Is it true that soy is harmful in excess of 2 servings/day?

Question

We've got issues with cholesterol in my family but I LOVE ice cream. I just got butter pecan by Soy Dream from Whole Foods and it is SO delicious! One of my best friends took a nutrition class though and informed me that more than 2 servings/day blocks your "estrogen receptors" -- what the heck does that mean and am I ok eating as much soy as I want? (also, you should try Iced Soy White Mocha at Starbucks -- so yummy!!!) (I'm not lactose intolerant but soy seems healthier and is palatable in those things I mentioned above.)

Actually the increase in estrogen thing doesn't seem harmful (for women) - I know soy protein is linked with lowering LDL cholesterol, and I think estrogen is known to raise HDL (good) cholesterol -- so isn't that a good thing? Seriously - I just don't know...

Answer 1

I've been a vegetarian for over 20 years. Recently, on The View a woman said to stay away from any product that said it had soy extracts. I believe that is the right term. Anyway, I used a lot of Morningstar products and called them to ask about it. For the first week I got a lot of runaround but finally spoke with one of their nutritionists who said that there is some controversy about it but she believed that all the Morningstar products were not harmful.

At another time on a tv show talking about this the person said that the way soy products are eaten in the East is different that the way they are processed in the USA. She also said that even
when they had a dish prepared with tofu for example, it would be a small part of the dish. I've heard similiar things about the way
the Japanese eat meat. They may have it in a meal but it isn't the main part of the meal as it would be in the US.

I was eating a lot. I've cut down a lot and added more nuts, beans, plain yogurt and those kinds of things. I still eat some but less than 10% of what I was. I don't know the answers to these questions, but I do think they are important as Americans eat more and more soy products. We do have a habit here to take a perfectly good product and over process, and over eat it. Each of us eating soy products should do some good research on the subject and possible err on the side of caution til we know more.

Answer 2

I have never heard of that I have a lot of friends that are vegatarians and they eat more than that a day and they are so very healthy. They tell you this stuff all the time I do not believe it. I imagine if you was to eat anything in excess it would not be good so i would say eat what you want.

Answer 3

I'm not sure, but I have heard that soy has a lot of estrogen. Drinking a lot of it makes you moody and emotional, as if you're PMSing. I've seen it happen to people, even men.

Answer 4

3rd eye on your back, hairy palms perhaps. Your body does use its nutrition to create excess semen though instead of using it for your eyes or your hair. You will probably lose eye sight faster than normal and lose your hair faster than normal, some studies have shown people who masturbate frequently have worse memories than those that don't also but it is all still speculative. You could also potentially infect yourself if your not washing your hands before and after. I suggest you stop playing with yourself.

Answer 5

Soy products are goitrogens meaning that they suppress your thyroid function and may affect your estrogen levels too!! So eat soy in moderation only!! Suppression of your thyroid gland can make you fat and depressed!! Enjoy life!!

Answer 6

it means that u should only have 2 servings of that a day but if u want to be healthy try to take it 2 servings a week

Answer 7

I thought it had to do with the sodium content of soy.

Answer 8

You should talk to a nutritionist.