Seeing as I used to be a vegetarian, I have eaten my share of soy products. While researching this topic, I found a thoroughly entertaining article blaming our nations rise in homosexuality on soy. You can find this article here: http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=53327. Soy is actually very safe, and can positively affect your health.
Soy beans contain high amounts of protein, including all essential amino acids (the only such vegetable source). Soy beans are also a rich source of calcium, iron, zinc, phosphorus, magnesium, B-vitamins, omega 3 fatty acids, and fiber. Isoflavones in soy foods may inhibit the breakdown of bones. Daidzein, a type of isoflavone, is actually very similar to the drug ipriflavone, which is used throughout Europe and Asia to treat osteoporosis. One compelling study completed in 1993 focused on post-menopausal women who consumed 40 grams of isolated soy protein daily for 6 months. Researchers found that these subjects significantly increased bone mineral density as compared to the controls.
In Japan, where soy foods are commonly consumed daily, women are only one-third as likely to report menopausal symptoms as in the United States or Canada. In fact, there is no word in the Japanese language for "hot flashes". While some studies showed soy offers a protective effect against breast cancer, a few studies showed the estrogen-like effects in isoflavones may be harmful for women with breast cancer. American Institute for Cancer Research stresses that data on soy and breast cancer are not conclusive, and more work is needed to be done before any dietary recommendations can be made.
What we know at this point is the phytoestrogens in soy foods are "anti-estrogens". In other words, they may block estrogen from reaching the receptors - therefore potentially protecting women from developing breast cancer. Studies found that pre-menopausal women may benefit from eating soy foods as their natural estrogen levels are high.
What we know at this point is the phytoestrogens in soy foods are "anti-estrogens". In other words, they may block estrogen from reaching the receptors - therefore potentially protecting women from developing breast cancer. Studies found that pre-menopausal women may benefit from eating soy foods as their natural estrogen levels are high.
Although it is still inconclusive whether or not soy can prevent any diseases, many studies have shown promising results. In short, despite some minor potential hazards, the positives of soy far outweight the negatives.
Nice job Devin,
ReplyDeleteInteresting references to Japan, where I believe the soy plant was grown and most of the interests in soy products originated. When looking at all of the blogs combined, the general consensus seems to be that soy isn't that bad if you watch your rate of intake and the amount that you intake. My research showed that there is a chance that nonfermented soy products can cause you problems, as opposed to fermented products though.
Nice post devin. You presented the pluses of soy nicely and i liked your comment at the end about postitives outweighing negatives. The section on Japan was also very interesing. Overall this was a great job. Nice work.
ReplyDeleteI love soy and I think everyone should eat it. You listed the facts about it very well, you made it seem exciting, because everyone thinks it is very gross.
ReplyDeleteBTW I like that you named it Soy Bomb, because wasnt that a word that a streaker had written on his body during some concert?
NICE: I found in interesting that in some blogs the blogger said that soy benefits don't weight out the risks. Where you said that the soy benefits weigh out the risks.
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