Soy Protein And Long Effects

Most health magazines tout the exceptional health benefits of soy protein which range from minimizing menopause problems, cancer prevention, and weight loss among others. But they fail to mention the adverse effects due to long-term use of soy products.

A few adverse health effects caused due to heavy and long term consumption of soy products are discussed below

It can cause goiter, an enlargement of thyroid gland due to iodine deficiency.
Soy phytoestrogens (Isoflavones) disrupt endocrine function and have the potential to cause infertility and to promote breast cancer in adult women.
Studies have shown that soy product intake can cause Testosterone Reduction in males.
High levels of phytic acid in soy reduce absorption of calcium, magnesium, copper, iron and zinc causing growth defects in children.
Soy foods increase the body’s requirement for vitamin D.
Soy foods contain high levels of aluminum which is toxic to the nervous system and the kidneys.

The long term effects of soy products intake is pronounced in infants who are fed with soy formula.

Infants on soy formula are particularly vulnerable to developing autoimmune thyroid disease when exposed to high dose of isoflavones over time. It can also raise the risk of thyroid cancer.
The dose in soy baby formulas is equivalent of an adult woman taking up to ten contraceptive pills a day. This indicates that a baby in its first year gets a total antifertility dose of 100 pill-equivalents.
Soy infant feeding, which floods the bloodstream with female hormones inhibit testosterone required for development of the male sexual organs, other masculine physical traits and setting patterns in the brain characteristic of male behavior. Inhibited testosterone production in boys is leading to delay in physical maturation including lack of development of sexual organs.
Premature development of girls has also been linked to the use of soy formula. Almost 15 percent of white girls and 50 percent of African-American girls show signs of puberty such as breast development and pubic hair, before the age of eight. Some girls are showing sexual development before the age of three.

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Soy Protein And Long Effects