Soy contains phytoestrogens, or plant-based estrogens. These are mainly two isoflavones, genistein and daidzein, that act like estrogen, the female sex hormone, within the body.
The next thing we wanted the answer to was do soy products really contain estrogen?
You may have heard that soy should be eaten in moderation due to its ability to mimic estrogen in the body. Soy has been eaten in Asian cultures for a very long time in the form of tofu, miso, tempeh and soy milk. It is true that soy contains phytoestrogens, but they act as a very weak form of estrogen.
You might be thinking “Is it true that Soy has a lot of estrogen?”
One thought is that there’s no estrogen in soy. What there is in soy are phytoestrogens or plant estrogens. Plant estrogens can bind to estrogen receptor in your body making the body think you have high estrogen levels., and or not. In other words, your body can react to the plant estrogens as if your natural estrogen were higher…or lower.
Does soy act like estrogen in the body?
Soybeans are a complete protein source and a dietary staple in many cultures. Soy contains phytoestrogens called isoflavones that may mimic the activity of the hormone estrogen in your body. The effects of soy isoflavones on human estrogen levels are complex.
What is the relationship between soy and estrogen?
Soy and estrogen are related because soybeans contain a plant form of the hormone. Known as isoflavones, these phyto -estrogens are similar to those produced by the human body, although they are typically much weaker and thus do not cause as much of a response.
Does soy lecithin contain estrogen?
Soy allergies are triggered by soy proteins, so whether lecithin triggers an allergic response or not depends on its protein content. Soy is the greatest food source of phytoestrogens, and one group of researchers discovered significant estrogenic activity in soy lecithin.
Does soy mess with testosterone?
The researchers found that soy protein or isoflavone intake had no significant effects on testosterone . Neither total nor free testosterone was negatively affected by dietary soy in any of the studies. Research that did show a lowering of T by soy had serious methodological flaws, rendering the findings useless.
Does soy negatively affect your testosterone levels?
Studies are ongoing regarding the effect of soy on health and fertility. Soy does not currently appear to lower testosterone levels or affect sperm health, but if you’re concerned about your fertility, you may consider limiting your consumption of soy. Specific nutrients in foods and supplements may help increase your testosterone levels.
Is soy lecithin really so unhealthy?
Soy lecithin is composed of choline, fatty acids, glycerol, glycolipids, phospholipids, phosphoric acid and triglycerides. It contains very little soy protein, so it’s generally considered safe for people with soy allergies. Soy lecithin also has potential health benefits, including its ability to: improve cholesterol.