"The Soy Connection"

Soy. I laugh when writing that... I think back to all my classes because it has been such a controversial word. This is what you would hear in my classes: "phytoestrogens", "heavily subsidized", "PROTEIN!!!!", and "Will I turn into a girl if I eat a lot of it?". Soy beans have taken a lot of criticism lately! In my recent addition of ADA (American Dietetic Association), there was a huge fold out about soy. So, I thought "Hey, why not take a read. I eat A LOT of soy being a vegetarian." 

When I switched over to vegetarian I also switched over to soy milk, for no other particular reason than preference. I had been raised on dairy and I decided it was time for a change. I had never tried soy milk and thought well maybe its time to broaden my horizons! At first I thought it was the GROSSEST thing I had ever experienced in my life. Well, I also realized I was drinking vanilla soy milk... not my favorite. So, I switched to plain, no flavored soy milk, and I will never go back! I think at first the hearty, buttery taste threw me off. But, the more I drank it and was able to incorporate it to my Starbucks and everyday life, I realized "Cool! This is DELICIOUS!" People always ask me about the calcium that I "would" be losing from the dairy milk

--Soy milk consists of more nutrients than cow milk. A glass of soy milk will provide you with protein compounds, vitamins (A, B1, B2), carbohydrates, calories and is low on fat and cholesterol. Because dietary cholesterol comes from ONLY animal sources (some cholesterol is produced in the body).

MMM--Can't Say No.

• A substitute of soy protein for traditional protein (chicken/beef) was proven to lower serum levels of total, LDL (BAD CHOLESTEROL), and VLDL (transports bad protein=aka BAD) cholesterol and triglycerides (BAD, if in large amount) in children with hypercholesterolemia.
• hypercholesterolemia-- Is a condition characterized by very high levels of cholesterol in the blood.
• In the current situation we are in with children-- any step in the right direction is good with me

This is happening not only in our adults but in our children.
Yellow=Plaque, which blocks your arteries. This could cause
heart disease, heart attack, etc. No good :( 

• Soy intake during childhood/adolescence help lower the risk of breast cancer as much as 60% later in life. This is most likely due to the protective effects of the compound called-- Isoflavones. These have a stimulatory effect on the mammary tissue which reduces the amount the terminal end buds. The end buds are the structures MOST susceptible to carcinogens (or cancer).Of course research is always on-going!  Let food be thy medicine?? 

Phytoestrogens--Beware or No?

• Isoflavones--Isoflavones are a class of phytoestrogens—plant-derived compounds with estrogenic activity. Soybeans and soy products are the richest sources of isoflavones in the human diet. (Thanks Oregon State)
• Processing can account for a LARGE amount of isoflavone loss and the isoflavone content of food varies between foods.
• Children (age 3-12) have been proven to absorb more isoflavones than adults.
• So, this was my favorite thing to read-- because it NEVER fails that we have a male raise his hand and say, "So, if I eat a lot of soy will I have a lot of estrogen in my body and become all hormonal??...etc" haha. This is still pretty controversial, BUT, according to American Dietetic Association, here it is: 

"Soy intake in Japanese children aged 3-6 years has been significantly negatively  related to estrogen and estradiol in boys and positively  related to testosterone in girls. These results suggests that sot intake may affect sex hormone production or metabolism in childhood although the implications of these finding, if any, are unknown. Neither soy, nor isoflavone increase estrogen levels in men, soy and isoflavones have only minor effects on reproductive hormones in women." -- October 2011 ADA. 

Soy Allergies

In my food service theory class we were discussing food allergies and I was amazed to learn just how prevalent these were. Then, when reading this article it was confirmed. Tree nuts, soybeans, milk, wheat, eggs, peanuts, fish, and shellfish, make up about 90% of the food allergies in the US. You would be amazed at the amount of food you could find soy in (that's a whole other subject...haha). However, soy protein is LESS reactive than cows milk protein-- meaning you could possibly outgrow this allergy. Kinda cool if you ask me!!

So, whats out there for me?

• Soy burgers (duh, the staple!!!)
• Soy milk
• Soy Joy-- Bars, great for on the go!
• Edamame (actual soy beans. Can eat them in or our the pod. But DO NOT consume the pod!)
• Yogurt (Silk makes some yummy stuffy!!)
• Soy cheese
• Garbanzo beans (these are SOYBEANS ;)... throw some on a Greek salad or in soup )

There are lots of products! But, I challenge you to challenge yourself! If you have never tried soy and are not allergic of course... try and make some small changes! Maybe try soy milk in your latte at Starbucks? or grab some frozen edamame at Walmart and try it for dinner tonight? What will it hurt! Broaden you horizons! :)

Happy Thursday-- 

If you would like to get a total body workout in tonight... come see me at kickboxing tonight. 5:30, followed by awesome abs at 6:35! Get your pre-Thanksgiving workout in!!

Ps- Darrell, soy has lots of protein to help build muscle. So, in your grocery list, add this!