When Americans were informed of the health-damaging nature of most of what we eat, especially red meat and fatty dairy products, many efforts were made to find alternatives. This is challenging given that meat and dairy have dominated our diet for many decades, and we believe they are essential to meeting protein and calcium requirements.
In fact, I was raised to firmly believe that I needed at least three cups of whole milk per day. In fact, to help ensure the high status of milk and enforce the three cups-a-day rule, we had daily milk breaks when I was in first grade in 1952. Milk shared the spotlight with meat. In my family, it was mandatory that if a piece of meat appeared on your plate, you ate every single part of it, without exception.
as an injury My heart disease increased and the American diet was revealed as a major contributing factor, soy It burst onto the scene with claims that it could replace the benefits of meat and dairy, but without the health-damaging baggage. At first, no one paid much attention, and soybeans were largely left to wild-eyed vegans and tofu lovers. I wasn’t a vegetarian at the time and admitted that my “manly demeanor” wouldn’t allow me to think of letting a morsel of soy go into my mouth.
There has also been a concerted two-pronged effort by major business interests to further promote meat and dairy products with huge advertising budgets, while at the same time trying to destroy the public image of soybeans.
Despite the campaign to eliminate soy, it has taken hold and grown in popularity to the point of being seen as a threat to the status quo. This, in turn, inspired further efforts to promote fear and contempt.
You may like:New Year, New You: Why Now is the Time to Invest More in Your Health
Does eating soy add estrogen to my diet?
The soybean assault was particularly effective with men as two arguments were concocted and presented. The first is soy, which contains estrogen.
Technically, this is true because soy contains a form of “phytoestrogen,” Isoflavone phytochemicals which differ from human estrogen. But will this “feminize” men, as some have argued?
number.
Clinical studies have shown that eating soy does not lower sperm count or lower testosterone levels. Moreover, the dose of isoflavones found in natural soybean and soybean products is modest. On the plus side, studies suggest that soy may be protective Prostate cancer.
What type of protein is in soy?
Another false argument is that the vegetable protein provided by soybeans is less than the animal protein.
wrong. Soy provides the “complete” protein because it contains all of the essential amino acids. Essential means that your body cannot manufacture some amino acids and it is “essential” that you get them from your diet.
Can you lift weights and compete as a strength athlete if you consume soy instead of meat and dairy products?
yes.
You may like:Don’t miss the symptoms of dehydration: Here’s how much water you should be drinking per day
There is a long list of successful endurance and strength athletes who have been vegan. Plus, bona fide research also supports this. For example, a 2020 study in the “European Journal of Clinical Nutrition” concluded: “These data suggest that plant-based diets do not impair athletic performance and may improve endurance and muscle strength, and clinicians should consider plant-based diets for nutritional programs.” Exercise training.”
Is soy bad for you?
The campaign against soy was not limited to men. Women are at higher risk breast cancer Those who have had breast cancer are warned to avoid soy products. But what does the science say?
Early research on soy and its potential to promote breast cancer in high-risk patients has found mixed results. However, more recent and more complex research studies tell a different story. The following is a summary of recent research on this topic from Dr. Omer Kucuk, a medical oncologist and researcher from Winship Cancer Institute At Emory University: “So far, we know that soy foods are good, soy foods are safe, and soy foods prevent breast cancer, and also improve treatment outcomes and reduce mortality in patients with breast cancer.”
Another ploy to scare women against soy is the false argument that soy causes and promotes calcium deficiency Osteoporosis. Early research found that chemicals in soybeans can prevent calcium absorption. This has caused soy opponents to jump on this and shout it from the rooftops, but further studies have revealed that this is not a problem. However, in fairness, Soy milk It contains less calcium than cow’s milk, which is why soy milk is usually fortified with calcium. Thus, soy milk and soy products do not contribute to osteoporosis.
You may like:Can regular exercise help reduce the risk of cancer? Here are 4 things you should know
Fortunately, the big corporations haven’t been able to destroy soy’s reputation, but it still isn’t as prevalent as meat and dairy products, foods that can ruin our health and can make Americans live sicker and die faster than people in other industrialized countries.
You can reach Bryant Stamford, professor of kinesiology and integrative physiology at Hanover College, at stamford@hanover.edu.