The soy controversy is alive and well in the West nowadays. The debate revolves around the phytoestrogens in soybeans.

When you eat a normal amount of these foods, it should have no affect on your health.

Soy has come under heat about their phytoestrogens since 2006, when an American Heart Association review of a 10-year study found that soy protein may not reduce post-menopause hot flashes, may not be good for the heart, and may not prevent breast cancer, uteran cancer, or prostate cancer.

It is interesting to note that soy foods and beans don’t have the highest levels of phytoestrogens. In fact, the order goes like this… nuts and oil seeds, soy products, cereals and breads, legumes, meat products, and processed foods (from highest to lowest).

Basically, the soy controversy comes down to a general lack of solid data on the risks of soybeans. Some say that it is not good for the body, and others say that the data cannot be substantiated with solid evidence.

Also, many of the studies are using extremely high dosages in their treatments and are using concentrated phytoestrogens that are taken from soybeans. The studies are not done with actual soybeans, where the concentration is much lower.

Concentrated amounts of virtually any substance are likely to be bad for your health.

Estrogen is no different.

Again, to go back to the study down in 2006 by the American Heart Association, soy supplements and pills are not good for you. We know this about supplements already.

You cannot expect to extract all the good stuff from real food, eat that, and still be healthy.

You must instead eat the good stuff to be healthy.

So, the soy controversy lives on.