Whether it helps women with menopausal symptoms or lowers cholesterol is now questionable. New studies indicate that it’s not the safest thing after all – use with extreme caution - may cause adverse effects. May interfere with thyroid medication, upset hormonal balance, block absorption of calcium and encourage prostrate and breast cancers. The World Health Organization has issued a warning about the high consumption of estrogen-like chemicals. These would include lignanes and iso-flavens found in soy products, and many packaged foods contain soy. Other sources of estrogen-like chemicals can be found in plastic packaging, and pesticides. In other words, people are consuming a large amount of female hormones.  

Like many other things, there is a large amount of data suggesting that phytoestrogens (lignanes and isoflavenols), may prevent carcinogenesis and inhibit tumor growth in breast cancer, as well as prevent osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease – but when consumed in large amounts, they become dangerous. Just like alcohol – when taken in small amounts, it’s a good thing. Over-do it, and it’s a bad thing. And we are being bombarded.  

It has even been suggested by some popular Doctors that soy is making our boys more feminine. So we may want to keep our men away from soy and tofu – to their relief I’m sure! 

And to add insult to injury - most soy and soy products are now from GMO crops. Soy allergies have skyrocketed because of this. 

And soy is an iodine blocker. Iodine is an important substance for heart health. So even if you're eating tons of salt, if you're eating soy you're iodine deficient.  

Personally, I won't eat any U.S. soy if I can help it. That means avoiding anything with the word soy in the ingredients - soy flour, soy protein, soy oil...

If you are using a protein powder - make sure it's whey protein, not soy protein.

Eat these foods often to help remove bad estrogens – broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts rapidly break down excess estrogen.