Busting The Myth: Soy Is Good For Health

October 10, 2015

While soy milk and its products can be an essential part of a vegan diet or those who are lactose intolerant, the fact is too much soy can do more harm than good. In fact, there has been a significant amount of debate going on in the medical community on the pros and cons of soy.

While there are various health conditions that can benefit from soy, consuming it in large quantities and too often, can have adverse effects on your overall health.

Here are some side effects of consuming too much soy that you should know of.

1.Calorie Count
Soy milk contains a concentrated amount of calories and a single cup of non-flavored soy milk contains about 80 to 150 calories. If you choose to go for flavored soy milk, the calorie count can significantly increase. If you do required two or more cups of soy milk each day, make sure you cut down on your calorie intake from other food sources.

2.Breast Cancer
Soy is a type of phytoestrogenic herb, and consuming it on a regular basis can increase your breast cancer risk. If you have been put at high risk of breast cancer or have a history of breast cancer in your family, make sure you speak to your doctor before consuming it. [1]

3.Hormonal Imbalance
Taking soy for a long time can cause a hormonal imbalance, which can disrupt the menstrual cycle, as well as have negative effects on the testosterone levels and semen quality in men. [2]

Food Products That May Contain Soy
Infant formula, cereals, bread crumbs, bean sprouts, ready to eat ground meat products, taco fillings, soy sauce, tempeh, baking mixes, frozen desserts, cooking spray, chewing gum, cold cuts, hot dogs, canned tuna, lemonade mix, ready to make soups.

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References:
1. Soy and phytoestrogens: possible side effects. Jargin, Sergei V. “Soy and Phytoestrogens: Possible Side Effects.” GMS German Medical Science 12 (2014): Doc18. PMC. Web. 24 Sept. 2015. (Accessed 24 Sep 2015)

2. Hormonal effects of soy in premenopausal women and men. 1: Kurzer MS. Hormonal effects of soy in premenopausal women and men. J Nutr. 2002 Mar;132(3):570S-573S. Review. PubMed PMID: 11880595. (Accessed 24 Sep 2015)