To soy or not to soy?
Let’s look at the research.
Alferova/Getty Images
If you follow a plant-based diet, soy is likely ago-to protein sourcefor you.
Photo:Alferova/Getty Images
Is soy healthyor is it actually bad for you?
Time to set the record straight with evidence-based answers straight from current research and registered dietitians.
What Is Soy?
However, soy and soy products popularity soon grew internationally, spreading to every corner of the globe.
Is Soy Bad for You?
But are they really true, or just unfounded anxieties?
Heres what the research has to say about the most common complaints against soy.
Does Soy Affect Hormonal Health?
One fear surrounding soy is that it will negatively impact hormonal health in both men and women.
This notion, thankfully, isnottrue.
Carroll also says that phytoestrogens metabolize quickly and dont accumulate in the body, another common misconception.
), in large amounts dailytoo much of a good thing is still too much, she adds.
Does Eating Soy Cause Cancer?
This is rooted in the concern that the phytoestrogens found in soy would contribute to these diagnoses.
But there’s no evidence to support this worry.
Many studies have corroborated this finding, including a2018 meta analysis,2019 review, and additionalreview from 2019.
Does Soy Affect Thyroid Health?
Current research does not support the claim that soy consumption negatively impacts thyroid health.
Does Soy Affect Fertility?
Another concern is that soy may negatively impact both male and female fertility and reproductive health.
This is also not true.
Men dont need to fear soy either.
In fact,one study foundthat soy foods may actually offer protection against the adverse reproductive effects of BPA.
Is Soy Bad for Heart Health?
This is another false claim about soy.
Research backs up these findings, with studies from both2019and2020finding inverse relationships between soy intake and heart disease.
Downsides to Soy Consumption to Consider
Soy isn’t necessarily a good food to eat for everyone.
If you or a loved one has a soy allergy, its important to avoid it.
Soy is prettywater intensiveto grow, as well.
However,77 percentof the soy produced globally is used to feed livestock.
But genetically modified foods have been well studied and regulated.
