With some recent media
articles about beneficial foods for supporting healthy prostate function, we
have noticed that there has been some increased interest in men using soy
products as part of their regular diet. Here we question the usefulness of soy
products in the male diet, their nutritional value for men and the best
possible forms of soy to consume.
While information on
the positive effects of lycopene from cooked tomatoes and prostate health has
been available for some time, recent news articles are stating that research is
now showing that a combination of soy products and tomatoes is most effective
for prostate health. The studies suggest that it is isoflavones and anthocyanins
in the soy bean that are responsible for the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant
properties of soy products. While this may be the case, we need to look at the
whole action of the soybean and determine if this is beneficial for the health
of Australian men.
A quick look at soy
products in Australia and you will find that before the mid nineties it was
quite challenging to find many soy products on the market. About that same time
there was a surge of interest in women’s menopause formulas on the shelf in
health food stores promoting the benefits of soy isoflavones for hot flushes.
Also around this time there was some increasing interest in genetically
modified foods – the main crops considered for GM foods being corn, and you
guessed it – soy.
How does this relate
to men and their prostate? And does this help with the question: Is Soy Good
For Men? Firstly, we need to consider the reasons why there was an increased
interest in soy products about this time. Some researchers attribute the
overall health and lower cancer rates in countries such as Japan to their use
of soy products in the diet, but perhaps there are some other factors at play
here rather than just soy. Secondly, many of those women’s menopause formulas
containing soy isoflavones have now been taken off the market, some would say
due to the effects of these products on oestrogen levels in women – if so then what
are the possible effects in men? And thirdly, do we need to consider where these
soy products are coming from; are they genetically modified and what are the
possible side effects of consuming GM foods?
While there may be
some benefits to including soy products in your diet, it seems reasonable to
consider that it is not suitable to use these foods on a daily basis or in
large quantities. Ultimately a balanced and varied diet including several
different foods groups is valuable; if you are vegetarian or lactose
intolerant, consider using rice, oat or almond milk as an alternative to soy
milk. If you enjoy including vegetable based protein foods in your diet look at
using fermented soy products instead of unfermented soy products as these are
much easier to digest and closer to the type of soy foods naturally consumed in
Asian cultures. Fermented soy foods include miso, tempeh, natto and soy sauce.
Soy foods to limit include tofu, TVP and soy milk and where possible, always try
to source organically grown soy products.
Overall, consuming
natural organic soy products a few times each week could not be considered
unhealthy, however daily consumption of tofu, TVP and soy milk may not be the
healthiest option for Australian men – a healthy dose of moderation and a good
amount of common sense is the key here.
(Frequent urination at
night, difficulty stopping or initiating urination or painful urination are
just some of the signs that you may have some issue with your prostate function
– seek help from your trusted health practitioner if you notice any of these
symptoms or are unsure if you are experiencing problems with your prostate.)
The information contained in this article
is of a general nature and purely the opinion of the author. This article is
not intended to be used as a substitute for professional individualised health
advice. Earth 2 Man encourages readers who have medical conditions to consult
with their trusted health care practitioner.
