Creamy, nutty, and hint of sweetness, soy milk is delicious and great replacement of dairy milk and nut-based beverages. Soy milk is versatile whether it is served cold, hot, or used in cooking and baking.
However, there have been a lot of controversies when it comes to soy science behind female health. Soy has been labeled as both good and bad for women’s health depending on how it is incorporated into the diet.
What disadvantages of soy milk for females are there? The disadvantages of soy milk for females including impaired thyroid function, increased levels of isoflavone, respiratory problems, and gastrointestinal issues.
The chemical phytoestrogen in soy milk reacts in the body like a weak form of estrogen, which can negatively affect a female by increasing risk of breast cancer and hormonal imbalance.
Soy milk has a high nutritional value with many micronutrients essential in the female body. However, consuming too much on a regular basis can cause a big red flag.
Soy milk is great milk alternative packed with plant-based protein that offers heart and bone health when consumed in moderation. Whether breastfeeding or sticking to a keto diet, consider the right daily serving portion to add to your dietary routine.
This article shares information about consuming healthy amounts of soy milk. Answered below are frequently asked questions about the disadvantages of soy milk for females and what precaution women should take.
Is soy milk healthy for females?
Yes, soy milk is healthy for females when one to two servings are consumed daily. In fact, it is a great alternative for women who don’t eat dairy products since it’s rich in proteins, calcium, and other micronutrients required for proper body functioning.
Even though soy is in the allergen category, most woman are not allergic to soy based products.
There are a number of health benefits for women drinking soy milk, and should definitely be factored in when making longterm dietary decisions.
- Reduction of cholesterol in the body. Soy milk contains fewer saturated fats, which reduce the level of cholesterol in the body along with the risk of heart diseases and obesity.
- It may help females to reduce weight. Soy milk has low fiber content and high protein level, making it ideal for weight loss.
- Soy milk may lower the risk of osteoporosis in females. Soy milk is rich in calcium and iron, which are essential elements in strengthening the bones.
- Isoflavones reduce the severity of hot flashes that occur during menopause.
Why is soy milk bad for females?
There are numerous health benefits for occasionally consuming soy milk. But without moderation, too much soy milk can negatively affect your health.
Here are reasons why soy milk is bad for females:
- Too much soy milk increases the level of isoflavone in a female body, which affects the estrogen level in the body and may cause fertility impairment. [1, 2, 3]
- The compound isoflavone is also associated with promoting the growth of cancerous cells, which may cause breast cancer. [4, 5]
- It contains many proteins and healthy indigestible fats, which may cause intestinal gas in the stomach and excess bloating for pregnant women.
- The compound isoflavone affect the thyroid tract by depleting the iodine level in the female body. This affects the functioning of the thyroid, ultimately leading to hypothyroidism. [6]
- Mucus produced in the breakdown of soy milk that coats the gastrointestinal tract may cause respiratory disorders such as asthma and sinusitis. [7, 8]
- Females with low blood sugars may be at risk of diabetes since isoflavones impact the insulin level in the body. [9]
- For women sensitive to soy products, soy milk may trigger allergic reactions such as vomiting, diarrhea, itching, and skin rashes.
What are the negative effects of soy milk?
Numerous research shows that soy milk has abundance of advantages when consumed in moderation. Depending on the diet and lifestyle, there are negative effects of soy milk to be careful of.
- Contains anti-nutrients called phytates that prevent the body from absorbing certain minerals such as iodine, magnesium, zinc, and chromium; thus, increasing the risk of nutrient deficiencies.
- Causes kidney stones since it has high amounts of oxalate, which are the root causes of kidney stones.
- May lead to diabetes for people under regular medication for low blood sugar control.
- Results in hypothyroidism since it messes with the function of the thyroid by depleting iodine levels.
- Flatulence since it has many proteins and indigestible healthy fats, which cause gas and excess bloating, especially for pregnant mothers.
- Lead to respiratory disorders such as asthma and sinus due to the coated gastrointestinal tract by mucus produced during the breakdown of soy milk.
Soy milk and female hormones
Soy milk contains a chemical compound called isoflavone that acts like estrogen in a body, but it’s very weak compared to the normal estrogen (500 to 1000 times weaker).
The isoflavone is divided into genistein and daidzein, which are plant-based estrogen.
When taken in large quantities, these two can raise the level of estrogen in the body, especially for postmenstrual women.
Natural estrogen helps women reduce the severity of menopause symptoms, but excess may lead to breast cancer as well as impact fertility.
Does soy milk increase estrogen in females?
Yes, soy milk does increase estrogen in females because soy contains a high concentration of isoflavones. Although this is a type of plant estrogen is similar in function to human estrogen, it has weaker effects.
Research shows that a high level of isoflavone in a body increases the level of estrogen, especially for postmenopausal females, by approximately 14%, which plays a crucial role in reducing menopause symptoms.
How much soy milk is safe for a woman?
If a female wants to consume soy milk daily, then the moderate amount is one or two servings. Consuming too much soy milk can be harmful to a woman’s health.
Consuming one or two cups of soy milk produces isoflavones levels that are relatively low compared to the natural estrogen in women. Therefore, it should not cause hormone imbalance.
Soy Milk Disadvantages for Females: Conclusion
Rumors concerning soy milk should not worry any woman from enjoying the beverage since its safe and nutritious, provided moderation is practiced. Soy milk is nutritious and very useful to women’s health since it has protein, vitamins, and other micronutrients that play an essential role in the proper functioning of the body.
However, too much of anything has its potential dangers, and soy milk is no exception. Only moderate consumption of soy milk is recommended to be beneficial for a woman’s health.
More than one to two servings daily may have negative side effects, especially on the female reproductive and hormone health. The natural estrogen in soy milk is very weak, so causing hormone imbalance will be hard unless consumed in large amounts.
According to the research, the presence of a chemical compound found in soy milk, called isoflavone, may cause hormone imbalance since it affects estrogen levels when levels increase too much. It has the potential to cause female fertility impairment and growth of cancerous cells leading to breast cancer.
Furthermore, high levels of isoflavones mess up the functioning of the thyroid in women, which increases the risk of hypothyroidism since it depletes the iodine level.
Soy milk may also trigger allergic reactions such as skin rashes and itching, breathing problems, vomiting, and diarrhea in people sensitive to soy products.
In addition, consuming too much soy milk may lead to diabetes in females who have low blood sugar and respiratory issues such as asthma and sinus in a woman.
When introducing soy milk to your diet, consider moderation and consult with professional doctors, dietitians and nutritionists to see how much is best for you.
Consume a moderate amount of soy milk to avoid such side effects mentioned above. As with anything, too much soy milk can be harmful to female health.