The Verdict: Does Soy Benefit Your Health Or Endanger It?

Phytoestrogens: Good Or Bad?

Besides all the goodies already mentioned, soy also contains something else: phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens are plant-derived zenoestrogens found in a huge number of different foods, including but not limited to flax, oats, barley, lentils, rice, alfafa, pomegranates, mint, and ginger. There are different kinds of phytoestrogens, and the ones found in soy are called isoflavones. Phytoestrogens are very similar in structure to the female hormone estrogen, and affect the body in a similar way. 

That may be a good thing — there is research that suggests that consuming soybeans can lower a woman's risk of developing breast cancer. On top of that, phytoestrogens, meaning plant-derived estrogens, have also been found to cancel out the effect of excess estrogen production. That means a diet rich in soy products can benefit many women who are suffering from conditions related to excess estrogen, namely PMS and endometriosis, find symptom relief.

Estrogen production stops as women enter the menopause, causing a wide range of symptoms that are really uncomfortable for some ladies, like hot flashes, moodiness, vaginal dryness, and sweats and chills. Because soy contains a form of estrogen, some use it as an alternative to Hormone Replacement Therapy rather successfully. 

So there's that, there's the good things. What does consuming lots and lots of soy do to men, however?

Anecdotal evidence from many men and their doctors shows that cases of gynecomastia (also known as "man boobs") have been linked to a diet very rich in soy. What's more, studies have shown very worrying potential side effects of eating too much soy: a decreased sperm count in men, and erectile problems in rats.

Finally, while earlier studies suggested that consuming soy products regularly could have a positive effect on heart health, an Indonesia-based study showed an increased risk of memory loss and dementia in both men and women who ate lots of tofu. 

GMO Soybeans?

Think "soy", and perhaps "genetically modified" will soon follow in your mind. In 2007, 58.6 percent of all soybeans produced globally were genetically modified, including 85 percent of soybeans produced in the United States. Soy is the crop most likely to be genetically modified. Is that dangerous? Countless natural health websites will certainly tell you so.

It's up to you whether you want to try to avoid genetically modified soy. If you do want to do this, health food shops are your best bet. Meanwhile, realize that, if you eat any processed food, you will definitely be ingesting GMO foods elsewhere. A whopping 80 percent of all our foods are genetically modified these days, after all. It is awfully hard to avoid that stuff. 

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In Conclusion...

Is soy good for you or bad for you? As a vegetarian woman who eats soy products in moderation, perhaps three times a week, my own conclusion is that the benefits outweigh the risks. Your own risk assessment may yield different results, especially if you are a man who currently eats lots of soy. Mostly though, it's safe to say that eating soy in moderation is just fine, and more than that, good for you.