Soy

• Posted by a hidden member.
  Log in to view his profile
  
  
  Nov 17, 2009 10:22 PM GMT

  I've been looking at the affects of soy on men's testosterone.
  In my opinions soy products' pros outweigh the cons.
  -Soy is low in fat.
  -High protein.
  -Cheap (i am a student).
  -Nutrient dense.
  -Antioxidant filled
  
  Obviously the con is that it does lower testosterone. When i started to go to the gym at first i was told repeatedly... "Don't touch soy!" like a slap on the wrist.
  
  So i did some research on it, this is an article i found on a site i use for uni but i dunno if its free online somewhere ;
  
  DiSilvestro. R. A et al. 2006.Soy protein intake by active young adult men raises plasma antioxidant capacity without altering plasma testosterone. Nutrition Research.Nutrition Research. 26(2), pp.92-95.
  
  The article shows that when men take soy the testosterone decrease is hardly measurable.
  The only time it will maybe have a bad effect on muscle building is when the only protein intake is coming from soy products.
  Mix it up with some meat and fish and you have all the amino acids there.
  
  So i don't think there's any harm in swapping one of your 4 steaks a day for a tofu stir fry. You can't deny it doesn't have the protein and you definitely can't deny that the fat content is a help of a lot lower than even the leanest of meat. The antioxidant boost is good over here in Scotland as it stops all the cold weather making you sick ( pitty vote).
  
  Anyone else got any information on this topic? Have i missed something horrific about soy?
  
  
  
  
  

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM
• Posted by a hidden member.
  Log in to view his profile
  
  
  Nov 18, 2009 12:14 AM GMT

  I think it's ok to consume soy in moderation, but it should not be your primary protein source. The fact that there's even anecdotal evidence that soy can reduce your testosterone levels should be a concern.
  
  Generally speaking, your diet should have variety. There are plenty of other foods that are rich in protein, low in fat, and provide anti-oxidants.

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM
• Posted by a hidden member.
  Log in to view his profile
  
  
  Nov 18, 2009 5:28 AM GMT

  except if you're a vegetarian, the range food high in protein isn't that big.So soy is always part of the equation.
  But one doesn't have to go overboard. I never drink soy milk for instance.
  I have occasional tofu and eat soy beans now and then.
  So it's an alternative to dairy, eggs, bananas, cereal, beans ...
  I was always concerned over that estrogenic effect.
  
  Beans are also a concern to men, because of high iron content.
  But i read somewhere , long time ago, that if you drink tea, it will prevent iron absorption, so beans with tea it is.

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM
• Posted by a hidden member.
  Log in to view his profile
  
  
  Nov 18, 2009 5:45 AM GMT

  sometimes the way they process soy beans isn't very "nice"... almost as bad as enriched wheat flour(bleaching etc etc). The cheap tofu usually has some stupid amounts hexane etc etc. soy is nice and cheap but not a lot of people will consider tofu a processed food but it is... and thats not necessarily a good thing.
  
  organic soy products... all for it

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM
• Posted by a hidden member.
  Log in to view his profile
  
  
  Nov 18, 2009 7:58 AM GMT

  Thanks for the comments guys.
  As for the tea comment, tea contains tanin which inhibits iron absorption... but you will need to have like 8 cups a day to really inhibit... bare in mind tea is also a diuretic.
  It's organic tofu that I've started buying and I totally agree with the fact that it is only a constituent of a wide variety or protein sources you should eat.
  The testosterone loss is barely measurable but the effect on everyone is different so i can see your concern.
  I am trying to adopt a more vegetarian diet so thanks xassantex for your input.

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM
• DzanMason
  
  Posts: 15
  
  
  Nov 22, 2009 2:25 AM GMT

  One has to keep in mind the politics that revolve around soy. Because it has all of the qualifications that you've named, and it can be made into a vast amount of "meat replacements", there is a large (wealthy) group of people who are not to keen on it. There is plenty of research displaying both positive and negative effects of soy, but a lot of these "studies" are sponsored by the meat and dairy industries. Just keep in mind that there are plenty of, money driven, biased views; just like everything else in the world.
  
  That being said, there are other proteins available to those who choose not to intake meat, cheese, eggs, etc. Hemp, rice, and pea proteins are all available in raw and naturally isolated powders. While they tend to be a little more money, its always good to switch things up. I personally mix a scoop of each protein to make my shakes.
  
  Use your own judgement. See how YOU feel. Cultures all around the world use soy frequently in their meals and many of them have longer average life spans than Americans.

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM