Is it true that eating soy is harmful to health?

You can often see information on the Internet that products containing soy are dangerous. We decided to check if this is true.

That soy causes cancer write V Media. You can find there and articles about what they are products - almost the main reason impotence at men And infertility in women. Soybean lovers are also frightened by the fact that it blocks thyroid function. Moreover, in almost all articles the authors refer on some research by scientists. 

Soybeans contains isoflavones (or phytoestrogens), which are similar in action to the female hormone estrogen. This is why some fear the negative impact of soy consumption on male potency or the development of hormone-related cancer. However, phytoestrogens behave otherwise and manifest themselves much weaker than estrogens.

Science really knows happening, when a 19-year-old man allegedly experienced hormonal imbalance and erectile dysfunction as a result of a soy-rich diet. A year after he stopped consuming plant-based (including soy) foods in such quantities, his hormones returned to normal and all functions were restored. However, exactly how soy affected his health was not established. Numerous studies (including meta-studies) scientists have not found evidence that the use of soy or isoflavones in any other products influences on the production of the male hormone testosterone or can reduce potency.

It is believed that due to the same isoflavones, soy can increase the risk of developing breast cancer in women and negatively affect those who already have it. And indeed, results animal experiments showedthat such a process is possible. However, scientists at the US National Cancer Institute studied Existing human studies on this topic have not found evidence that soy causes cancer. American Cancer Society at Large considered influence of diet (including soy products) on breast cancer and did not find any relationship between foods consumed (other than alcohol) and an increased risk of cancer. Moreover, some studies showthat soy, on the contrary, helps reduce this risk. And most effectively this is for Asians whose diet has been high in soy for centuries. To this conclusion came from a group of Chinese researchers after comparing the cancer risk reduction effect on Asian and Western women. The American Cancer Society conducted a study and establishedthat high consumption of soy products by those who already have breast cancer reduces mortality by 21%. In addition, there are some evidence: Eating soy may help breast cancer survivors avoid recurrence. 

Eat research, which also confirm that soy products also reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer in men, although not all scientists agree with it agree. However, no studies could be found confirming the negative effect of soy on the development of prostate cancer. 

Soy contains phytates and, as we have already found out, phytoestrogens, and they make it difficult the body's absorption of beneficial vitamins and minerals from food. However, scientists believe that if your diet is balanced, it's not that bad. In addition, you can reduce the phytate content in soy products by soaking or cooking them. 

There is also an opinion that soy negatively affects the function of the thyroid gland, making it difficult to produce hormones. Research in vitro and in animals did reveal some relationship, but further research not confirmedthat this is also true for people.

What also scares many is that almost all soy is in our products genetically modified. Conducted studies do not confirm that GMO products are hazardous to health (we have already wrote about this). However, in 2013, scientists, having studied the composition of soybeans collected from one of the fields in the USA, received data that modified soybeans contained more pesticides glyphosates, with which it was processed in the fields, than ordinary soybeans. And glyphosates can be carcinogenic. So yes, to some extent there are indeed health risks here. However, it can be avoided by purchasing unmodified soy products.

Thus, scientific studies have not revealed any negative effect of soy products on hormonal levels in men and have not confirmed that it can reduce testosterone levels and cause problems with potency. Also, we could not find studies that would confirm that soy contributes to the occurrence of breast cancer in women or prostate cancer in men. On the contrary, there is some evidence that soy may reduce the risk of these diseases and make them easier (but it's best to check with your doctor). GMO soy does contain more carcinogens than regular soy, so it may be worth avoiding. However, soy makes it difficult to absorb some beneficial vitamins and minerals. But if the diet is balanced, scientists believe that this is not a problem. Most of the studies that would confirm the negative effects of soy on the body were conducted on animals; scientists were unable to confirm that they were true for humans. 

Mostly not true

What do our verdicts mean?

Read on the topic:

1. Is it true that eating salt is harmful?
2. Is it true that drinking during meals is bad for digestion?
3. Is it true that eating GMO foods can change your genetic code?