To Soy or Not To Soy?

Protein makes up about 20% of the average human body’s mass. When eaten, protein is broken down by your body into amino acids, which are then used for nearly every metabolic process within your body.

There are two broad categories of amino acids: essential and non-essential. Your body is capable of producing its own non-essential amino acids, but it cannot produce essential amino acids. Essential amino acids need to be acquired through your diet.

Soy is an excellent source of protein. Soy protein is one of the plant-based proteins that is also considered “complete” as it contains all of the essential amino acids needed to support human growth and development. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Health Organization, soy protein is equivalent to animal protein with a score of 1.00, the highest possible rating. Soy does not have the high calories and fat that are associated with animal protein.

The Shocking Truth of Phytoestrogens

Phytoestrogens found in soy could cause harm because it is similar to the female hormone estrogen. Yes or No

Answer: No. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released a statement reporting that the concerns have no support from conclusive scientific research. While the compounds in soy do have some effect, the impact is very limited and much lower than that of your natural or even systhetic hormones.

Phytoestrogens

will disrupt the normal hormone pathways, impair fertility, aggravate certain cancers, such as breast cancer, disrupt development of infants and children, especially young boy. Yes or No

Answer: No. The phytoestrogens in soy appear to have no effect on hormone levels. There is no conclusive evidence showing soy affects sexual development or fetility. In fact, some research shows that men consuming soy have less incidence of prostate cancer and have better prostate cancer survival.

Phytoestrogens mimic our own estrogen and fill the estrogen receptor sites on cells. This keeps the cancer-causing estrogen away from cells and thus stops the promotion of the growth of cancer cells.

Not only do phytoestrogens not cause cancer, but evidence suggests they also protect against cancer. Studies have shown that regular intake of soy-based products as part of a normal diet has a protective influence against the later development of breast cancer.

An extensive study done on the Chinese population, where soy is a regular part of the diet, has produces evidence that a high soy intake is associated with a decreased risk of premenopausal breast cancer. Other studies have found that the protective effects of soy extend to both premenopausal and postmenopausal breast cancer.

A study done in California and a recent meta-analysis, which combined and reviewed data from multiple studies, found that soy intake during all stages of life was associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer later in life.

Additional Benefits of Phytoestrogens

Soy also exhibits a protective effect against bone loss and osteoporosis. Some studies show that postmenopausal women who consume a high amount of soy have better bone density compared to those who have a lower soy intake.

Soy also helps reduce the rise of heart disease.

The FDA has reviewed multiple scientific studies and has recognized that "25 Grams of soy protein a day, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease."

In the future, consider replacing a plate of meat with soy instead!

The PHYTOFIT - Your Ideal Protein

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