Guest guest Posted February 23, 2006 Report Share Posted February 23, 2006 > According to an article in Mothering magazine researchers with the Israeli > Health Ministry spent about a year assessing a wide variety of soy studies. > The research team included more than a dozen nutritionists, pediatricians and > oncologists. They announced their findings last summer. > > The primary conclusions: > Estrogen-like plant hormones (isoflavones) in soy may increase the risk of > health problems, including breast cancer and reduced fertility in men > Evidence that soy reduces symptoms of menopause is inconsistent. > Soy may slightly reduce cholesterol levels, but no clear link to a reduced > risk of heart disease was found Researchers " strongly urged " minimized > consumption of soy foods until further studies are able to demonstrate soy's > safety. In addition, the Israeli team recommended that soy baby formula should be > used only as a last resort in cases where infants can't be breastfed and cow's > milk can't be given. > > Another article referred to an animal study in which newborn male monkeys > were fed a soy formula. Researchers concluded that soy impeded the normal > testosterone production that occurs in the first months of life. > > -------------------------------------------- > Heart & soy > > The first item is an oldie that appeared in the March 1999 issue of Natural > Health. In that article, author Sally Euclaire Osborne cited a New Zealand > study that examined the isoflavone levels in soy formula for babies. The > recommended daily intake of the formula was found to be FOUR TIMES the amount > capable of changing the reproductive hormones in women. > > The second item brings us up to date with new information just released by > the American Heart Association (AHA). > > In 2000, the AHA recommended soy consumption based on studies that indicated > soy had a cholesterol-lowering effect. But when further research began to > contradict those findings, the AHA launched a review of more than 20 soy > studies. Results showed that soy protein has no effect on HDL cholesterol, and a > very small effect on LDL cholesterol. In addition, researchers concluded that > soy does not reduce hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms, nor does it > prevent prostate, breast or uterine cancer. > > Thanks to the aggressive marketing efforts of soybean producers such as > Monsanto and Archer s Midland, soy has won a mainstream reputation as a > nutritional medicine of sorts, even though evidence to the contrary has been > steadily mounting for years. > > If you like soy, try to limit your intake to soy products developed from > fermented soy. > > **************************************************** > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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