I have read a few posts here & there that say too much soy is bad for you. I even read an online article (well, actually the whole site seemed anti-soy) cant remember the name of that site. My question is- how much is too much-and is this all nonsense anyway?
I drink at least 8 oz soy milk, use soy flour,eat soybeans etc. every day. I always thought this was a really healthy thing. Anyone have any differing opinions? I'd love to hear some other ideas.
Also, the same question about Iron in vitamins. All these years women especially have been told to get extra iron, and until recently all the multi's for women contained extra. I have searched and asked on other boards, but still do not understand why it is now bad for us to have so much (I realize we get more than the average bear with this WOE)
Sorry for the multiple questions, but all the conflicting stuff I hear drives me nuts!

Here's what I know about soy. It contains a phytoestrogen, meaning naturally occuring hormone, similar to the estrogen women make in their bodies (or take in birth control pills or HRT). An excess of estrogen has been linked with higher rates of breast cancer in a large population over time. How much increase? It's very hard to quantify--probably only a slight rise, on the order of 1.3 relative risk (baSed on a norm of 1.). Does phytoestrogen act like the body's estrogen? Again, it's hard to say. Some sources say that it's far less potent, others that it's a potential risk. The other confusing point is that estrogens appear to act differently on different women, with some able to process relatively high amounts with no problems and others having bad effects (it may depend at least in part on how much estrogen the woman's body is itself producing).

So here's what I recommend, and what I do: I limit my soy intake to one serving a day (tofu, soy granules, soy lecithin, soy butter, etc.), and do not take soy supplements. Until there are more reliable findings, I think it's best to treat soy with some reservations. But that's a good rule of eating anyway--doing everything in moderation.

There are also studies which link soy to reduced cancer risks. Alot of the studies seem to say it depends on what stage of life your in (child, adult, pregnent, menopause) what effect soy has on the body. People in studies also tend to have obscene amounts of the specific foods. Soy has been eaten for centuries in asian cultures and they don't have an abnormal rate of cancers that I've seen reported.

I limit soy to my children, but since I am lactose intolerent I go ahead and have my soy milk and cheese. They have found carcinagins in milk from the hormones and other chemicals given to cows. They are also on fruit, in meat, in eggs, and almost every other food. Almost any thing we put into our body you can find a study that says it is bad.

Pretty sure no one has actually died from eating soy. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for animal products.

http://www.laurushealth.com/HealthNews/Reuters/NewsStory1003200237.htm

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2000/nov2000/bse-n03.shtml

http://www.all-creatures.org/health/fh.html

The lists are endless.

Jinx

Interesting interview:
http://more.abcnews.go.com/sections...ncer010118.html

It is possible that Asians are able to process large amounts of soy in ways that Westerners cannot, so I wouldn't take the relatively small rates of breast cancer among Asians as evidence that unlimited soy is ok for non-Asians. Also, when looking at cancer risks, it's important to take other factors into account--it's possible other food or lifestyle habits among Asians mitigate the risk that could be posed by soy.

Anyway, I'm not suggesting that we ought to avoid soy, only that we should use in it moderation. I agree with you, Lady Belle, that time of life is a factor. I myself am menopausal, and that makes me extra cautious.

My understanding of soy issues is that soy that is processed (sound familiar, is the form that is bad for you). Soy that has been processed as the asian's have for centuries, aging, etc. No chemicals is not.

I am not sure that most of the studies distinguish between chemical processing or not.

Just my 2 cents.