Generally, soy-based foods like soy milk and tofu are treated as classic healthy ones, but they have bad reputations, too, as many have claimed that these are prone to many health risks.
Many studies have shown that overeating soy may disturb the hormones and thyroid. In some cases, they have also been made responsible for leading to cancer.
But then again, many have claimed that soy-based foods are highly beneficial for health and one of the best varieties of food on Earth.
Soybeans are a brilliant source of plant-based protein. It also carries essential minerals and vitamins that help to reduce the risks associated with many chronic diseases.
Moreover, the fibre in soybean will fill your stomach properly and keep you satisfied.
So, is soy bad for you? Well! Not really. Direct soybeans in their unprocessed form, if eaten, are the most nutritious ones. But, soybean supplements are prone to cause health risks.
It is always more beneficial consuming the actual thing than depending upon its supplement. This is the same for soybean also. Some consider it super-food, and some relate it to being poisonous if taken in large quantities.
Is Soy Bad for You?
Earlier, many people believed that soy could fight health problems like heart disease, obesity, and even cancer. Studies proved and showed that people who eat soy have significantly lower risks of breast cancer, obesity, and heart disease.
Soy is a controversial food, and the more you try to know of it, the more it will lead you to surprises.
Many studies showed that soy carries estrogen-like compounds known as isoflavones, which help to promote cancer cells, ruin female fertility and thyroid function.
On the other hand, other research shows that soy can even cure high cholesterol problems and help women deal with menopause symptoms.
For men, eating too much soy can be very bad for their sexual life and reproductive system. It can lower the testosterone level in men. But, if taken in fair quantity, it showed no effect on their semen or hormone quality.
For babies, soy-based baby formula can be very harmful. Breast milk is always the best solution for the perfect nourishment for babies.
Benefits of Consuming Soy
After many elaborate types of research, the experts have concluded that it is good to consume soy that is processed only minimally. It comes with many benefits if taken in the right proportion. Let us look at the benefits soy provides to ensure its good qualities next time we consume it.
1. Soy Helps to Reduce the Risk of Several Types of Cancer
Soy can probably reduce the risk associated with a particular type of cancer. High-quality researches and studies have shown that soy reduces the chances of breast cancer. Soy also protects us from other types of chronic diseases and cancers.
Results have shown that soy consumption can lower gastrointestinal cancer risks and offer a protective shield to prostate cancer survivors. The high content of fibre and roughage in soy has also helped reduce the risks of colon cancers in many.
2. Soy Helps to Improve Fertility
Soy seems to be very beneficial for fertility. Women undergoing Vitro fertilization are more likely to be pregnant if they eat soy. Soy’s content of isoflavones aid to neutralize the disrupting effects of endocrine BPA.
However, eating more soy more than what is necessary may be very harmful to health. It can even reduce the ovary functions in women, but if one consumes it in moderate quantity, it will always be beneficial.
3. Soy Also Helps to Improve Hot Flashes
Soy helps to solve the problems of hot flashes. Some women’s bodies make soy metabolite equol. It has been shown that if those women ate soy, their hot flashes and night sweats would be reduced.
Almost 20% of North Americans and 50% of European women produce soy metabolite equol. If, after consuming soy, your body produces estrogen or equol, then it means it is suitable for you.
4. Soy Helps to Protect Heart Functions
Early research established that soy could help lessen bad cholesterol. However, in 2008, the American Heart Association claimed that there was not enough evidence that soy could reduce the risk of heart disease.
In general, plant-based food substitutes like soy can lower the saturated fat intake and increase fibre intake. This is, in fact, great to maintain a good heart condition. So, sometimes, you should replace the meat intake with that of soy.
These four are the prime benefits of soy. However, the negative effects of soy also take the same level on balance.
Is Tofu or Soy Milk Bad for You?
Even though soy comes with many potential advantages, there is still a major caveat that you should be aware of. It is best to use minimally processed soy like tempeh, soy milk, miso, and tofu.
They carry all the soy’s benefits with no added sugar content, unhealthy fats, sodium and other preservatives generally in abundant quantity in other processed food.
Usually, few servings of the least processed soy-based foods each week are alright for us. But, if you are unsure and already suffering from ailments that soy intake can aggravate, you should always consult a doctor before you intake it.
Reviewing the soy is a tough thing to do as some studies have shown them to be good, and some have shown that they are prone to cause harm.
Most of the good reviews of soy have been provided by those whose studies have been financed by soy industries and those who work professionally and financially for those industries.
But, this does not mean that their studies or researches are baseless. Yet, it would help if you kept both the harmful and the benefits of soy in your mind before consuming them. And, again this comes up on a repetitive basis that too much soy consumption can be detrimental to one’s health.
Pregnant women should avoid soy and any other compounds that disturb the endocrine system of their bodies. Feeding a newborn baby with soy milk should be treated as the last resort if other ways are not possible to carry out. It is best to avoid eating soy or any other soy-based food, but if there is no way, then consuming them in limited quantity is best what you can do for your health.
