ORIGINAL CONTENT OF ARTICLE: Soy Benefits and Side Effects

Dr Jorge Chavarro from the Harvard School of Public Health found that
high soya food intakes are associated with lower sperm concentration. [1]

However, the Soya Protein Association refutes his article. The study on
which his article is based is incomplete and does not tell the full story. The
estimate of the participants' soya foods intake was only based on a
questionnaire of their recall of their previous soya foods consumption. The
study did not determine what other factors such as foods, medications,
sexual activities or environmental factors may have directly affected the
drop in sperm count. The study also did not find a negative relationship
between soya and sperm mobility or sperm quality, both of which are key
factors to fertility.

Let's see how other scientists see the health benefits of soy:

Xiao CW.Nutrition Research Division, Food Directorate, Health
Products and Food Branch, Health Canada:

Epidemiological investigations suggest that soy consumption may be
associated with a lower incidence of certain chronic diseases. Clinical
studies also show that ingestion of soy proteins reduces the risk factors for
cardiovascular disease. This led to the approval of the food-labeling
health claim for soy proteins in the prevention of coronary heart disease
by the U.S. FDA in 1999. [2]

Similar health petitions for soy proteins have also been approved
thereafter in the United Kingdom, Brazil, South Africa, the Philippines,
Indonesia, Korea, and Malaysia. However, the purported health benefits
are quite variable in different studies. [2]

The Nutrition Committee of the American Heart Association has assessed
22 randomized trials conducted since 1999 and found that isolated soy
protein with isoflavones (ISF) slightly decreased LDL cholesterol but had
no effect on HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, lipoprotein(a), or blood
pressure. The other benefits of soy consumption were not evident.  [2]

Some studies have documented potential safety concerns on increased
consumption of soy products. Impacts of soy products on thyroid and
reproductive functions as well as on certain types of carcinogenesis
require further study in this context. [2]

Researchers from University of Southern California:

In their review, they focused on studies with relatively complete
assessment of dietary soy exposure in the targeted populations and
appropriate consideration for potential confounders in the statistical
analysis of study data. Meta-analysis of the 8 (1 cohort, 7 case-control)
studies conducted in high-soy-consuming Asians show a significant trend
of decreasing risk on breast cancer with increasing soy food intake.
However, soy intake was unrelated to breast cancer risk in studies
conducted in the 11 low-soy-consuming Western populations whose
average highest and lowest soy isoflavone intake levels were around 0.8
and 0.15 mg per day, respectively. [3]

Anderson JW. University of Kentucky:

Using soy protein instead of animal protein reduces development of kidney
disease in animals. Reducing protein intake preserves kidney function in
persons with early diabetic kidney disease. Our clinical observations led us
to the soy-protein hypothesis that "substitution of soy protein for animal
protein results in less hyperfiltration and glomerular hypertension with
resulting protection from diabetic nephropathy." These components of soy
protein may lead to the benefits: specific peptides, amino acids, and
isoflavones. Substituting soy protein for animal protein usually decreases
hyperfiltration in diabetic subjects and may reduce urine albumin excretion.

[1] Soya not the cause of low sperm counts, #  The Guardian,# Saturday
July 26 2008 [2] Health effects of soy protein and isoflavones in humans. J
Nutr. 2008 Jun;138(6):1244S-9S [3] Epidemiology of soy exposures and
breast cancer risk. Br J Cancer. 2008 Jan 15;98(1):9-14. Epub 2008 Jan 8
[4] Beneficial effects of soy protein consumption for renal function. Asia
Pac J Clin Nutr. 2008;17 Suppl 1:324-8
Email received from XXXXXX@yahoo.com on Sat, 11 Oct 2008
13:53:07 -0700 (PDT)

Look up the amount of side effects and health issues from these
products.  Look into how they are made: soy -- irradiated/biogenetically
engineered abarration; and Canola from rape seed, a family of plants
used for mustard gas.  These are not natural; what the heck are they
doing listed with vegetables on your site? LOL.

Then, after you look into these and perhaps remove them from your site
or list them as toxic waste, ask yourself why those products have been
legitimized and to what end do the masters of those products wish that we
consume them....

Again, if you can make diesel fuel with the products, if you look at how
they make those products and from what, if you study how they turn blood
into sludge and clog veins and arteries, you'll freak out, just as much as
you'l FREAK OUT ABOUT THE TOPIC OF FLUORIDE

My Reply on Sat, 11 Oct 2008 20:20:54 -0700 (PDT)

I'll search if there are any new report(s) about their toxic/side effects. If
you have any reference, please, forward t me. Thanks for your email.
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New Findings about the side effects of soy products (as of
10-12-2008):

Hogervorst E and co-workers,  Loughborough University UK
The Honolulu Asia Aging Study reported an increased risk for cognitive
impairment and other dementia markers with high tofu (soybean curd)
intake. ( Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2008;26(1):50-7. Epub 2008 Jun
27.)

Pop EA and co-workers, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
A phase I double-blind clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the effects
of a high oral dose of soy isoflavones administered daily for 84 days to
healthy postmenopausal women. Very few adverse events occurred, and
the only drug-related adverse events were mild or grade 1 in severity.
CONCLUSIONS: Unconjugated soy isoflavones appear to be safe and
well tolerated in healthy postmenopausal women at doses of 900 mg/day.
(Menopause. 2008 Jul-Aug;15(4 Pt 1):684-92.)

Chandrareddy A and co-workers Kings County Hospital Center, NY
Abnormal uterine bleeding with endometrial pathology in three women
was found to be related to a high intake of soy products. The first woman
had postmenopausal bleeding with uterine polyp, proliferative
endometrium and a growing leiomyoma. The second woman presented
with severe dysmenorrhea, abnormal uterine bleeding, endometriosis and
uterine leiomyoma not responding to treatment. The third woman with
severe dysmenorrhea, abnormal uterine bleeding, endometriosis and
uterine leiomyomata presented with secondary infertility. All three women
improved after withdrawal of soy from their diet.
{Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2008 May;14(2):132-5. Epub 2008 Mar 7C)

Animal Studies in our laboratory have shown that exposure to genistein
causes deleterious effects on the developing female reproductive system.
Neonatal treatment with genistein at environmentally relevant doses
caused adverse consequences on female development which is
manifested in adulthood. (Mol Nutr Food Res. 2007 Jul;51(7):832-44.)

Please, do not overload yourself with soy product especially if you are
pregnant. Please talk to your doctor before taking any supplement.
Finally, I would like to thank XXXXXX@yahoo.com for her comment.
Soy Benefits and Side Effects
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