This article will look into the Soybean side effects you must know before you go ahead and replace other protein sources in your diet with soy products.

On one hand, it’s rich in nutrients, and diets containing it appears to be linked to health benefits, such as lower blood sugar levels, improved heart health, fewer menopause symptoms, and perhaps even a lower risk of certain cancers.

Yet, on the other hand, some people are concerned about the healthfulness of soy-rich diets. For instance, some fear that eating too much soy may increase the risk of breast cancer, hinder thyroid function, or have feminizing effects in men, to name a few.

5 Soybean Side Effects On Health

So here go the 5 side effects of soybean on health you must know:

1. May Cause Chronic Inflammation

For years, the popular additive and cooking oil were considered a better alternative to health-harming saturated fats, but new research suggests that when it comes to weight gain, soybean oil may be just as bad. 

Our bodies evolved on a near equal balance of omega-6 fatty acids and omega-3 fatty acids; however, over the last century, our diets have shifted completely to omega-6s. 

In fact, according to a study in Nutrients, most Americans are getting 20 times the amount of omega-6s than we really need—a big problem considering omega-6s are inflammation-causing, fat-storing, and weight-gain-inducing whereas omega-3s are anti-inflammatory. 

One of the primary causes for this shift? High consumption of foods that have been fried in soybean oil, which has an omega-6 to omega-3 ratio of 7.5:1. (For your reference, a neutral oil alternative like canola oil is only 2.2:1.)

2. Can Cause Mineral Deficiencies

Soybeans possess a notoriously high concentration of phytic acid. In fact, soybeans have a higher phytate content than any other grain or legume that has been studied. This anti-nutrient binds to important minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium, and zinc and limits their absorption. 

Adequate levels of zinc are especially important for anxious people, as deficiencies are common and have been shown to induce anxious behavior and depression. 

Unfortunately, soybeans have been found to be highly resistant to traditional phytate-reducing techniques like cooking, soaking, and sprouting (which works for other legumes and whole grains that also have phytates), and the only way to significantly reduce the phytate content of soybeans is through fermentation.

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3. May Block Protein Digestion

Soy is like that date who wants attention but doesn’t want to kiss or cuddle. Even while the soy is a great source of lean protein, it also contains trypsin and protease inhibitors, which make it very difficult to digest protein. If soy is consumed in excess, this can lead to gastrointestinal distress and a shortage in amino acid absorption. By soaking and boiling the beans, these anti-nutrients can only be eliminated.

4. May Cause Testosterone Imbalance

A study was conducted on 12 male subjects who consumed 56 g of soy protein isolate daily for four weeks. As a result, their serum testosterone levels dropped by 19%. Though the data was inconsistent, it was found that soy protein decreased serum testosterone levels in healthy men.

Soy protein is said to have adverse effects on male reproductive function. However, there are no specific studies in this regard. Some animal studies, in fact, state that soy isoflavones do not exert any feminizing effects on men.

Most of the observations are based on lab and animal studies. Hence, the relationship between soy isoflavones and testosterone is inconclusive (10).

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5. May Interfere With Thyroid Regulation

Soy foods may increase the risk of developing hypothyroidism in people with compromised thyroid function. Such individuals may develop goiter and autoimmune thyroid disease. This risk further increases when the individual’s iodine intake is low.

Soy isoflavones have been found to inhibit the activity of an enzyme called thyroid peroxidase. This enzyme is required for the synthesis of the thyroid hormone. This is why you may face a risk of hypothyroidism when you eat a lot of soy protein.

Soy products also interfere with the absorption of levothyroxine (L-thyroxine), a drug used to treat thyroid hormone deficiency. Since soy proteins seem to alter the availability of the drugs, you may be advised against consuming soy protein if you have a thyroid imbalance.

However, just a high intake of soy isoflavones does not appear to increase the risk of hypothyroidism, unless coupled with inadequate consumption of dietary iodine. Therefore, the influence of soy protein on the thyroid gland is debatable. More research is warranted in this regard.