There are food available on our local markets which have components or are basically composed of soy. However the thing is, we don’t know how soy reacts to our body when we eat it that is why we don’t usually grab it. But this is your chance to know more about the soy and how it could affect to your body.
There are stories though that you can read about soy, some of these might be talking about the dangers of the soy and its bad effect to your health and body. However, health-minded folks insisted that soy is better-for-you and good as meat alternative.
These things might have confused you. So we bring lay down to you the pros and cons of eating soy. And here are the things that you should know about it.
The Benefits
Soy has been proven by researches and food-health experts as good replacement to foods that may compromise your health. According to Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Spokesperson Vandana Sheth, soy is healthier as it provides an excellent source of protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals without cholesterol and saturated fat found in meat.
However, behind from the idea that eating more soy might lead you to eat less meat, there’s not much evidence that soy itself produces health benefits. Only the preliminary researches claim that it lowers cholesterol, prevents breast and prostate canc3r, and wards off osteoporosis. These are, however, not duly supported.
While the American Heart Association used to advocate the inclusion of soy in heart healthy diet, they have since backed off from the recommendation because there are no support on the claims.
“For most people the benefits of soy on heart health are very small: a few cholesterol points but not much else,” Heather Patisaul, a developmental biologists at North Carolina State University, noted.
Unwanted Side of Soy
Unfortunately, soy has also adverse effect towards your body most particularly on your hormones. Soy contains isoflavones which is a type of phytoestrogen that mimics the effect of estrogen on the body. So when you eat a lot of it, it could have the potential to disrupt estrogen-sensitive systems in your body and that doesn’t exempt your reproductive system. Patisaul said that the developing brain is also very sensitive to estrogen as is the mammary gland and the heart.
Patisaul however highlighted that because everybody is different, it is impossible to know what the ‘right’ amount of is bad or just good.
Buy should you give up soy for good? Soy can actually be healthy way to cut back on meat while still making sure you are eating enough protein however the bad side of the soy could be just waiting when you eat too much of it as mentioned it has the potential to affect your hormones. Patisaul in the end, noted that moderation is the key.
Source: http://edition.cnn.com/