BLOG 59 SOY

BLOG 59 SOY

Is soy good or bad for us?? This food is a controversial subject for sure. In truth, it depends who you ask. A vegetarian will give you one answer while a menopausal woman will give you a completely different response. So let’s take a look at both sides, and then you can decide your soy consumption. The arguments are quite interesting.

When soy first hit the market, I was a super fan. In college I could drink a gallon of Silk Vanilla a day with my cereal, dip graham crackers in it, and added it to my coffee. From what I knew, this stuff way super healthy for me and better than regular milk for me so I drank it like I was doing something great for myself (let’s just say the Freshmen 15 hit me hard). Common items containing soy are tofu, dairy products like milk, miso, and various meat substitutes.

Soy is considered a protein source and, “Whole soybeans contain large amounts of Manganese, Selenium, Copper, Potassium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Iron, Calcium, Vitamin B6, Folate, Riboflavin (B2), Thiamin (B1) and Vitamin K” (https://authoritynutrition.com/is-soy-bad-for-you-or-good/) . Other benefits of soy include “its cholesterol lowering effects and several studies show that soy protein can reduce Total and LDL cholesterol” (https://authoritynutrition.com/is-soy-bad-for-you-or-good/). Soy contains quite a bit of fiber and the fiber is what reduces cholesterol. For those who do not eat meat, soy is a convenient alternative. Tofu is probably the most popular item and there are so many creative recipes as well as restaurants featuring this product.

One common concern is the amount of isoflavones soy contains. Soy has the highest concentration of this product, which bind estrogen receptors. As a result, it has been said that soy can increase estrogen levels. This leads to the argument: “One may associate soy with breast cancer because science associates excess estrogen exposure to breast cancer” (http://www.doctoroz.com/article/soy-good-bad-and-best). Well that argument then lead to this: ” One study suggests that eating foods that contain isoflavones (like soy products) every day may help young adults lower their blood pressure, particularly African-Americans. It is thought that the isoflavones work by encouraging your body to produce nitric oxide, which helps to dilate blood vessels and reduce the pressure created by blood against the vessel walls”. So as mentioned, studies showed a negative then a positive piece of information.

We have to keep in mind that one serving of soy is about half a cup of tofu or 1 cup of soy milk and we don’t exactly live in a world that keeps to these portions. Having soy in excess would then not be that uncommon.

Soy may affect thyroid functioning, but not necessarily if you have a normal functioning one. It may affect how thyroid medications are absorbed which is the trouble. Many soy products are highly processed like the burgers and cheeses. Also, have you ever noticed how far off the expiration date is for soy milk?? Well, “While it may seem like a good deal, the further out the expiration date, the more likely the soy milk will contain additives to extend its shelf-life. You will also want to check the label for hidden or added sugars. Look for “brown rice syrup” or “evaporated cane juice” – especially if they are one of the first ingredients listed. One cup of this kind of soymilk can easily wind up being 100 calories more than a cup of skim milk.” (http://www.doctoroz.com/article/soy-good-bad-and-best?page=2).

Sometimes we can feel bombarded by all the choices we are presented and what is okay to have and what is not. Research can be confusing and studies vary. Just remember that the cleaner we eat, the better off we are. In my opinion, soy is a “sometimes” choice and in moderation it is fine to have like many other products when kept within reason. I’ll leave your soy intake up to you because hey, it’s gotta be better for you than a Big Mac haha.