Soy estrogen controversy

2009 Men's Health Jim Thornton http://www.menshealth.com/nutrition/soys-negative-effects

James Price, a retired US military officer drank about 3 quarts of soy milk everyday. His estrogen levels were 8 times higher than normal men, and his physician ultimately attributed the problem to the soy.

Studies of these phytoestrogens in leading peer-reviewed medical journals suggest that even lower doses—such as the amount in the 25-gram soy protein target cited by the FDA—have the potential to wreak hormonal havoc.

In a Harvard study published last year in the journal Human Reproduction, Jorge E. Chavarro, M.D., Sc.D., and his colleagues found a strong association between men's consumption of soy foods and decreased sperm counts. Ninety-nine men reported their intake of 15 different soy-based foods, then underwent semen analysis. Those in the highest category of daily soy intake averaged 32 percent fewer sperm per milliliter of ejaculate than those who went sans soy.

"We are now recommending that soy be avoided by patients with erectile dysfunction," Dr. Huang says. And because erectile dysfunction increases with age, he also suggests that men ages 40 and above limit their soy intake.

Participants over age 68 who were regularly eating the most tofu had double the risk of dementia and memory impairment as those consuming a more moderate amount.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soybean#Men

Because of the phytoestrogen content, some studies have suggested that soybean ingestion may influence testosterone levels in men. However, a 2010 meta-analysis of 15 placebo controlled studies showed that neither soy foods nor isoflavone supplements alter measures of bioavailable testosterone or estrogen concentrations in men.[100] It has been hypothesized that soy foods and enterolactone may increase the development of prostate cancer although no significant associations were observed for the soy isoflavones.[101] Furthermore, soy consumption has been shown to have no effect on the levels and quality of sperm.[102] A 2009 meta-analysis of the research on the association between soy consumption and prostate cancer risk in men concluded that "consumption of soy foods is associated with a reduction in prostate cancer risk in men."[103]

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http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/estrogenic-effects-of-soy

One study showed that genistein led to reduced fertility and abnormal embryo development in female mice. They were fed one to ten micromoles in their drinking water for four days. The highest doses were associated with fewer eggs that were successfully fertilized and increased cell death in developing embryos. Wen-Hsiung Chan at Chung Yuan Christian University in Taiwan conducted the study, which was published in July in the journal Reproductive Toxicology.

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Soy is making kids 'gay' http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=53327#ixzz1Zkd9pYr7

P.S.: Soy sauce is fine. Unlike soy milk, it's perfectly safe because it's fermented, which changes its molecular structure. Miso, natto and tempeh are also OK, but avoid tofu

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