Soy-based foods, including soy milk, have various health benefits for the human body. It has high protein content, essential vitamins, and other micronutrients, which are helpful for woman’s health.
A female can only benefit from soy milk if consumed in moderate amounts, especially when it comes to linkages with breast cancer.
What are the benefits of soy milk for female breasts? Soy milk contains isoflavones that assist in lowering the risk of breast cancer. The phytoestrogens are a natural plant chemical that have mild estrogens that counter the hormonal fluctuations to reduce breast tenderness.
Research shows that women who consume a cup every day stand a 30% lower risk of developing breast cancer compared to those who do not consume. [1]
However, recommendations are limited to a moderate amount of one to two servings a day.
Soy milk is rich in protein which is essential in the production of milk in a woman’s breast, especially when breastfeeding.
The phytoestrogen in soy milk that mimics the effect of the natural estrogen in the body, but its effect is small. In contrast, high levels of estrogen can cause an increase in breast size.
In this article, let’s discuss the benefits of soy milk in conjunction with female breasts. Answered below are frequently asked questions about the link between soy milk and women’s breast along with things to know before adding soy milk into your diet.
What does soy milk do to a woman?
Soy milk can affect a woman either positively or negatively depending on the amount consumed, or whether the woman is allergic to soy products.
Here are some impacts of soy milk on a woman’s body:
Positive impacts of soy milk on female health
- Reduces the risk of osteoporosis and bone fracture, especially for pregnant women. Soy milk is rich in calcium and phosphorous, which are vital elements of strong bones. [2, 3]
- Lowers the risk of cardiac arrest such as heart attacks since it has low saturated fats, thus lowering the level of cholesterol in a woman’s body. Also, soy milk improves the level of plasma lipid in a woman’s body, which promotes good heart health. [4, 5]
- For women in the postmenopausal stage, soy milk can assist in easing the severity of menopause symptoms like hot flashes. [6, 7, 8]
- If subjected to a soy milk diet, overweight women can reduce weight. The reason behind this science is that soy milk contains protein that helps build muscles, and low saturation fats that reduces the cholesterol levels in the female body. [9, 10]
- Can act as an antidepressant since it boosts the vitamin B6 and B complex in a woman’s blood which can boost their moods. [11, 12]
Negative impacts of soy milk in a woman
- Excess soy milk can raise estrogen levels in a woman’s body, which is associated with breast cancer. [13]
- Consuming too much processed soy milk when pregnant can cause gas and bloat due to indigestible sugars and healthy fats.
- Can cause kidney stones since soy milk has the highest number of oxalates, the primary factor that causes kidney stones.
- Lower the level of blood sugars, especially for women with regular medication for diabetes.
- Cause hypothyroidism in a woman since it messes up the function of the thyroid by depleting all the iodine levels in a woman’s body.
- Triggers respiratory disorders like asthma since it produces mucus during its breakdown, which coats the gastrointestinal tract.
- A woman may suffer from nutrient deficiency since soy milk contains an antinutrient compound called phytic acid that interferes with the body’s capacity to absorb essential elements such as zinc and magnesium.
- Allergic reactions such as vomiting, diarrhea, itching, and rashes for women who are sensitive to soy products.
Does soy milk increase breast size?
No, soy milk does not increase breast size. There are no clinical studies that provide evidence of linkage between phytoestrogens and increased breast size.
Some think that soy will help breast size get bigger because the legume has chemical isoflavones and phytoestrogens that resemble natural estrogen in the female body.
However, this is a plant-based estrogen, and its effect is very weak (approximately 500 to 1000 times weaker compared to the normal estrogen). As a result, the effect is too low to cause estrogen imbalance in a woman’s body.
Soy milk is linked with phytoestrogens, and many people believe that it can increase breast size. Research shows that one needs to consume a significant amount for its effect to be felt in the body.
Even though there is no well-supportive medical evidence, consuming a large amount of soy milk is believed to stimulate breast enlargements, basing the argument on its estrogen effect on the body.
The evidence is derived from transgender people who take estrogen supplements to stimulate breast development.
Soy milk side effects in female breasts
A large amount of soy milk can increase the risk of breast cancer. Soy milk has active genistein, which contains phytoestrogen that mimics the effect of normal estrogen in a woman’s body. [14]
However, it’s minimal unless consumed in a large amount. Estrogen has been linked with breast cancer since it promotes estrogen receptors that enhance the growth of cancerous cells leading to breast cancer. [15]
Isoflavone found in soy milk are believed to have some estrogen effects, especially in large amounts in the body, since its impact is very minimal compared to normal estrogen. A high level of estrogen is linked with an increase in breast size, but soy may not be the most effective source.
Soy milk is very nutritious containing protein, vitamins, and iron, essential in milk production. That means that mothers who are breastfeeding will produce more milk from their breasts.
Be aware of consuming soy milk in moderation to avoid any disadvantages of soy milk for females. Always consult with medical professionals if you are considering dietary changes or questions about allergens.
Soy Milk Benefits for Female Breasts: Conclusion
Soy milk provides valuable nutrition for women, especially those who are breastfeeding or on a strict dairy-free diet. There have been controversies about whether soy milk is or not safe, but to clear the doubts, that will depend on how much is consumed on a regular basis.
Isoflavones in soy milk are a very weak plant-based estrogen, and their impact can only be felt when consumed in large amounts, which is almost impossible to achieve without suffering adverse affects in other aspects.
As a result, there is not enough results suggesting a linkage between soy milk increasing breast size.
Approximately, phytoestrogen in soy milk is 500-1000 weaker compared to natural estrogen. Consuming such an amount to impact breast size is nearly impossible.
With moderate intake, soy milk has both positive and negative impact in female health. So, consider adding one to two servings of soy milk in your regular diet to gain maximum benefits.
Unless you are allergic or sensitive to soy, there is no need to worry about negative effects from soy milk when consumed moderately. Check with a doctor, nutritionist or dietician to see if drinking soy milk is the right thing for you and your breasts.