The health benefits of Soy

This is a question that comes up again and again. At every market or food festival somebody always makes an enquiry or statement about the health benefits of Soy. Is it good for us or is it a 'bad food'. "Isn't it an Oestrogen mimicker and therefore won't it make us blokes infertile?"It was in response to this type of question that we developed our Hi-fibre bread flour to be completely Soy free so that our customers would have a choice.

I was reminded of this conundrum again whilst reading a recent article from Food Navigator Long-term consumption of a soy-rich diet may decrease a male’s sperm count, says a study with mice. Adult mice fed a soy-rich diet had sperm counts 25 per cent lower, and 21 per cent smaller litter sizes, than mice fed a soy-free diet, according to research published in Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology. The study was dismissed, however, by Michelle Braun, PhD, a member of soy supplier Solae's nutrition science group, who noted that scientific evidence from human studies shows no correlation between soy intake and changes in testosterone levels, therefore, suggesting no affect on male fertility (Fertil Steril 2009). “In this study, animals in one of the experimental groups were fed a single source of protein (soy protein) for the duration of life, which is not comparable to typical human consumption,” said Dr Braun. “It is tenuous to attribute the differences observed between the two study groups to the phytoestrogen content of the diet. “The health benefits of dietary soy protein go beyond the phytoestrogen content. There is an overwhelming amount of clinical evidence that indicates soyfoods, which are low in fat and a good source of high quality protein can make important contributions to an overall healthy diet,” she added.

During the late eighties and nineties Soy flour seemed to be used in almost every kind of food from bread to sausages. It was seen as a wonder ingredient which could be used to cut costs by replacing some of the more expensive ingredients but not affect the taste or texture of the existing product, in some cases even improving the quality of the end product. But there are huge health benefits with Soy, the product is high in fibre, protein and minerals yet low in saturated fat and free of cholesterol. There is a growing awareness amongst consumers that Soy is an important ingredient in its own right.

I wonder if people are getting their information about Soy mixed up and confusing the issue. What I mean by that is are people mixing up the scare stories concerning GM Soy with Soy in general? Is Soy guilty by association with GM? What I find quite ironic is that people will refuse to eat Soy and continue to give it bad press, worried about its health benefits, but are quite happy to eat beef, pork, and chicken which are reared on a diet rich in GM soy! Let us not forget that Soy has played a huge role in the diet of the Chinese and Japanese for thousands of years, and if anyone is in any doubt about the effect of soy on their fertility rates perhaps a quick look at the population statistics will put their minds at rest.