Because I see a lot of female patients with conditions that can result from hormonal imbalance – endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), PMS, acne, breast cancer, fibroids, and intense menopausal symptoms – I end up having “the soy talk” almost daily.
Here’s the quick version of “the soy talk:” Soy is good for you in moderation and when eaten as a whole plant. Soy is called a phytoestrogen because it contains isoflavones (plant nutrients) that mimic estrogens in our bodies. While that may sound scary if you’ve been told that estrogen is bad, phytoestrogens are actually good for most people. Phytoestrogens help our bodies shunt “bad” estrogens out by taking up the receptor sites where bad estrogens like to “park.” Bad estrogens come from things like chemicals in our air, food, and water supplies. Soy and other plants like broccoli, black beans, and flax are helpful in forcing these bad estrogens out of our systems.
Here are my general rules about soy:
- Eat soy, not processed soy-like foods. This means no faux meats, no isolated soy protein, and no other forms of processed soy.
- Eat organic since conventional soybeans are almost always genetically modified and heavily sprayed with pesticides.
- Emphasize fermented forms of soy like tofu, tempeh, soy milk, miso, and edemame.
I’ve mentioned before that I’m a big fan of Mark Hyman. He recently wrote an article called, “How Soy Can Kill You and Save Your Life.” Aptly titled, the article discusses the controversy surrounding soy’s relationship with hormones and health. For more information on soy myths and truths, check out Mark Hyman’s Soy Article Here.