soy controversy/myths

May 18, 2008

Excellent article -- long, but well worth reading if you or anyone

you know questions the " safety " of eating

soyfoods.

http://www.womentowomen.com/nutritionandweightloss/soycontroversy.aspx

Update on the soy controversy

/by Dixie Mills, MD/

We've wondered for a long time why there are still people who

question

the safety of soy foods and supplements. We've used soy at the

clinic

for 10 years to help relieve menopausal symptoms, and we've reviewed

all

of the myths about it --- that soy causes breast cancer, interferes

with

tamoxifen or the digestion of protein, causes developmental delays

in

infants fed soy formula, and many others. In our experience, and

in

countless studies we've looked at, we've found nothing to support

these

myths.

Which only makes sense, since soy has been an important part of

Asian

diets for thousands of years and continues to be a popular food

choice.

Countless forms of soy foods and supplements available are

everywhere

--- from soy bars, shakes, tofu, and milk sold in the grocery store

to

more exotic foods like sushi and edamame (young, natural soybeans

boiled

and served whole) --- and there is just no reason to believe that any

of

these foods are harmful. And yet, I keep hearing from women that

they,

their friends, or their partners are worried about the safety of

soy.

It's absolutely true that soy products are not for everyone ---

there

are some women who are allergic or sensitive to soy

<http://www.womentowomen.com/inflammation/soyallergysoysensitivity.aspx>.

Other women have digestive or thyroid problems <#soythyroid>

that need

to be addressed before eating soy is a good idea. But I decided to

research why soy has been fingered as a " dangerous " food,

and why some

of these anti-soy voices are so angry, if not downright

frightened,

about a little green bean.

Given that soy is eaten by millions of people around the world

every

day, it's puzzling that some people regard soy so negatively. While

I'm

not sure that we've found all the answers, we here at Women to

Women

have looked into whether there is any scientific merit to the claims

of

those who demonize soy, and what we've found only confirms our

understanding that soy is a healthy food with many benefits for

women.

So let's talk about who is campaigning so aggressively against soy,

and

take a look at the science behind this issue.

Who is the voice against soy?

There is just a huge amount of information /and/ misinformation

floating

around on the internet about the supposed dangers of soy. The

loudest

anti-soy voices are coming mostly from a close-knit group

associated

with promoting the nutritional agenda of the Weston A. Price

Foundation

(WAPF). Sally Fallon, Kaayla T. Daniel, Mary Enig, Julia Ross and

Joseph

Mercola are all members of the board at WAPF, or honorary members.

The WAPF was founded by the early 20th century dentist Dr. Weston

Price,

who traveled around the world to research the diets of populations

who

enjoyed the greatest longevity. Today the foundation promotes a

nutrition agenda based solely on " nutrient-dense whole foods and

the

vital fat-soluble activators found exclusively in animal

fats. "

The WAPF agrees with many of the same ideas we have about the

benefits

of whole, organic foods produced without harmful chemicals and

additives. But their main principles disregard the fact that some of

the

longest-lived peoples in the world enjoy a diet that is rich in

plant

proteins --- not the least of which includes soy. And it is

puzzling

that they single out the soybean as harmful when it is a staple in

so

many healthful foods from around the world and has been shown to

have

health benefits from many years of ongoing research.

What are their claims about soy?

The internet is a marvelous invention, but just because anyone's

voice

can be heard nowadays doesn't mean that what's being said is true ---

or

worse, that it hasn't been taken out of context. And some of the

claims

the shrillest voices are making against soy really are outrageous

and

frightening. Here are just a few:

* /Soy phytoestrogens disrupt endocrine function and have the

potential to cause infertility and to promote breast cancer in

adult women./

* /Megadoses of phytoestrogens in soy formula have been implicated

in the current trend toward increasingly premature sexual

development in girls and delayed or retarded sexual development in

boys./

* /Women with the highest levels of estrogen in their blood [have]

the lowest levels of cognitive function./

This kind of " medicalese " is a problem because it almost

sounds like

real science --- enough so that others on the internet cite this

website

as a source for publishing some truly strange and ridiculous

headlines

of their own: /Soy reduces penis size/; or /Tofu shrinks brains/;

or

/Soy is making kids " gay. " / It gets almost comical as the

list goes on.

It's no wonder so many women are uncertain about the safety of soy

---

but the good news is that there is /just no real evidence/ behind

these

extreme claims. At Women to Women, we have examined hundreds of

studies

and reviews on soy from the leading peer-reviewed research

journals

around the world. Everything we know so far about soy points to the

many

positive health benefits of soy products, or demonstrates

inconclusive

results. So I was interested to learn where these detractors were

getting their information from, and what I found was quite

surprising.

Faulty science and the campaign against soy

One of the most important lessons in science and statistics for us

to

understand is that /just because two factors seem related, does not

mean

one caused the other/. Another is that we have to carefully

examine

/how/ someone reaches their conclusions, because faulty reasoning

leads

to incorrect answers. So let's look at the reasoning of the people

who

consider soy unhealthy and see how it stacks up.

Many of the most strident anti-soy groups list page after page of

resources in support of their claims. To the untrained eye, it

might

appear as though there is scientific substantiation against soy.

But

more often than not, they are misrepresenting the research findings.

For

example, I found that the WAPF listed articles or reports (not

necessarily scientific studies) by year, out of context, without

listing

any other articles that came out that year, making it seem as

though

that one study was " the truth " for that year.

Also, many of the studies on soy showing ambiguous results have

been

conducted on non-human subjects --- usually rats or other rodents.

In

much the same way dogs can't tolerate chocolate, rodents and

humans

can't always digest the same foods or substances in the same ways.

There

are enough similarities that we can learn a lot by experiments in

rats,

but enough differences that it's important to know up front when

rats,

not humans, are the test subjects. Sometimes studies in animals give

us

the only information we have, but we need to be cautious about

drawing

conclusions from studies based on animal models. From there, the

as

well. The WAPF doesn't /say/ that the studies were actually done on

rats

when they discuss the findings --- perhaps because doing so might

make

their claims seem less believable, without the same results being

seen

in people.

Here's another kind of " sleight of hand " explanation the

WAPF gives on

their website. A study published in 1997 in the journal

/Pediatrics/

suggested that girls in the US are entering puberty at an earlier

age

than in the past, and here's what the WAPF concluded:

/(WAPF) Our Comment/: The widespread use of soy-based formula,

beginning in the 1970's, is a likely explanation for the increase

in

early maturation in girls.

The study indeed came from /Pediatrics/, published in 1997 --- but

nowhere in the article's content or summary do the researchers ever

link

their findings to soy products. Here is how the authors themselves

worded their conclusion:

/Conclusions/. These data suggest that girls seen in a sample of

pediatric practices from across the United States are developing

pubertal characteristics at younger ages than currently used

norms.

Practitioners may need to revise their criteria for referral of

girls with precocious puberty, with attention to racial

differences.

The fact that more African-American girls were maturing earlier than

in

the past was one of the researchers' points, in the context that

precocious puberty creates social and psychological concerns. But

because African-Americans in general have been shown to be more

lactose-intolerant, the WAPF leapt to the conclusion that soy /must/

be

the culprit without looking at the facts. In statistics, this is

called

a /fallacy/, and I could not find any literature to date that

supports

this idea. In fact, nearly all infant formulas, both cow milk and

soy-based, contain corn syrup or sucrose, providing calories that

might

contribute to obesity --- which in girls can lead to early

puberty.

Unfortunately, this kind of " magical " guesswork can be found

all over

the internet when it comes to soy --- and without good science, many

are

resorting unnecessarily to scare tactics.

The best thing we all can do is adopt a considered approach to the

shouting match about soy. For whatever personal, political or

economic

reasons, there are people out to make misleading, confusing, and

downright scary statements about soy --- but a wild guess is just

not

the same thing as a sound conclusion. We can counterbalance the

loud,

alarmist, but scientifically thin voices against soy with a mass

of

positive research data that speaks volumes about soy's safety --- not

to

mention the fact that thousands, if not millions, of people consume

soy

all the time with no ill effects!

So let's take the science at face value. While we know that

science

doesn't always get it right, there is a wealth of research that

shows

that when eaten in small amounts every day, soy can be an

extremely

healthy, low-fat, body-beneficial food that gives you lots of

protein

without a lot of harmful side effects. In other words, the good

far

outweighs the remote possibility of bad.

But just so you can enjoy soy without worry, there are things you

may

want to know about how best to include soy in your diet

<http://www.womentowomen.com/nutritionandweightloss/healthbenefitsofsoy.aspx>,

considering both health benefits and concerns.

The heart of the soy controversy --- soy isoflavones

Soybeans and many other legumes contain compounds called

" isoflavones " ,

and it is these compounds that many in the anti-soy camp point to as

the

main " danger " of soy. They argue that because isoflavones

are

/phytoestrogens/ --- that is, their molecules share similarities

with

the /estradiol/ molecule, the major estrogen hormone in human beings

---

consuming soy products could promote the growth of

estrogen-sensitive

cancers in women.

Faults in the argument against soy:

* BIAS: Using only research that supports one point of view while

ignoring studies that contradict it.

* OVERGENERALIZATION: Assuming that the results of a small number

of

limited studies is directly applicable to all human beings.

* LEAPS OF LOGIC: Drawing conclusions unrelated to the goals or

methods of particular research studies.

* FALLACY: Making assumptions about the relationship between two

pieces of information without testing that relationship

(correlation does not equal causation).

Phytoestrogens do have the ability to interact with estrogen

receptors

in our bodies, where they can evoke similar types of responses that

the

hormone causes or alternatively, block those effects. But many

people

don't realize that the intensity of an estrogen receptor's bond

with

isoflavones is much, /much/ weaker (a thousand times or so) than

estradiol's. The duration of the response may also be different

and,

unlike synthetic estrogens, phytoestrogens do not accumulate in the

body

but pass through in a matter of hours. Isoflavones also function

as

antioxidants, counteracting free radicals in our tissues, which

may be

why some research shows they can protect against cancer.

We explain this in much more detail in our article on phytotherapy

<http://www.womentowomen.com/womenshealth/phytotherapy.aspx>,

but the

bottom line is that soy isoflavones are /not/ the same as our own

estrogen, so eating soy does not cause us to have more estrogen in

our

bodies. Even more good news is that in many of the studies on soy

isoflavones that look at soy isoflavone intake and cancers,

cardiovascular risks, brain dysfunction, osteoporosis, or

menopausal

symptoms, researchers found either favorable, promising, or else

inconclusive effects. In other words, at minimum, soy isoflavones

show

no harmful effect.

And there are many possible explanations for why results can be

" inconclusive, " including study design and limitations.

Every woman's

body is unique; therefore, how /bioavailable/ phytoestrogens become

in

our bodies after we eat them depends on many variables: our

individual

genetic make-up, our digestion and metabolism, what else we eat ---

even

our native gut flora. All of these influence our ability to reap

health

benefits from soy isoflavones. Also, it's important to remember

that

these studies do not take into account what else is going on in a

subject's life, and what other lifestyle changes she might be

experiencing (or may need to address).

At the clinic, we recommend soy as a natural, therapeutic treatment

to

help women with many aspects of their health, including hormonal

balance, because so many of our patients find it helpful. We've

seen

years of case studies and research that suggests that adding soy to

the

diet --- or appropriate dosages of isoflavones --- can sometimes

help

menopausal symptoms, although not everyone experiences uniform

relief

(see our page on soy for menopausal symptoms

<http://www.womentowomen.com/nutritionandweightloss/soyformenopausalsymptoms.aspx>

for more information).

While there are no one-size-fits-all treatments for any problem, what

I

can say about the safety of soy is that scientists from several

countries recently examined more than 200 isoflavone studies and

concluded that " the current literature supports the safety of

isoflavones as typically consumed in diets based on soy or

containing

soy products. "

I think the key piece that women can walk away with is the word

" typically. " Because how much soy isoflavones we eat --- and

in what

form --- matters when thinking about how to best include soy into our

diets.

*Whole bean vs. germ* --- go for the way it's found in nature

At Women to Women, we encourage our patients to consume soy as close

to

whole form as possible. This is because the greatest benefits of

eating

soy come from following an isoflavone ratio close to that found in

the

whole soybean, which is similar to the ratio found in healthy

Asian

diets. As long as whatever soy products you eat are made from whole

soy,

you're getting soy as Nature intended.

But there is a difference between consuming the whole bean and

taking

supplements made from the germ only. Take a look at our " soybean "

to see

the difference in isoflavone ratios:

http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/Data/isoflav/isfl_tbl.pdf

Of the many isoflavones that occur naturally in plants, genistein,

daidzein, and glycitein are the primary ones found in soybeans. As

you

can see above, soybeans typically include at about 50% genistein,

40%

daidzein, and up to 10% glycitein forms. In contrast, /soy germ/

isoflavone products typically contain only 20% genistein, 40%

daidzein,

and 40% glycitein.

What do all of these numbers mean?

Well, if a product lists 100 milligrams of isoflavones, you don't

really

know what the ratio of those isoflavones is unless the

manufacturer

lists the ratios for you. Since genistein has the most noted

beneficial

effects in humans, and whole soybean is much higher in genistein

than

the soy germ, eating soy products or supplements that are made

from the

whole bean gives you more of the therapeutic effects that we see in

the

clinic.

How much soy is healthy?

We don't really know yet whether any particular soy isolates taken

by

themselves are as safe as or effective as whole soy foods, but what

we

do know is that we can get the most benefits when we consume small

amounts of isoflavone-rich foods throughout the day, as part of a

regular, lifelong eating habit.

Another key to separating the facts from the misleading information

is

to look at isoflavone dosage. Studies often cited by soy critics

use

isolated compounds containing amounts of isoflavones that /far

exceed/

what a person would normally eat. Soy experts analyzing populations

in

major soy-consuming countries report isoflavones intakes varying

between

approximately 25--80 milligrams of isoflavones per day. Studies

also

show intake at the upper end of that range to be both safe and

highest

in therapeutic value. Again, let's not forget that Asian cultures

have

not only been enjoying soybeans in their diet for thousands of

years,

but likewise they enjoy longer lifespans, less heart disease, and

lower

rates of obesity and cancer.

But just as with any other food, it's best to make soy one of a

variety

of healthy choices rather than making it the major focus of your

diet

--- especially if you're concerned about your breast health or your

thyroid.

Addressing your *health concerns and soy*

* *Breast health*

As a breast surgeon, I'm frequently asked about soy's estrogenic

qualities, and whether phytoestrogens are helpful or detrimental

for prevention or treatment of breast cancer. Patients also want

to use alternatives to hormone replacement and are curious about

soy products, foods, supplements, isolates and phytoestrogens, but

are deeply concerned about the safety of soy and breast health.

After years of research, we know that the soy isoflavones

<#soyisoflavones> genistein and daidzein have a very weak

estrogen-/like/ effect, but unlike real estrogens, they do not

allow cells to proliferate. As mentioned above, soy isoflavones

can weakly bond with estrogen receptors on a cell, making the cell

resistant to the more reactive hormonal form of estrogen. For

women, this blockade may prevent certain cell processes from

turning on, which can stimulate it to grow or possibly mutate. The

lower rate of breast cancer in Asian societies that eat a lot of

soy is often quoted in support of this concept.

But given so many genetic, lifestyle, and dietary factors (Asian

women begin eating a regular soy diet much sooner, with more

consistency, and they also include more omega-3's in their diets),

there is not enough evidence yet to support eating soy as a cure

for breast health in non-Asian women.

* *Soy and tamoxifen*

Some doctors and healthcare practitioners have long recommended

that women with breast cancer and anyone at high risk for it avoid

soy, because of genistein's weak estrogenic effects on breast

cells. Studies in mice show that genistein may actually help

override cancer cells' resistance to tamoxifen, which suggests it

might be useful in combination with this drug or other types of

chemotherapy to prevent recurrence. But researchers also recognize

that the links between genistein and tamoxifen therapy warrant

further examination in humans.

Studies in humans have shown that in Asian women, " there was

no

evidence of soy intake adversely affecting levels of tamoxifen...

[Yet] age, menopausal status, BMI, and the use of hypertensive

medications significantly influenced circulating levels of

tamoxifen. " Without definitive science either way, it's

impossible

to provide a one-size-fits-all answer for women, but

recommendations to avoid soy foods are not based on any clinical

evidence to support this advice. In fact, several FDA-approved

clinical trials are currently going on with breast cancer patients

using soy.

* *Thyroid concerns*

It is true that if someone has a hidden thyroid problem, eating

soy regularly can uncover it. That doesn't mean soy caused the

problem, only that certain properties of soy made the problem

more

obvious --- and that's a good thing, because it helps you to

address the problem!

When soy exposes a thyroid deficiency, one possibility is that you

have not been getting enough iodine. For a healthy, iodine-replete

individual, soy is very beneficial, but if you do have a thyroid

problem and you consume large quantities of soy without first

looking into your iodine status, there is a remote risk of

developing a goiter. Ensuring that your iodine levels are

adequate, and learning how to balance your body's needs

adequately, will eliminate this risk.

So what do I tell my patients who are eager to try, or continue

eating,

soy in the face of breast cancer? My best recommendation is this:

if

they have been eating soy regularly in their diet, it is safe to

continue. However, I advise moderation. My bottom line is that there

are

still many things we don't know about how breast cancer behaves in

individual women, so women should be able to have frank

conversations

with their healthcare professionals if they have /any/ concerns

about

including soy in their diet. And when it comes to your thyroid

health,

if you have a personal or family history of thyroid disorders, the

same

holds true: having open discussions with your physician about your

concerns, and using soy products in moderation, is always a wise

choice.

Enjoying soy the right way

We feel very excited about what we've uncovered. Soy is good for

us!

This is great news! While soy itself is innocent, however, there's

no

question that it has become a political issue. Some will probably

continue to revile it as " poison, " while others will

continue to sing

its praises as the " miracle food. " Neither extreme is the

right

approach. We really don't need to build a mythology around it: a

soybean

is just a soybean. There are some people who love the flavor of

soymilks

or yoghurts over dairy, and there are others who prefer the taste

of

cow's milk. But if you're still a little uncertain about eating

soy,

here are a few easy rules-of-thumb to follow:

* Try to include soy regularly in your diet, averaging 25--50 mg

soy

isoflavones per day will give you the basic benefits.

* If you are using soy for menopausal symptoms

<http://www.womentowomen.com/nutritionandweightloss/soyformenopausalsymptoms.aspx>,

target a higher initial therapeutic dose of 80--100 mg soy

isoflavones per day for best results.

* Choose whole food products (like tofu or edamame) or supplements

made from whole soybeans.

* Make sure your soybeans are from a reliable, quality source ---

choose soy products that contain no GMO's (genetically modified

organisms) and look for organic foods whenever possible.

* If you have thyroid concerns, breast health issues, allergies,

or

problems with digestibility, speak with your healthcare

practitioner before eating large quantities of soy.

* See our article on the nutritional benefits of soy

<http://www.womentowomen.com/nutritionandweightloss/healthbenefitsofsoy.aspx>

for more information about healthy ways to use soy.

At Women to Women, we believe that knowledge is power, and where

that

knowledge comes from is just as important as the source of the foods

we

eat. Finding reliable sources that aren't one-sided is the best way

to

get the big picture, especially when it comes to issues that are

so

politicized. So after reading the above bullet points, speak with

your

healthcare practitioner if you're still concerned about including soy

in

your diet. Otherwise, rest assured that for most women, these

wondrous

green beans are part of a diet that is healthy, flavorful, and above

all

--- safe.

Our Personal Program is a great place to start

The Personal Program promotes natural hormonal balance with

nutritional

supplements, our exclusive endocrine support formula, dietary and

lifestyle guidance, and optional phone consultations with our

nurse--educators. It is a convenient, at-home version of what we

recommend to all our patients at the clinic.

* To learn more about the Program, go to How the Personal Program

works </programs/howitworks.aspx>.

* To select the Program that's right for your symptoms, go to

Choose

the plan that works for you </programs/compareplans.aspx>.

* To assess your symptoms, take our on-line Hormonal Health

Profile

</healthassessment/>.

* If you have questions, don't hesitate to call us toll-free at

*1-800-798-7902*. We're here to listen and help.

*Related to this article:*

References & further reading on the soy controversy

<soycontroversy-references.aspx>

/Original Publication Date:/ 04/24/2008

/Last Modified: /05/08/2008 /

Principal Author:/ Dixie Mills, MD

May 22, 2008

Well as far as absorption people who eat a lot of soy shoud probaly eat enough foods rich in Bromelien (found in pinapples and mangoes) if you know other fruits please tell us.

you know what they say about to much of a good thing besides soy is mostley prevelant in manufactured goods besides for us we probley only us soy as a replacement for things we used to eat Like milk or cheese or soy meet alternative but at some point you might relize by eating these things its just to relieve you craving for your old lifstyle and most of that is about season and without it at first may think its bland but in fact what you relize without season is how things taste and the fact of the matter is that we just need to give our taste buds time to blossom soy is not the only bean. --- On Sun, 5/18/08, yarrow <yarrow wrote:

yarrow <yarrow soy controversy/myths Date: Sunday, May 18, 2008, 6:47 PM

Excellent article -- long, but well worth reading if you or anyone you know questions the "safety" of eating soyfoods.

http://www.womentow omen.com/ nutritionandweig htloss/soycontro versy.aspxUpdate on the soy controversy/by Dixie Mills, MD/We've wondered for a long time why there are still people who questionthe safety of soy foods and supplements. We've used soy at the clinicfor 10 years to help relieve menopausal symptoms, and we've reviewed allof the myths about it --- that soy causes breast cancer, interferes withtamoxifen or the digestion of protein, causes developmental delays ininfants fed soy formula, and many others. In our experience, and incountless studies we've looked at, we've found nothing to support thesemyths.Which only makes sense, since soy has been an important part of Asian

diets for thousands of years and continues to be a popular food choice.Countless forms of soy foods and supplements available are everywhere--- from soy bars, shakes, tofu, and milk sold in the grocery store tomore exotic foods like sushi and edamame (young, natural soybeans boiledand served whole) --- and there is just no reason to believe that any ofthese foods are harmful. And yet, I keep hearing from women that they,their friends, or their partners are worried about the safety of soy.It's absolutely true that soy products are not for everyone --- thereare some women who are allergic or sensitive to soy<http://www.womentow omen.com/ inflammation/ soyallergysoysen sitivity. aspx>.Other women have digestive or thyroid problems <#soythyroid> that needto be addressed

before eating soy is a good idea. But I decided toresearch why soy has been fingered as a "dangerous" food, and why someof these anti-soy voices are so angry, if not downright frightened,about a little green bean.Given that soy is eaten by millions of people around the world everyday, it's puzzling that some people regard soy so negatively. While I'mnot sure that we've found all the answers, we here at Women to Womenhave looked into whether there is any scientific merit to the claims ofthose who demonize soy, and what we've found only confirms ourunderstanding that soy is a healthy food with many benefits for women.So let's talk about who is campaigning so aggressively against soy, andtake a look at the science behind this issue.Who is the voice against soy?There is just a huge amount of information /and/ misinformation floatingaround on the internet about the supposed dangers of soy.

The loudestanti-soy voices are coming mostly from a close-knit group associatedwith promoting the nutritional agenda of the Weston A. Price Foundation(WAPF). Sally Fallon, Kaayla T. Daniel, Mary Enig, Julia Ross and JosephMercola are all members of the board at WAPF, or honorary members.The WAPF was founded by the early 20th century dentist Dr. Weston Price,who traveled around the world to research the diets of populations whoenjoyed the greatest longevity. Today the foundation promotes anutrition agenda based solely on "nutrient-dense whole foods and thevital fat-soluble activators found exclusively in animal fats."The WAPF agrees with many of the same ideas we have about the benefitsof whole, organic foods produced without harmful chemicals andadditives. But their main principles disregard the fact that some of thelongest-lived peoples in the world enjoy a diet that is rich in

plantproteins --- not the least of which includes soy. And it is puzzlingthat they single out the soybean as harmful when it is a staple in somany healthful foods from around the world and has been shown to havehealth benefits from many years of ongoing research.What are their claims about soy?The internet is a marvelous invention, but just because anyone's voicecan be heard nowadays doesn't mean that what's being said is true --- or

worse, that it hasn't been taken out of context. And some of the claimsthe shrillest voices are making against soy really are outrageous andfrightening. Here are just a few:* /Soy phytoestrogens disrupt endocrine function and have thepotential to cause infertility and to promote breast cancer inadult women./* /Megadoses of phytoestrogens in soy formula have been implicatedin the current trend toward increasingly premature sexualdevelopment in girls and delayed or retarded sexual development inboys./* /Women with the highest levels of estrogen in their blood [have]the lowest levels of cognitive function./This kind of "medicalese" is a problem because it almost sounds likereal science --- enough so that others on the internet cite this websiteas a source for publishing some truly strange and ridiculous headlinesof their own: /Soy reduces penis size/; or /Tofu shrinks brains/;

or/Soy is making kids "gay."/ It gets almost comical as the list goes on.It's no wonder so many women are uncertain about the safety of soy ---but the good news is that there is /just no real evidence/ behind theseextreme claims. At Women to Women, we have examined hundreds of studiesand reviews on soy from the leading peer-reviewed research journalsaround the world. Everything we know so far about soy points to the manypositive health benefits of soy products, or demonstrates inconclusiveresults. So I was interested to learn where these detractors weregetting their information from, and what I found was quite surprising.Faulty science and the campaign against soyOne of the most important lessons in science and statistics for us tounderstand is that /just because two factors seem related, does not meanone caused the other/. Another is that we have to carefully examine/how/ someone

reaches their conclusions, because faulty reasoning leadsto incorrect answers. So let's look at the reasoning of the people whoconsider soy unhealthy and see how it stacks up.Many of the most strident anti-soy groups list page after page ofresources in support of their claims. To the untrained eye, it mightappear as though there is scientific substantiation against soy. Butmore often than not, they are misrepresenting the research findings. Forexample, I found that the WAPF listed articles or reports (notnecessarily scientific studies) by year, out of context, without listingany other articles that came out that year, making it seem as thoughthat one study was "the truth" for that year.Also, many of the studies on soy showing ambiguous results have beenconducted on non-human subjects --- usually rats or other rodents. Inmuch the same way dogs can't tolerate chocolate, rodents and

humanscan't always digest the same foods or substances in the same ways. Thereare enough similarities that we can learn a lot by experiments in rats,but enough differences that it's important to know up front when rats,not humans, are the test subjects. Sometimes studies in animals give usthe only information we have, but we need to be cautious about drawingconclusions from studies based on animal models. From there, the nextstep is to design a study to see whether the findings apply to humans aswell. The WAPF doesn't /say/ that the studies were actually done on ratswhen they discuss the findings --- perhaps because doing so might maketheir claims seem less believable, without the same results being seenin people.Here's another kind of "sleight of hand" explanation the WAPF gives ontheir website. A study published in 1997 in the journal /Pediatrics/suggested that girls in the US are entering

puberty at an earlier agethan in the past, and here's what the WAPF concluded:/(WAPF) Our Comment/: The widespread use of soy-based formula,beginning in the 1970's, is a likely explanation for the increase inearly maturation in girls.The study indeed came from /Pediatrics/ , published in 1997 --- butnowhere in the article's content or summary do the researchers ever linktheir findings to soy products. Here is how the authors themselvesworded their conclusion:

/Conclusions/ . These data suggest that girls seen in a sample ofpediatric practices from across the United States are developingpubertal characteristics at younger ages than currently used norms.Practitioners may need to revise their criteria for referral ofgirls with precocious puberty, with attention to racial differences.The fact that more African-American girls were maturing earlier than inthe past was one of the researchers' points, in the context thatprecocious puberty creates social and psychological concerns. Butbecause African-Americans in general have been shown to be morelactose-intolerant, the WAPF leapt to the conclusion that soy /must/ bethe culprit without looking at the facts. In statistics, this is calleda /fallacy/, and I could not find any literature to date that supportsthis idea. In fact, nearly all infant formulas, both cow milk andsoy-based, contain corn syrup or

sucrose, providing calories that mightcontribute to obesity --- which in girls can lead to early puberty.Unfortunately, this kind of "magical" guesswork can be found all overthe internet when it comes to soy --- and without good science, many areresorting unnecessarily to scare tactics.The best thing we all can do is adopt a considered approach to theshouting match about soy. For whatever personal, political or economicreasons, there are people out to make misleading, confusing, anddownright scary statements about soy --- but a wild guess is just notthe same thing as a sound conclusion. We can counterbalance the loud,alarmist, but scientifically thin voices against soy with a mass ofpositive research data that speaks volumes about soy's safety --- not tomention the fact that thousands, if not millions, of people consume soyall the time with no ill effects!So let's take the science at face

value. While we know that sciencedoesn't always get it right, there is a wealth of research that showsthat when eaten in small amounts every day, soy can be an extremelyhealthy, low-fat, body-beneficial food that gives you lots of proteinwithout a lot of harmful side effects. In other words, the good faroutweighs the remote possibility of bad.But just so you can enjoy soy without worry, there are things you maywant to know about how best to include soy in your diet<http://www.womentow omen.com/ nutritionandweig htloss/healthben efitsofsoy.aspx>,considering both health benefits and concerns.The heart of the soy controversy --- soy isoflavonesSoybeans and many other legumes contain compounds called "isoflavones",and it is these compounds that many in the anti-soy

camp point to as themain "danger" of soy. They argue that because isoflavones are/phytoestrogens/ --- that is, their molecules share similarities withthe /estradiol/ molecule, the major estrogen hormone in human beings ---consuming soy products could promote the growth of estrogen-sensitivecancers in women.Faults in the argument against soy:* BIAS: Using only research that supports one point of view whileignoring studies that contradict it.* OVERGENERALIZATION: Assuming that the results of a small number oflimited studies is directly applicable to all human beings.* LEAPS OF LOGIC: Drawing conclusions unrelated to the goals ormethods of particular research studies.* FALLACY: Making assumptions about the relationship between twopieces of information without testing that relationship(correlation does not equal causation).Phytoestrogens do have the ability to interact with estrogen

receptorsin our bodies, where they can evoke similar types of responses that thehormone causes or alternatively, block those effects. But many peopledon't realize that the intensity of an estrogen receptor's bond withisoflavones is much, /much/ weaker (a thousand times or so) thanestradiol's. The duration of the response may also be different and,unlike synthetic estrogens, phytoestrogens do not accumulate in the bodybut pass through in a matter of hours. Isoflavones also function as

antioxidants, counteracting free radicals in our tissues, which may bewhy some research shows they can protect against cancer.We explain this in much more detail in our article on phytotherapy<http://www.womentow omen.com/ womenshealth/ phytotherapy. aspx>, but thebottom line is that soy isoflavones are /not/ the same as our ownestrogen, so eating soy does not cause us to have more estrogen in ourbodies. Even more good news is that in many of the studies on soyisoflavones that look at soy isoflavone intake and cancers,cardiovascular risks, brain dysfunction, osteoporosis, or menopausalsymptoms, researchers found either favorable, promising, or elseinconclusive effects. In other words, at minimum, soy isoflavones showno harmful effect.And there are many possible explanations for why results

can be"inconclusive," including study design and limitations. Every woman'sbody is unique; therefore, how /bioavailable/ phytoestrogens become inour bodies after we eat them depends on many variables: our individualgenetic make-up, our digestion and metabolism, what else we eat --- evenour native gut flora. All of these influence our ability to reap healthbenefits from soy isoflavones. Also, it's important to remember thatthese studies do not take into account what else is going on in asubject's life, and what other lifestyle changes she might beexperiencing (or may need to address).At the clinic, we recommend soy as a natural, therapeutic treatment tohelp women with many aspects of their health, including hormonalbalance, because so many of our patients find it helpful. We've seenyears of case studies and research that suggests that adding soy to thediet --- or appropriate dosages of

isoflavones --- can sometimes helpmenopausal symptoms, although not everyone experiences uniform relief(see our page on soy for menopausal symptoms<http://www.womentow omen.com/ nutritionandweig htloss/soyformen opausalsymptoms.aspx>for more information) .While there are no one-size-fits- all treatments for any problem, what Ican say about the safety of soy is that scientists from severalcountries recently examined more than 200 isoflavone studies andconcluded that "the current literature supports the safety ofisoflavones as typically consumed in diets based on soy or containingsoy products."I think the key piece that women can walk away with is the word"typically." Because how much soy isoflavones we eat --- and in whatform --- matters when

thinking about how to best include soy into our diets.*Whole bean vs. germ* --- go for the way it's found in natureAt Women to Women, we encourage our patients to consume soy as close towhole form as possible. This is because the greatest benefits of eatingsoy come from following an isoflavone ratio close to that found in thewhole soybean, which is similar to the ratio found in healthy Asiandiets. As long as whatever soy products you eat are made from whole soy,you're getting soy as Nature intended.But there is a difference between consuming the whole bean and takingsupplements made from the germ only. Take a look at our "soybean" to seethe difference in isoflavone ratios:http://www.nal. usda.gov/ fnic/foodcomp/ Data/isoflav/ isfl_tbl. pdfOf the many isoflavones that occur naturally in

plants, genistein,daidzein, and glycitein are the primary ones found in soybeans. As youcan see above, soybeans typically include at about 50% genistein, 40%daidzein, and up to 10% glycitein forms. In contrast, /soy germ/isoflavone products typically contain only 20% genistein, 40% daidzein,and 40% glycitein.What do all of these numbers mean?Well, if a product lists 100 milligrams of isoflavones, you don't reallyknow what the ratio of those isoflavones is unless the manufacturerlists the ratios for you. Since genistein has the most noted beneficialeffects in humans, and whole soybean is much higher in genistein than

the soy germ, eating soy products or supplements that are made from thewhole bean gives you more of the therapeutic effects that we see in theclinic.How much soy is healthy?We don't really know yet whether any particular soy isolates taken bythemselves are as safe as or effective as whole soy foods, but what wedo know is that we can get the most benefits when we consume smallamounts of isoflavone-rich foods throughout the day, as part of aregular, lifelong eating habit.Another key to separating the facts from the misleading information isto look at isoflavone dosage. Studies often cited by soy critics useisolated compounds containing amounts of isoflavones that /far exceed/what a person would normally eat. Soy experts analyzing populations inmajor soy-consuming countries report isoflavones intakes varying betweenapproximately 25--80 milligrams of isoflavones per day. Studies

alsoshow intake at the upper end of that range to be both safe and highestin therapeutic value. Again, let's not forget that Asian cultures havenot only been enjoying soybeans in their diet for thousands of years,but likewise they enjoy longer lifespans, less heart disease, and lowerrates of obesity and cancer.But just as with any other food, it's best to make soy one of a varietyof healthy choices rather than making it the major focus of your diet--- especially if you're concerned about your breast health or your thyroid.Addressing your *health concerns and soy** *Breast health*As a breast surgeon, I'm frequently asked about soy's estrogenicqualities, and whether phytoestrogens are helpful or detrimentalfor prevention or treatment of breast cancer. Patients also wantto use alternatives to hormone replacement and are curious aboutsoy products, foods, supplements, isolates and

phytoestrogens, butare deeply concerned about the safety of soy and breast health.After years of research, we know that the soy isoflavones<#soyisoflavones> genistein and daidzein have a very weakestrogen-/like/ effect, but unlike real estrogens, they do notallow cells to proliferate. As mentioned above, soy isoflavonescan weakly bond with estrogen receptors on a cell, making the cellresistant to the more reactive hormonal form of estrogen. Forwomen, this blockade may prevent certain cell processes fromturning on, which can stimulate it to grow or possibly mutate. Thelower rate of breast cancer in Asian societies that eat a lot ofsoy is often quoted in support of this concept.But given so many genetic, lifestyle, and dietary factors (Asianwomen begin eating a regular soy diet much sooner, with moreconsistency, and they also include more omega-3's in their diets),there is not

enough evidence yet to support eating soy as a curefor breast health in non-Asian women.* *Soy and tamoxifen*Some doctors and healthcare practitioners have long recommendedthat women with breast cancer and anyone at high risk for it avoidsoy, because of genistein's weak estrogenic effects on breastcells. Studies in mice show that genistein may actually helpoverride cancer cells' resistance to tamoxifen, which suggests itmight be useful in combination with this drug or other types ofchemotherapy to prevent recurrence. But researchers also recognizethat the links between genistein and tamoxifen therapy warrantfurther examination in humans.Studies in humans have shown that in Asian women, "there was noevidence of soy intake adversely affecting levels of tamoxifen...[Yet] age, menopausal status, BMI, and the use of hypertensivemedications significantly influenced circulating levels

oftamoxifen." Without definitive science either way, it's impossibleto provide a one-size-fits- all answer for women, butrecommendations to avoid soy foods are not based on any clinicalevidence to support this advice. In fact, several FDA-approvedclinical trials are currently going on with breast cancer patientsusing soy.* *Thyroid concerns*It is true that if someone has a hidden thyroid problem, eatingsoy regularly can uncover it. That doesn't mean soy caused the

problem, only that certain properties of soy made the problem moreobvious --- and that's a good thing, because it helps you toaddress the problem!When soy exposes a thyroid deficiency, one possibility is that youhave not been getting enough iodine. For a healthy, iodine-repleteindividual, soy is very beneficial, but if you do have a thyroidproblem and you consume large quantities of soy without firstlooking into your iodine status, there is a remote risk ofdeveloping a goiter. Ensuring that your iodine levels areadequate, and learning how to balance your body's needsadequately, will eliminate this risk.So what do I tell my patients who are eager to try, or continue eating,soy in the face of breast cancer? My best recommendation is this: ifthey have been eating soy regularly in their diet, it is safe tocontinue. However, I advise moderation. My bottom line is that there arestill many

things we don't know about how breast cancer behaves inindividual women, so women should be able to have frank conversationswith their healthcare professionals if they have /any/ concerns aboutincluding soy in their diet. And when it comes to your thyroid health,if you have a personal or family history of thyroid disorders, the sameholds true: having open discussions with your physician about yourconcerns, and using soy products in moderation, is always a wise choice.Enjoying soy the right wayWe feel very excited about what we've uncovered. Soy is good for us!This is great news! While soy itself is innocent, however, there's noquestion that it has become a political issue. Some will probablycontinue to revile it as "poison," while others will continue to singits praises as the "miracle food." Neither extreme is the rightapproach. We really don't need to build a mythology around it: a

soybeanis just a soybean. There are some people who love the flavor of soymilksor yoghurts over dairy, and there are others who prefer the taste ofcow's milk. But if you're still a little uncertain about eating soy,here are a few easy rules-of-thumb to follow:* Try to include soy regularly in your diet, averaging 25--50 mg soyisoflavones per day will give you the basic benefits.* If you are using soy for menopausal symptoms<http://www.womentow omen.com/ nutritionandweig htloss/soyformen opausalsymptoms.aspx>,target a higher initial therapeutic dose of 80--100 mg soyisoflavones per day for best results.* Choose whole food products (like tofu or edamame) or supplementsmade from whole soybeans.* Make sure your soybeans are from a reliable, quality

source ---choose soy products that contain no GMO's (genetically modifiedorganisms) and look for organic foods whenever possible.* If you have thyroid concerns, breast health issues, allergies, orproblems with digestibility, speak with your healthcarepractitioner before eating large quantities of soy.* See our article on the nutritional benefits of soy<http://www.womentow omen.com/ nutritionandweig htloss/healthben efitsofsoy.aspx>for more information about healthy ways to use soy.At Women to Women, we believe that knowledge is power, and where thatknowledge comes from is just as important as the source of the foods weeat. Finding reliable sources that aren't one-sided is the best way toget the big picture, especially when it comes to issues that are sopoliticized.

So after reading the above bullet points, speak with yourhealthcare practitioner if you're still concerned about including soy inyour diet. Otherwise, rest assured that for most women, these wondrousgreen beans are part of a diet that is healthy, flavorful, and above all--- safe.Our Personal Program is a great place to startThe Personal Program promotes natural hormonal balance with nutritionalsupplements, our exclusive endocrine support formula, dietary andlifestyle guidance, and optional phone consultations with ournurse--educators. It is a convenient, at-home version of what we

recommend to all our patients at the clinic.* To learn more about the Program, go to How the Personal Programworks </programs/howitwork s.aspx>.* To select the Program that's right for your symptoms, go to Choosethe plan that works for you </programs/comparepl ans.aspx>.* To assess your symptoms, take our on-line Hormonal Health Profile</healthassessment/>.* If you have questions, don't hesitate to call us toll-free at*1-800-798-7902* . We're here to listen and help.*Related to this article:*References & further reading on the soy controversy<soycontroversy- references. aspx>/Original Publication Date:/ 04/24/2008/Last Modified: /05/08/2008 /

Principal Author:/ Dixie Mills, MD

May 22, 2008

I disagree mostly. We do use soy milk, but mostly soya is used as tofu for making oriental dishes or incorporating into stirfries, or sliced and fried.

Jo

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Angelo Dicks

Thursday, May 22, 2008 1:56 PM

Re: soy controversy/myths

Well as far as absorption people who eat a lot of soy shoud probaly eat enough foods rich in Bromelien (found in pinapples and mangoes) if you know other fruits please tell us.

you know what they say about to much of a good thing besides soy is mostley prevelant in manufactured goods besides for us we probley only us soy as a replacement for things we used to eat Like milk or cheese or soy meet alternative but at some point you might relize by eating these things its just to relieve you craving for your old lifstyle and most of that is about season and without it at first may think its bland but in fact what you relize without season is how things taste and the fact of the matter is that we just need to give our taste buds time to blossom soy is not the only bean. --- On Sun, 5/18/08, yarrow <yarrow wrote:

yarrow <yarrow soy controversy/myths Date: Sunday, May 18, 2008, 6:47 PM

Excellent article -- long, but well worth reading if you or anyone you know questions the "safety" of eating soyfoods.

http://www.womentow omen.com/ nutritionandweig htloss/soycontro versy.aspxUpdate on the soy controversy/by Dixie Mills, MD/We've wondered for a long time why there are still people who questionthe safety of soy foods and supplements. We've used soy at the clinicfor 10 years to help relieve menopausal symptoms, and we've reviewed allof the myths about it --- that soy causes breast cancer, interferes withtamoxifen or the digestion of protein, causes developmental delays ininfants fed soy formula, and many others. In our experience, and incountless studies we've looked at, we've found nothing to support thesemyths.Which only makes sense, since soy has been an important part of Asian

diets for thousands of years and continues to be a popular food choice.Countless forms of soy foods and supplements available are everywhere--- from soy bars, shakes, tofu, and milk sold in the grocery store tomore exotic foods like sushi and edamame (young, natural soybeans boiledand served whole) --- and there is just no reason to believe that any ofthese foods are harmful. And yet, I keep hearing from women that they,their friends, or their partners are worried about the safety of soy.It's absolutely true that soy products are not for everyone --- thereare some women who are allergic or sensitive to soy<http://www.womentow omen.com/ inflammation/ soyallergysoysen sitivity. aspx>.Other women have digestive or thyroid problems <#soythyroid> that needto be addressed before eating soy is a good idea. But I decided toresearch why soy has been fingered as a "dangerous" food, and why someof these anti-soy voices are so angry, if not downright frightened,about a little green bean.Given that soy is eaten by millions of people around the world everyday, it's puzzling that some people regard soy so negatively. While I'mnot sure that we've found all the answers, we here at Women to Womenhave looked into whether there is any scientific merit to the claims ofthose who demonize soy, and what we've found only confirms ourunderstanding that soy is a healthy food with many benefits for women.So let's talk about who is campaigning so aggressively against soy, andtake a look at the science behind this issue.Who is the voice against soy?There is just a huge amount of information /and/ misinformation floatingaround on the internet about the supposed dangers of soy. The loudestanti-soy voices are coming mostly from a close-knit group associatedwith promoting the nutritional agenda of the Weston A. Price Foundation(WAPF). Sally Fallon, Kaayla T. Daniel, Mary Enig, Julia Ross and JosephMercola are all members of the board at WAPF, or honorary members.The WAPF was founded by the early 20th century dentist Dr. Weston Price,who traveled around the world to research the diets of populations whoenjoyed the greatest longevity. Today the foundation promotes anutrition agenda based solely on "nutrient-dense whole foods and thevital fat-soluble activators found exclusively in animal fats."The WAPF agrees with many of the same ideas we have about the benefitsof whole, organic foods produced without harmful chemicals andadditives. But their main principles disregard the fact that some of thelongest-lived peoples in the world enjoy a diet that is rich in plantproteins --- not the least of which includes soy. And it is puzzlingthat they single out the soybean as harmful when it is a staple in somany healthful foods from around the world and has been shown to havehealth benefits from many years of ongoing research.What are their claims about soy?The internet is a marvelous invention, but just because anyone's voicecan be heard nowadays doesn't mean that what's being said is true --- or

worse, that it hasn't been taken out of context. And some of the claimsthe shrillest voices are making against soy really are outrageous andfrightening. Here are just a few:* /Soy phytoestrogens disrupt endocrine function and have thepotential to cause infertility and to promote breast cancer inadult women./* /Megadoses of phytoestrogens in soy formula have been implicatedin the current trend toward increasingly premature sexualdevelopment in girls and delayed or retarded sexual development inboys./* /Women with the highest levels of estrogen in their blood [have]the lowest levels of cognitive function./This kind of "medicalese" is a problem because it almost sounds likereal science --- enough so that others on the internet cite this websiteas a source for publishing some truly strange and ridiculous headlinesof their own: /Soy reduces penis size/; or /Tofu shrinks brains/; or/Soy is making kids "gay."/ It gets almost comical as the list goes on.It's no wonder so many women are uncertain about the safety of soy ---but the good news is that there is /just no real evidence/ behind theseextreme claims. At Women to Women, we have examined hundreds of studiesand reviews on soy from the leading peer-reviewed research journalsaround the world. Everything we know so far about soy points to the manypositive health benefits of soy products, or demonstrates inconclusiveresults. So I was interested to learn where these detractors weregetting their information from, and what I found was quite surprising.Faulty science and the campaign against soyOne of the most important lessons in science and statistics for us tounderstand is that /just because two factors seem related, does not meanone caused the other/. Another is that we have to carefully examine/how/ someone reaches their conclusions, because faulty reasoning leadsto incorrect answers. So let's look at the reasoning of the people whoconsider soy unhealthy and see how it stacks up.Many of the most strident anti-soy groups list page after page ofresources in support of their claims. To the untrained eye, it mightappear as though there is scientific substantiation against soy. Butmore often than not, they are misrepresenting the research findings. Forexample, I found that the WAPF listed articles or reports (notnecessarily scientific studies) by year, out of context, without listingany other articles that came out that year, making it seem as thoughthat one study was "the truth" for that year.Also, many of the studies on soy showing ambiguous results have beenconducted on non-human subjects --- usually rats or other rodents. Inmuch the same way dogs can't tolerate chocolate, rodents and humanscan't always digest the same foods or substances in the same ways. Thereare enough similarities that we can learn a lot by experiments in rats,but enough differences that it's important to know up front when rats,not humans, are the test subjects. Sometimes studies in animals give usthe only information we have, but we need to be cautious about drawingconclusions from studies based on animal models. From there, the nextstep is to design a study to see whether the findings apply to humans aswell. The WAPF doesn't /say/ that the studies were actually done on ratswhen they discuss the findings --- perhaps because doing so might maketheir claims seem less believable, without the same results being seenin people.Here's another kind of "sleight of hand" explanation the WAPF gives ontheir website. A study published in 1997 in the journal /Pediatrics/suggested that girls in the US are entering puberty at an earlier agethan in the past, and here's what the WAPF concluded:/(WAPF) Our Comment/: The widespread use of soy-based formula,beginning in the 1970's, is a likely explanation for the increase inearly maturation in girls.The study indeed came from /Pediatrics/ , published in 1997 --- butnowhere in the article's content or summary do the researchers ever linktheir findings to soy products. Here is how the authors themselvesworded their conclusion:

/Conclusions/ . These data suggest that girls seen in a sample ofpediatric practices from across the United States are developingpubertal characteristics at younger ages than currently used norms.Practitioners may need to revise their criteria for referral ofgirls with precocious puberty, with attention to racial differences.The fact that more African-American girls were maturing earlier than inthe past was one of the researchers' points, in the context thatprecocious puberty creates social and psychological concerns. Butbecause African-Americans in general have been shown to be morelactose-intolerant, the WAPF leapt to the conclusion that soy /must/ bethe culprit without looking at the facts. In statistics, this is calleda /fallacy/, and I could not find any literature to date that supportsthis idea. In fact, nearly all infant formulas, both cow milk andsoy-based, contain corn syrup or sucrose, providing calories that mightcontribute to obesity --- which in girls can lead to early puberty.Unfortunately, this kind of "magical" guesswork can be found all overthe internet when it comes to soy --- and without good science, many areresorting unnecessarily to scare tactics.The best thing we all can do is adopt a considered approach to theshouting match about soy. For whatever personal, political or economicreasons, there are people out to make misleading, confusing, anddownright scary statements about soy --- but a wild guess is just notthe same thing as a sound conclusion. We can counterbalance the loud,alarmist, but scientifically thin voices against soy with a mass ofpositive research data that speaks volumes about soy's safety --- not tomention the fact that thousands, if not millions, of people consume soyall the time with no ill effects!So let's take the science at face value. While we know that sciencedoesn't always get it right, there is a wealth of research that showsthat when eaten in small amounts every day, soy can be an extremelyhealthy, low-fat, body-beneficial food that gives you lots of proteinwithout a lot of harmful side effects. In other words, the good faroutweighs the remote possibility of bad.But just so you can enjoy soy without worry, there are things you maywant to know about how best to include soy in your diet<http://www.womentow omen.com/ nutritionandweig htloss/healthben efitsofsoy.aspx>,considering both health benefits and concerns.The heart of the soy controversy --- soy isoflavonesSoybeans and many other legumes contain compounds called "isoflavones",and it is these compounds that many in the anti-soy camp point to as themain "danger" of soy. They argue that because isoflavones are/phytoestrogens/ --- that is, their molecules share similarities withthe /estradiol/ molecule, the major estrogen hormone in human beings ---consuming soy products could promote the growth of estrogen-sensitivecancers in women.Faults in the argument against soy:* BIAS: Using only research that supports one point of view whileignoring studies that contradict it.* OVERGENERALIZATION: Assuming that the results of a small number oflimited studies is directly applicable to all human beings.* LEAPS OF LOGIC: Drawing conclusions unrelated to the goals ormethods of particular research studies.* FALLACY: Making assumptions about the relationship between twopieces of information without testing that relationship(correlation does not equal causation).Phytoestrogens do have the ability to interact with estrogen receptorsin our bodies, where they can evoke similar types of responses that thehormone causes or alternatively, block those effects. But many peopledon't realize that the intensity of an estrogen receptor's bond withisoflavones is much, /much/ weaker (a thousand times or so) thanestradiol's. The duration of the response may also be different and,unlike synthetic estrogens, phytoestrogens do not accumulate in the bodybut pass through in a matter of hours. Isoflavones also function as

antioxidants, counteracting free radicals in our tissues, which may bewhy some research shows they can protect against cancer.We explain this in much more detail in our article on phytotherapy<http://www.womentow omen.com/ womenshealth/ phytotherapy. aspx>, but thebottom line is that soy isoflavones are /not/ the same as our ownestrogen, so eating soy does not cause us to have more estrogen in ourbodies. Even more good news is that in many of the studies on soyisoflavones that look at soy isoflavone intake and cancers,cardiovascular risks, brain dysfunction, osteoporosis, or menopausalsymptoms, researchers found either favorable, promising, or elseinconclusive effects. In other words, at minimum, soy isoflavones showno harmful effect.And there are many possible explanations for why results can be"inconclusive," including study design and limitations. Every woman'sbody is unique; therefore, how /bioavailable/ phytoestrogens become inour bodies after we eat them depends on many variables: our individualgenetic make-up, our digestion and metabolism, what else we eat --- evenour native gut flora. All of these influence our ability to reap healthbenefits from soy isoflavones. Also, it's important to remember thatthese studies do not take into account what else is going on in asubject's life, and what other lifestyle changes she might beexperiencing (or may need to address).At the clinic, we recommend soy as a natural, therapeutic treatment tohelp women with many aspects of their health, including hormonalbalance, because so many of our patients find it helpful. We've seenyears of case studies and research that suggests that adding soy to thediet --- or appropriate dosages of isoflavones --- can sometimes helpmenopausal symptoms, although not everyone experiences uniform relief(see our page on soy for menopausal symptoms<http://www.womentow omen.com/ nutritionandweig htloss/soyformen opausalsymptoms.aspx>for more information) .While there are no one-size-fits- all treatments for any problem, what Ican say about the safety of soy is that scientists from severalcountries recently examined more than 200 isoflavone studies andconcluded that "the current literature supports the safety ofisoflavones as typically consumed in diets based on soy or containingsoy products."I think the key piece that women can walk away with is the word"typically." Because how much soy isoflavones we eat --- and in whatform --- matters when thinking about how to best include soy into our diets.*Whole bean vs. germ* --- go for the way it's found in natureAt Women to Women, we encourage our patients to consume soy as close towhole form as possible. This is because the greatest benefits of eatingsoy come from following an isoflavone ratio close to that found in thewhole soybean, which is similar to the ratio found in healthy Asiandiets. As long as whatever soy products you eat are made from whole soy,you're getting soy as Nature intended.But there is a difference between consuming the whole bean and takingsupplements made from the germ only. Take a look at our "soybean" to seethe difference in isoflavone ratios:http://www.nal. usda.gov/ fnic/foodcomp/ Data/isoflav/ isfl_tbl. pdfOf the many isoflavones that occur naturally in plants, genistein,daidzein, and glycitein are the primary ones found in soybeans. As youcan see above, soybeans typically include at about 50% genistein, 40%daidzein, and up to 10% glycitein forms. In contrast, /soy germ/isoflavone products typically contain only 20% genistein, 40% daidzein,and 40% glycitein.What do all of these numbers mean?Well, if a product lists 100 milligrams of isoflavones, you don't reallyknow what the ratio of those isoflavones is unless the manufacturerlists the ratios for you. Since genistein has the most noted beneficialeffects in humans, and whole soybean is much higher in genistein than

the soy germ, eating soy products or supplements that are made from thewhole bean gives you more of the therapeutic effects that we see in theclinic.How much soy is healthy?We don't really know yet whether any particular soy isolates taken bythemselves are as safe as or effective as whole soy foods, but what wedo know is that we can get the most benefits when we consume smallamounts of isoflavone-rich foods throughout the day, as part of aregular, lifelong eating habit.Another key to separating the facts from the misleading information isto look at isoflavone dosage. Studies often cited by soy critics useisolated compounds containing amounts of isoflavones that /far exceed/what a person would normally eat. Soy experts analyzing populations inmajor soy-consuming countries report isoflavones intakes varying betweenapproximately 25--80 milligrams of isoflavones per day. Studies alsoshow intake at the upper end of that range to be both safe and highestin therapeutic value. Again, let's not forget that Asian cultures havenot only been enjoying soybeans in their diet for thousands of years,but likewise they enjoy longer lifespans, less heart disease, and lowerrates of obesity and cancer.But just as with any other food, it's best to make soy one of a varietyof healthy choices rather than making it the major focus of your diet--- especially if you're concerned about your breast health or your thyroid.Addressing your *health concerns and soy** *Breast health*As a breast surgeon, I'm frequently asked about soy's estrogenicqualities, and whether phytoestrogens are helpful or detrimentalfor prevention or treatment of breast cancer. Patients also wantto use alternatives to hormone replacement and are curious aboutsoy products, foods, supplements, isolates and phytoestrogens, butare deeply concerned about the safety of soy and breast health.After years of research, we know that the soy isoflavones<#soyisoflavones> genistein and daidzein have a very weakestrogen-/like/ effect, but unlike real estrogens, they do notallow cells to proliferate. As mentioned above, soy isoflavonescan weakly bond with estrogen receptors on a cell, making the cellresistant to the more reactive hormonal form of estrogen. Forwomen, this blockade may prevent certain cell processes fromturning on, which can stimulate it to grow or possibly mutate. Thelower rate of breast cancer in Asian societies that eat a lot ofsoy is often quoted in support of this concept.But given so many genetic, lifestyle, and dietary factors (Asianwomen begin eating a regular soy diet much sooner, with moreconsistency, and they also include more omega-3's in their diets),there is not enough evidence yet to support eating soy as a curefor breast health in non-Asian women.* *Soy and tamoxifen*Some doctors and healthcare practitioners have long recommendedthat women with breast cancer and anyone at high risk for it avoidsoy, because of genistein's weak estrogenic effects on breastcells. Studies in mice show that genistein may actually helpoverride cancer cells' resistance to tamoxifen, which suggests itmight be useful in combination with this drug or other types ofchemotherapy to prevent recurrence. But researchers also recognizethat the links between genistein and tamoxifen therapy warrantfurther examination in humans.Studies in humans have shown that in Asian women, "there was noevidence of soy intake adversely affecting levels of tamoxifen...[Yet] age, menopausal status, BMI, and the use of hypertensivemedications significantly influenced circulating levels oftamoxifen." Without definitive science either way, it's impossibleto provide a one-size-fits- all answer for women, butrecommendations to avoid soy foods are not based on any clinicalevidence to support this advice. In fact, several FDA-approvedclinical trials are currently going on with breast cancer patientsusing soy.* *Thyroid concerns*It is true that if someone has a hidden thyroid problem, eatingsoy regularly can uncover it. That doesn't mean soy caused the

problem, only that certain properties of soy made the problem moreobvious --- and that's a good thing, because it helps you toaddress the problem!When soy exposes a thyroid deficiency, one possibility is that youhave not been getting enough iodine. For a healthy, iodine-repleteindividual, soy is very beneficial, but if you do have a thyroidproblem and you consume large quantities of soy without firstlooking into your iodine status, there is a remote risk ofdeveloping a goiter. Ensuring that your iodine levels areadequate, and learning how to balance your body's needsadequately, will eliminate this risk.So what do I tell my patients who are eager to try, or continue eating,soy in the face of breast cancer? My best recommendation is this: ifthey have been eating soy regularly in their diet, it is safe tocontinue. However, I advise moderation. My bottom line is that there arestill many things we don't know about how breast cancer behaves inindividual women, so women should be able to have frank conversationswith their healthcare professionals if they have /any/ concerns aboutincluding soy in their diet. And when it comes to your thyroid health,if you have a personal or family history of thyroid disorders, the sameholds true: having open discussions with your physician about yourconcerns, and using soy products in moderation, is always a wise choice.Enjoying soy the right wayWe feel very excited about what we've uncovered. Soy is good for us!This is great news! While soy itself is innocent, however, there's noquestion that it has become a political issue. Some will probablycontinue to revile it as "poison," while others will continue to singits praises as the "miracle food." Neither extreme is the rightapproach. We really don't need to build a mythology around it: a soybeanis just a soybean. There are some people who love the flavor of soymilksor yoghurts over dairy, and there are others who prefer the taste ofcow's milk. But if you're still a little uncertain about eating soy,here are a few easy rules-of-thumb to follow:* Try to include soy regularly in your diet, averaging 25--50 mg soyisoflavones per day will give you the basic benefits.* If you are using soy for menopausal symptoms<http://www.womentow omen.com/ nutritionandweig htloss/soyformen opausalsymptoms.aspx>,target a higher initial therapeutic dose of 80--100 mg soyisoflavones per day for best results.* Choose whole food products (like tofu or edamame) or supplementsmade from whole soybeans.* Make sure your soybeans are from a reliable, quality source ---choose soy products that contain no GMO's (genetically modifiedorganisms) and look for organic foods whenever possible.* If you have thyroid concerns, breast health issues, allergies, orproblems with digestibility, speak with your healthcarepractitioner before eating large quantities of soy.* See our article on the nutritional benefits of soy<http://www.womentow omen.com/ nutritionandweig htloss/healthben efitsofsoy.aspx>for more information about healthy ways to use soy.At Women to Women, we believe that knowledge is power, and where thatknowledge comes from is just as important as the source of the foods weeat. Finding reliable sources that aren't one-sided is the best way toget the big picture, especially when it comes to issues that are sopoliticized. So after reading the above bullet points, speak with yourhealthcare practitioner if you're still concerned about including soy inyour diet. Otherwise, rest assured that for most women, these wondrousgreen beans are part of a diet that is healthy, flavorful, and above all--- safe.Our Personal Program is a great place to startThe Personal Program promotes natural hormonal balance with nutritionalsupplements, our exclusive endocrine support formula, dietary andlifestyle guidance, and optional phone consultations with ournurse--educators. It is a convenient, at-home version of what we

recommend to all our patients at the clinic.* To learn more about the Program, go to How the Personal Programworks </programs/howitwork s.aspx>.* To select the Program that's right for your symptoms, go to Choosethe plan that works for you </programs/comparepl ans.aspx>.* To assess your symptoms, take our on-line Hormonal Health Profile</healthassessment/>.* If you have questions, don't hesitate to call us toll-free at*1-800-798-7902* . We're here to listen and help.*Related to this article:*References & further reading on the soy controversy<soycontroversy- references. aspx>/Original Publication Date:/ 04/24/2008/Last Modified: /05/08/2008 /

Principal Author:/ Dixie Mills, MD

May 23, 2008

Seasoned or unseasoned, and as one's main source of nutrition, it's far

better for you than a popular diet of a few years ago consisting of

meat. If it's to satisfy a craving, then good, use it to satisfy a

craving. The animals will love you for your choice.

May 23, 2008

I definitely agree. It's a healthy, cheap food.

Jo

, " Lei " <subigone wrote:

>

> Seasoned or unseasoned, and as one's main source of nutrition, it's

far

> better for you than a popular diet of a few years ago consisting of

> meat. If it's to satisfy a craving, then good, use it to satisfy a

> craving. The animals will love you for your choice.

>

May 24, 2008

But u did say mostley, but that was our perspective. and besides tofu is not its natrual form it manufactured if I'm not mistaken.--- On Thu, 5/22/08, jo <jo.heartwork wrote:

jo <jo.heartworkRe: soy controversy/myths Date: Thursday, May 22, 2008, 4:09 PM

I disagree mostly. We do use soy milk, but mostly soya is used as tofu for making oriental dishes or incorporating into stirfries, or sliced and fried.

Jo

-

Angelo Dicks

@gro ups.com

Thursday, May 22, 2008 1:56 PM

Re: soy controversy/ myths

Well as far as absorption people who eat a lot of soy shoud probaly eat enough foods rich in Bromelien (found in pinapples and mangoes) if you know other fruits please tell us.

you know what they say about to much of a good thing besides soy is mostley prevelant in manufactured goods besides for us we probley only us soy as a replacement for things we used to eat Like milk or cheese or soy meet alternative but at some point you might relize by eating these things its just to relieve you craving for your old lifstyle and most of that is about season and without it at first may think its bland but in fact what you relize without season is how things taste and the fact of the matter is that we just need to give our taste buds time to blossom soy is not the only bean. --- On Sun, 5/18/08, yarrow <yarrow wrote:

yarrow <yarrow soy controversy/ myths@gro ups.comSunday, May 18, 2008, 6:47 PM