| To eat soy or not to eat soy seems to be the | | | | symptoms, particularly vaginal dryness, night |
| question on many of our patients' minds these | | | | sweats and hot flushes. |
| days. On one hand, we have extensive studies | | | | Soy and osteoporosis - |
| acknowledging soybean as a miracle food with | | | | Many soy foods like soymilk and soy paneer |
| high nutritional value and a natural protection | | | | (tofu) are naturally high in calcium. In addition, soy |
| against a host of diseases. On the other hand, | | | | also contains magnesium and boron, which are |
| critics argue that soy protein isolates are | | | | important co-factors of calcium for good bone |
| dangerous, linking soy iso flavones with breast | | | | health. |
| cancer, allergies, thyroid disease and infertility. | | | | So, you may ask why the controversary? |
| Both sides of the story are heated and ironically | | | | The problem lies in the -a) Iso flavones, a "phyto |
| well researched and extensively promoted. | | | | estrogen," and goitrogen (a substance that |
| So, what do we infer from all these conflicting | | | | promotes thyroid enlargement and goiter |
| schools of thought about the potential benefits | | | | formation) that occur naturally in the soybean. |
| and dangers associated with intake of soy and | | | | Phyto estrogens are estrogen-like compounds and |
| soy products? | | | | are shown to act most favorably when they can |
| In this article, I intend to provide you with the | | | | compete with estrogen, already present in the |
| facts around soybean and its myriad effect on | | | | body(in pre menopausal women).Because it has |
| our body functions with relevant scientific data | | | | been assumed that menopause is associated with |
| and ways to incorporate soybean into our daily | | | | a loss of estrogen (based on blood levels), many |
| diets effectively. | | | | researchers have assumed that soy may fail to |
| Soybean as food- the nutritional profile. | | | | offer a protective effect in postmenopausal |
| The soybean is a versatile legume which can be | | | | women and may even produce an estrogenic |
| eaten raw, soaked, boiled, roasted, and | | | | effect, hence increasing one's risk for breast |
| fermented or its seeds ground into flour. Soybean | | | | cancer(studies show that the estrogen levels are |
| can be flaked, its oil extracted and even the | | | | highest in breast tissues during menopause). |
| isoflavones and protein can be isolated and added | | | | These soy phyto estrogens have also been |
| to nutritional supplements. Soy beans contain high | | | | shown to be anti-thyroid agents, causing sluggish |
| amounts of plant protein and are also a rich | | | | thyroids, and weight gain.b) Presence of anti |
| source of calcium, iron, zinc, phosphorus, | | | | nutrients such as trypsin inhibitors, hemaglutinin |
| magnesium, B-vitamins, omega 3 fatty acids and | | | | and phytic acid. Trypsin inhibitors interfere with |
| fiber. Early oriental and eastern texts prescribed | | | | protein digestion and the presence of phytate |
| soy as not only good for digestion and | | | | layer makes soybean difficult to digest and |
| detoxification, but also for maintenance of good | | | | assimilate. Undoubtedly, we need extensive |
| health and general well being. | | | | research on human subjects but in light of the |
| Soya has been shown to help lower cholesterol, | | | | current evidence, moderate dietary intake of |
| triglycerides and regulate blood sugar levels while | | | | soy-two or more servings of soy foods twice or |
| playing a significant role in relieving menopausal | | | | thrice a week (providing 30-60mg of iso flavones |
| symptoms. Soy and heart disease Results of | | | | per day)-appears to be a reasonable level of |
| various clinical studies demonstrate that a diet | | | | intake, especially for women with history of |
| with significant soy protein reduces Total | | | | breast cancer. |
| Cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (the "Bad" cholesterol) | | | | My recommendation is first and foremost to listen |
| and Triglycerides, confirming the benefits of soy in | | | | to your body. If you do well with soy products, |
| heart disease management. As a result of these | | | | chances are you are metabolizing and tolerating |
| findings, in 1999, FDA authorized a health claim | | | | them effectively. If you react negatively to soy |
| that foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol | | | | or have difficulty in digesting the soy products, |
| that include 25 grams of soy protein a day may | | | | avoid it. Soy is a great food which is high in |
| reduce the risk of heart disease. Researchers | | | | nutritional value and also a good source of fiber, B |
| compared soy protein with other proteins such as | | | | vitamins, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids. It is |
| milk and meat, and found that soy protein can | | | | thus suggested that you may go ahead with your |
| lower total and LDL-cholesterol levels, qualifying it | | | | soy foods but only in moderation and as a part of |
| as a healthy replacement for meats or other | | | | an otherwise healthy and balanced diet. |
| foods high in saturated fat and total fat. | | | | I would like to add that whilst there's no need to |
| Soy and menopause- | | | | be alarmed, in the same way avoid getting overly |
| Soybean is rich in iso flavones (phyto nutrients), | | | | excited about the miraculous potentials. |
| the most effective in relieving menopausal | | | | Soy is what it is -- a food, not medicine and if |
| symptoms being genistein and daidzein. Because | | | | eaten as part of a healthy diet won't expose us |
| of its iso flavone compounds and high antioxidant | | | | to any grave risk and would surely benefit our |
| content, whilst being low in glycemic index, soy | | | | health. |
| and soybeans may help prevent menopausal | | | | |