Dallas County Living Well Magazine Summer 2014 | Page 28

The Truth About

T

By Julie Alvira, M.D.
he hype of soy is everywhere––from
weight loss to protein powders to Asian
restaurants where everybody is eating the
delicious Edamame. It is a food good for
women (in most cases), but what about
men? Are men aware of the dilemma of the relationship
of soy and testosterone levels? As I said, it is a dilemma.
But let’s start with the basics.

The basics of soy
Soy is a name usually used for anything derived from
the soybean, which is a natural
grain from Asia. It can be processed into soy-based foods and
beverage products. Textured soy
protein (50-70% soy protein) is a
meat substitute, while soy protein
isolate (90% soy protein) is used for
cereals, granola bars, sports drinks,
dairy, etc. Soy is a popular food additive because it has no cholesterol,
unsaturated fats, it is high in fiber,
and lactose-free. According to The
University of Maryland Medical
Center (2013), people from Asia eat
soy foods due to its association with
reducing menopausal symptoms
and lowering the risk of heart disease and osteoporosis. Soy has phytoestrogens (100 or more) which
are naturally plant compounds that
are structurally similar to mammalian estrogens. The most known researched group in phytoestrogens
is the isoflavones which are present

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North Dallas Living Well Magazine • Summer 2014

in berries, wine, grains, and nuts but most abundant
in soybeans. Daidzein and genistein are the most well
known isoflavones that are consumed by humans mostly
through soy- based foods (Patisal & Jefferson, 2010).
There is ongoing research of how phytoestrogens can
reduce or increase the effects of estrogen in the body of
men and women as well as its use in cancer.

Medical uses
A majority of studies suggest that ingesting soy foods
can help with conditions such as: high cholesterol, high
blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, asthma, lung, endometrial, prostate, breast, and thryroid
cancer, osteoporosis, and can slow
the progression of kidney disease.
According to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
(2013) soy also helps with constipation, diarrhea, decrease protein in
urine of people with kidney disease,
improves memory, breast pain,
menopausal symptoms, and premenstrual symptoms.
The Food and Drug Administration and The American Heart Association (AHA) recommend 25
grams of soy protein as part of a
diet that is low in cholesterol and
saturated fat.

Cancer and
Osteoporosis in women

Studies have shown that women
that ingest daily soymilk or tofu
have about 30 percent less risk of
developing hormone related can-