The benefits and harms of soy for the human body

Soy Is a herbaceous plant of the legume family, which today is common in many countries of the world. Soy and its derivatives are especially appreciated in the diet of vegetarians, because it is rich in proteins (about 40%), which makes it an excellent substitute for meat or fish.

It is used in the production of chocolate, biscuits, pasta, sauces, cheese and many other products. Nevertheless, this plant is considered one of the most controversial foods, since doctors and nutritionists still have no consensus about the benefits and dangers of soy.

Some argue that this product has an extremely beneficial effect on the human body, while others are trying to cite facts that speak of the plant’s ability to inflict colossal harm on humans. It is rather difficult to answer unequivocally whether healthy or unhealthy soy is, because it has a wide variety of properties. However, in this article we will help you figure out how this controversial plant acts on the human body and let the consumer decide on his own – whether to use soy or not.

Soy benefits

One way or another, soybeans are characterized by an abundance of valuable properties and nutrients that are irreplaceable for the body.

• One of the best plant-based protein sources… Soy contains approximately 40% protein, which is structurally as good as animal protein. Thanks to this, soy is included in their diet by vegetarians and people who have allergic reactions to animal protein and are lactose intolerant;
• Helps to lose weight… Regular consumption of soybeans leads to active burning of fats in the liver and an improvement in the processes of fat metabolism. This property of soy is provided by the lecithin it contains. Diet soy is also considered because it is low in calories and at the same time saturates the body, allowing a person to feel full for a long time. It should be noted that lecithin also has a choleretic effect;
• Removes excess cholesterol from the body… The same lecithin contributes to this. But in order to achieve the desired effect the vegetable protein contained in soy, you need to consume at least 25 grams per day, which is quite a lot. To lower cholesterol levels, it is recommended to consume soy protein powder in combination with oatmeal or skim milk. Stable and long-term maintenance of normal blood cholesterol levels, a low amount of saturated fat, supply of the body with polyunsaturated fats, fibers, minerals and vitamins reduces the risk of heart attacks, strokes and many other cardiac diseases. They prevent the development of cardiovascular diseases, and also improve the effectiveness of their treatment and phytic acids, which are rich in soybeans. Therefore, this plant is recommended in the recovery period after myocardial infarction, with hypertension, coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis;
• Prevents Cancer… The rich composition of the product from vitamins A and E, which have an antioxidant effect on the body, as well as isoflavones, phytic acids and genestin, allows soy to prevent the development of cancer cells. By prolonging the menstrual cycle and reducing the release of extractgen into the blood, this herb helps to effectively prevent breast cancer in women. Genestin is able to stop the development of various cancers in the early stages, such as cancer of the ovaries, prostate, endometrium or colon. Phytic acids, in turn, neutralize the growth of malignant tumors. Soy isoflavones are known as an analogue of the abundance of chemical drugs created for the treatment of cancer. However, unlike them, this substance is not dangerous with side effects;
• Reduces the symptoms of menopause… Especially during hot flashes and osteoporosis, which are often associated with menopause. Soy saturates the woman’s body with calcium and estrogen-like isoflavones, the level of which drops during menopause. All this significantly improves the condition of a woman;
• Gives strength to young men… Soybeans are an excellent protein supplier with anabolic amino acids that significantly reduce muscle protein breakdown. Soy phytoestrogens help athletes increase muscle mass;
• Promotes the healing and restoration of brain cells and nerve tissue… Lecithin and its constituent choline, which are part of the plant, provide full concentration, improve memory, thinking, sexual functions, physical activity, planning, learning and many other functions that a person needs for successful life. Moreover, these components help with the following diseases:
  • Diabetes;
  • Diseases associated with aging of the body (Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease);
  • Diseases of the liver, gallbladder;
  • Arteriosclerosis;
  • Glaucoma;
  • Memory impairment;
  • Muscular dystrophy;
  • Premature aging.
• Helps in the prevention and treatment of cholelithiasis, kidney stones, and liver diseases… These properties of soy are provided by the previously mentioned phytic acids;
• It is indicated for use in diseases of the musculoskeletal system, such as arthrosis and arthritis, and is also effective in constipation and chronic cholecystitis.

Soybean harm

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, soy is a controversial and controversial product. Scientists to this day have not yet figured out all of its properties, so you should not be surprised that, according to some studies, it is able to cure this or that disease, and according to other studies, to provoke its development. Despite all the controversy regarding this plant, you need to familiarize yourself with all the knowledge known today about the benefits and dangers of soybeans – forewarned, then forearmed.

• May accelerate the aging process of the body and impair blood circulation in the brain… We mentioned that regular consumption of soybeans prolongs youth, but some studies have shown that the phytoestrogens contained in the product impair the growth of brain cells and thereby reduce brain activity and lead to aging. Oddly enough, but it is these substances that are recommended for women after 30 years as a rejuvenating agent. Isoflavones, which, on the one hand, prevent cancer, on the other hand, impair blood circulation in the brain, provoking the development of Alzheimer’s disease;
• Harmful to children and pregnant women… Regular consumption of soy products causes a slowdown in metabolism, an enlargement of the thyroid gland and its diseases, negatively affecting the developing endocrine system. In addition, the plant provokes strong allergic reactions in children and interferes with the full physical development of the child – in boys, development slows down, and in girls, this process is, on the contrary, too fast. Soy is especially not recommended for children under 3 years old, and preferably up to adolescence. It is also prohibited for pregnant women, especially in the first trimester, because taking soybeans is dangerous for possible miscarriage. Soy also disrupts the menstrual cycle in women. These negative factors of the product are caused by the high content of isoflavones, similar in structure to the female sex hormones estrogens, which, among other things, have a harmful effect on the formation of the fetal brain;
• Contains protein-like components that inhibit the work of enzymes that promote the absorption of plant proteins in soy… Here we are talking about blockers of enzymes that break down proteins. They are divided into three types and none of them can be completely destroyed during heat treatment;
• Negatively affects men’s health… The use of soybeans is prohibited for men who have reached the age associated with the initial stages of deterioration of sexual function, because they can reduce sexual activity, stimulate aging processes and cause obesity;
• Accelerates the processes of “drying out” of the brain… Decrease in brain weight is usually observed already in older people, however, with regular addition of soy to their diet, this process can go much faster due to phytoestrogens, consisting of isoflavones, which fight natural estrogens for receptors in brain cells;
• May cause vascular dementia, fraught with dementia… All the same isoflavones of soy phytoestrogens slow down the conversion of testosterone into estradiol in men due to the aromatase enzyme, which negatively affects the state of the brain.

As a result, soy can be consumed, but not for everyone and not in any dose. Despite all the contradictions of the benefits and harms of soy, it is best to refrain from using this product for pregnant and young women, children, elderly men and people suffering from diseases of the endocrine system. The rest should take into account that soy is useful only with its reasonable use – no more than 3 times a week and no more than 150 grams per day.

Nutritional value and chemical composition of soybeans

Video about the benefits and harms of soy