What's the Deal with Soy Milk?

I wanted to put a very common misconception to rest! So many people tell me they avoid soy because they heard it messes with their hormones.

Where did these rumors come from?

Soy contains a compound called phytoestrogen, which has a similar chemical structure to estrogen. These phytoestrogens have been found to have effects at the estrogen receptors in animals and humans.

However, just because the structure is similar to estrogen, that doesn’t mean it will act AS estrogen. The structure is different enough that it only weakly mimics estrogens effects, and in some cases, it even acts as an anti-estrogen by binding to the estrogen receptors and preventing actual estrogen from binding and taking effect.

Additionally, phytoestrogens are now being studied as cancer protective agents, and have been found to improve cholesterol levels, insulin sensitivity, and glycemic control! There are many new studies highlighting the benefits of soy phytoestrogen supplementation, as epidemiologists argue that many of the chronic diseases seen in Americans are due to our diet’s lack of bioactive plant components.

So go ahead and enjoy your soy!