When I was an undergraduate in college, it seemed that the
natural food phenomenon was beginning to take over the campus – largely in the
form of soy. Soy cereals, soy milk, soy burgers, etc., are now found in many
places and are considered to be very healthful.
While it's good that people are embracing healthy
alternatives as part of their normal diets, there may be a dark side to soy that
is of particular importance to men.
There are Some Health
Benefits, But…
In 1999, the United States Federal Drug Administration (FDA)
deemed that diets should include 25 grams (about a pound) of tofu a day to
reduce the risk of heart disease, and aid in extending lifespan. Additional
research also suggested that soy proteins protect against prostate cancer.
Like most other medicines or remedies, soy protein also
comes with side effects. Consuming soy proteins means allowing two natural
drugs, genistein and daidzein, into the body. These substances behave similarly
to estrogen, the main sex hormone in women.
Genisten and daidzein are said to have evolved to act as
chemical defenses against fungi and grazing animals – not to deal with the
complexities of human sex characteristics. But when humans (especially men)
consume large amounts of soy proteins, they may experience "gender-bending"
side-effects like enlarged, painful or swollen breasts; loss of body hair; decreased
interest in sex; weight gain; change in voice; mood swings; etc.
Effects in Each Stage
of Life
Recently, Men's Health
published an article on the subject, explaining how excessive soy intake may
affect men throughout their lives. Considering how popular soy has become, the
article also questions what it means for all babies growing up in the soy
generation.
- Babies raised on soy: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends
that babies who cannot be breastfed be given cows-milk formula as the preferred
alternative. Healthy infants should only been given soy formulas when medically
necessary, states the AAP's 2008 report.
Paul Cooke, Ph.D., reproductive biologist at the University of Illinois,
has found that soy formulas can lead to a significant decrease of the thymus
gland, a key part of the immune system.Additionally, the American Medical Association (AMA) surveyed over 800 adults
who were fed soy formulas as infants, and found an increased occurrence of
asthma and allergies.
- Teens to 20s: For
teens trying to build muscle mass, most know that protein is essential for
muscle building and repair. Since eating enough protein before or immediately
after a workout can be challenging, protein supplements allow athletes to just add
a scoop to a drink. The problem is that the main ingredients in protein
supplements are soy, whey, and casein. Soy is the cheapest of the three
ingredients, but its affordable price may actually cost muscle gain.
In 2005, the Journal
of Nutrition published an article which stated that "the biological value
of soy protein must be considered inferior to that of casein protein in humans."
Researchers also found that the large portion of soy in supplements is degraded
to urea and contributes very little to the body. Concerns about decreased
testosterone products and estrogen-effects also emerged from this study.
- 20s to 40s: Last
year, a Harvard study found a strong association between men's intake of soy
foods and decreased sperm counts. Ninety-nine men reported their soy intake and
then underwent semen analysis. The results showed that men in the highest
category of soy intake averaged 32% fewer sperm per milliliter than those who
refrained from soy.
Additional research done on male rats suggests that moderate
doses of soy throughout a man's life can affect quality of erections as well;
the mice showed decreased testosterone production, and had softer erections or
none at all.
- 50s and Beyond: Last summer, Eef Hogervorst, Ph.D., of
Loughborough University in England, found that survey participants over the age
of 68 who consumed the most tofu had double the risk of dementia and memory
impairment when compared to those consuming a moderate amount of soy.
Since soy is a staple of the larger natural foods movement,
it's unlikely to be going anywhere soon – especially since there are some
health benefits. It's not that eating soy is going to immediately cause drastic
changes. Like many things, moderation is the key.
What do you think?
Resources:
http://www.ehow.com/about_4680878_side-effects-men-taking-estrogen.html
http://www.menshealth.com/bestfoods/food_features/Is_This_the_Most_Dangerous_Food_for_Men.php
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