as a source of plant-based protein but also as an ingredient in many processed foods.
However, soy remains a controversial food — some praise its health benefits, while others claim it could be bad for you.
This article examines the evidence for and against eating soy.
Share on Pinterestedamame, which are immature (green) soybeans. Soy milk and tofu are also made from whole soybeans (2).
While mature soybeans are rarely eaten whole in the Western diet, edamame is a favorite high-protein appetizer in Asian cuisines.
Soy milk is made by soaking and grinding whole soybeans, boiling them in water and then filtering out the solids. It’s commonly used as a milk alternative by people who cannot tolerate dairy or wish to avoid milk.
Tofu is made by coagulating soy milk and pressing the curds into blocks. It’s a common source of plant-based protein in vegetarian diets.
Fermented SoyFermented soy products are processed using traditional methods and include soy sauce, tempeh, miso and natto (2).
Soy sauce is a liquid condiment made from fermented soy, roasted grains, salt water and a type of mold.
Tempeh is a fermented soy cake that originated in Indonesia. Though not as popular as tofu, it’s also commonly eaten as a source of protein in vegetarian diets.
Miso is a traditional Japanese seasoning paste made from soybeans, salt and a type of fungus.
Soy-Based Processed FoodsSoy is used to make several processed foods, including vegetarian and vegan meat substitutes, yogurts and cheeses.
Soy flours, texturized vegetable protein and soybean oil are used in many packaged foods.
Soy SupplementsSoy protein isolate is a highly processed derivative of soy made by grinding soybeans into flakes and extracting the oil. The flakes are then mixed with alcohol or alkaline water, heated, and the resulting soy concentrate is spray-dried into a powder (3).
Soy protein isolate is available in many protein powders and also added to many processed foods, such as protein bars and shakes.
Other soy supplements include soy isoflavones, which are available in capsule form, and soy lecithin, which can be taken in capsules or as a powder.
SUMMARYSoy includes a wide variety of foods, including edamame, products made from whole soybeans, fermented soy foods, more processed soy-based foods, as well as supplements.
4):
- Calories: 189
- Carbs: 11.5 grams
- Protein: 16.9 grams
- Fat: 8.1 grams
- Fiber: 15.8 grams
- Vitamin C: 16% of the Reference Daily Intake (RDI)
- Vitamin K: 52% of the RDI
- Thiamine: 21% of the RDI
- Riboflavin: 14% of the RDI
- Folate: 121% of the RDI
- Iron: 20% of the RDI
- Magnesium: 25% of the RDI
- Phosphorus: 26% of the RDI
- Potassium: 19% of the RDI
- Zinc: 14% of the RDI
- Manganese: 79% of the RDI
- Copper: 19% of the RDI
Soy also provides small amounts of vitamin E, niacin, vitamin B6 and pantothenic acid (4).
Moreover, it contains, prebiotic fiber and several beneficial phytochemicals, such as plant sterols and the isoflavones daidzein and genistein (5).
SUMMARYSoy is high in plant-based protein and a good source of many nutrients and phytochemicals.
improve cholesterol levels, especially “bad” LDL cholesterol.
related storiesIn an extensive review of 35 studies, researchers found that eating soy products reduced LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol while raising “good” HDL cholesterol. These improvements were greater in people with high cholesterol levels (6).
However, the researchers observed that soy supplements didn’t have the same cholesterol-lowering effect as eating soy foods (6).
In another review of 38 studies, researchers noted that an average soy intake of 47 grams per day was linked to a 9.3% decrease in total cholesterol and a 13% decrease in LDL cholesterol (7).
Additionally, soy is high in fiber, which helps lower cholesterol due to an additive effect.
In one study, 121 adults with high cholesterol took 25 grams of soy protein with or without soy fiber for eight weeks. The soy with fiber reduced LDL cholesterol more than twice as much as soy protein alone (8).
May Improve FertilitySoy may improve fertility outcomes in women who are trying to conceive or undergoing fertility treatments.
In a study in 36 women who hadn’t had a period in six months, those who took 6 grams a day of black soybean powder had higher rates of ovulation and menstrual cycles compared to those who did not take soy (9).
Another study in over 200 women receiving in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments showed that those who took 1,500 mg of soy phytoestrogen a day had higher rates of implantation and pregnancy compared to those who did not take soy (10).
A third study demonstrated that soy had a protective effect against BPA, a chemical found in plastic, which may have negative impacts on fertility. Women who ate soy before IVF were more likely to have a successful pregnancy than those who did not (11).
Furthermore, soy intake by the prospective father does not seem to negatively impact pregnancy rates in women receiving IVF (12).
May Reduce Menopause SymptomsIsoflavones are a class of phytoestrogens found naturally in soy that act like a weak estrogen in the body.
Estrogen levels decrease during menopause, leading to symptoms like hot flashes. Since soy acts as a natural estrogen, it may help reduce these symptoms.
Studies confirm soy’s beneficial role in menopause.
In a review of 35 studies, soy isoflavone supplements raised estradiol (estrogen) levels in postmenopausal women by 14% (13).
In another review of 15 studies in postmenopausal women who took 25–100 mg a day of soy isoflavones for 3–12 months, the incidence of hot flashes significantly decreased (14).
Lastly, in another review of 17 studies, women who took an average dose of 54 mg of soy isoflavones a day for 12 weeks had 20.6% fewer hot flashes and experienced a 26.2% decrease in symptom severity compared to at the start of the study (15).
SUMMARYSoy has been shown to lower cholesterol, improve fertility outcomes and reduce menopause symptoms.
16).
This difference may be due to the different types of soy eaten in the Asian compared to the Western diet. Soy is typically consumed whole or fermented in Asian diets, whereas in Western countries, soy is mostly processed or in supplement form.
In an animal study, rats fed fermented soy milk were 20% less likely to develop breast cancer than rats not receiving this type of food. Rats fed soy isoflavones were 10–13% less likely to develop breast cancer (17).
Therefore, fermented soy may have a more protective effect against breast cancer compared to soy supplements.
Additionally, soy has been linked to a longer lifespan after breast cancer diagnosis.
In a review of five long-term studies, women who ate soy after diagnosis were 21% less likely to have a recurrence of cancer and 15% less likely to die than women who avoided soy (18).
Impact on Thyroid FunctionSoy contains goitrogens, substances that may negatively impact the thyroid by blocking iodineabsorption.
Test-tube and animal studies have shown that soy isoflavones block the production of thyroid hormones (19, 20).
Studies have yet to examine the impact of soy on thyroid function in humans, but some research suggests it may not have a significant impact.
In a review of 14 studies, soy had little to no effect on thyroid function, and the authors concluded that people with hypothyroid disease do not need to avoid soy as long as their iodine intake is adequate (21).
Plus, two randomized trials in postmenopausal women found that up to 120 mg a day of soy isoflavones had no significant effect on thyroid hormone production (22, 23).
Effect on Male Sex HormonesBecause soy contains phytoestrogens, men may worry about including it in their diet.
However, studies do not indicate that soy negatively impacts the production of testosterone in men.
In a review of 15 studies in men, intake of soy foods, protein powders or isoflavone supplements up to 70 grams of soy protein and 240 mg of soy isoflavones per day did not affect free testosterone or total testosterone levels (24).
What’s more, soy may reduce the risk of prostate cancer in men.
In a review of 30 studies, high soy consumption was linked to a significantly lower risk of developing the disease (25).
Most Soy Contains GMOsMore than 90% of the soy produced in the US is genetically modified (26).
There’s much debate over the safety of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). More long-term scientific studies are necessary to determine their effects in humans and in what quantity they’re safe (27).
Additionally, GMOs are bred to withstand the pesticide glyphosate.
Glyphosate may have adverse effects on health, including an increased risk of cancer and higher rates of birth defects (28, 29).
Certain GMO soy products have been found to contain glyphosate residues and have a poorer nutritional profile compared to organic soybeans (30).
Therefore, to avoid GMOs and exposure to glyphosate, stick with organic soy.
SUMMARYAnimal studies suggest that soy negatively impacts breast cancer, thyroid function and male hormones, but human studies suggest otherwise. The majority of soy is genetically modified, so eat organic soy if you want to avoid GMOs.
Melissa Groves, RD on November 22, 2018
