Soy and Men’s Health: The Benefits of Soy For Men
Soy and Men’s Health: The Benefits of Soy For Men
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The Difference Between Estrogen and Phytoestrogen
Estrogens
Estrogen is a hormone that plays different roles in males and females. While commonly referred to as the female sex hormone, men also produce estrogen, secreted by the adrenal gland and the testes. Women generally have higher estrogen levels, except in older age. Due to changes during the menopause transition, older men may have higher blood estrogen levels than older women. The presence of estrogen in men is important for heart, bone, and brain health.
Phytoestrogens
Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring polyphenolic compounds found in plants, particularly in legumes such as soybeans. While phytoestrogens share some structural similarities with human estrogen, they do not function the same. They have been extensively studied for their role in human health, such as cardiovascular health and bone health.
How Soy Foods Support Men's Health Throughout Their Lives
Get the facts on soy and men’s health with this informational video and feel comfortable recommending soy foods to your clients.
How Soy Supports Men’s Health
Despite common fears around soy impacting male hormones, research suggests otherwise. Clinical data shows that neither soy foods nor isoflavones affect circulating testosterone and estrogen levels or adversely affect sperm quality or other semen parameters.
The importance of maintaining muscle mass throughout the lifespan for optimal health is becoming increasingly apparent, and soy can support this goal.
While most American men meet or exceed the recommended intake for protein, this may not be the case for up to 40% of older men. Emerging research indicates that the current recommended protein intakes might not be ideal for promoting health. Consuming more protein could be beneficial, particularly when considering a person's specific life stage and activity level.
Soy foods are good choices for meeting dietary protein needs. Research shows that men who supplement resistance training with soy protein may experience similar gains in muscle mass and strength as men who supplement their workout with animal protein.
Soy is the only plant protein that is comparable in quality to animal-based protein. Soy’s protein quality is on-par with milk, eggs and meat. As such, soy is considered a complete protein. Evidence has been building around the benefits of including plant-based protein sources in the diet. No, your clients don’t have to give up meat, poultry, and seafood, but integrating plant-proteins like soy into their diet brings valuable vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that are not present in animal sources.
Prostate cancer is the second most diagnosed cancer in men, accounting for 15% of all male cancer diagnoses worldwide. Asian populations that consume soy as a regular part of their diet have lower rates of prostate cancer and soy consumption is thought to be linked to the low prevalence, according to epidemiological studies.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Soy brings lots of value to men’s health. Soy isoflavones and soy protein can support men’s health at every stage of life, from building muscle to potential cancer risk prevention and more.
Yes. Research shows that soy foods can have a positive impact on men's health including supporting heart health, maintaining muscle mass and reducing the risk of certain cancers.
No. Soy isoflavone intake does not affect men’s reproductive hormones. There is no evidence that soy foods or soy protein affect men’s testosterone levels, cause an increase in estrogen, or feminize men.
No. Consuming soy does not increase the risk of cancer. Consuming soy foods is associated with a decreased risk of certain cancers, like prostate cancer.
Many patients don't realize the wide range of health benefits soy foods offer. From tofu to edamame and even soybean oil (also known as vegetable oil) soy foods come in many forms, each contributing to a healthy eating pattern.
It can be easy to educate clients on the diverse options and uses for soy with a variety of SoyConnection resources. These resources offer clear, accurate information to help patients of all genders easily add nutritious foods into their diets.