Why men should avoid soy

Warning: Soy estrogens affect male fertility

The phytoestrogens contained in soy can impair male fertility and the development of the male genital organs. This was explained by Dr. Lorraine Anderson from the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast talks to the BBC. "What men often don't realize is that soy is found in a variety of foods," Anderson told the broadcaster. Cheap soy protein is added to many foods in order to save on expensive meat. "Meat" in food is often not real meat. Soy has the highest estrogen content of any food, the doctor added.

according to dr Sheena Lewis, Director of the Department of Reproductive Medicine at Queen's University, Belfast, the results are unequivocal. Men who consume large amounts of soy clearly have poorer sperm quality. "Men who have problems in this area should probably eat less soy," added Dr. Lewis added.

Soy doesn't just affect adult male fertility. As the research results show, soy also influences the development of the male sex organs in the womb. In this way, the descent of the testicles can be inhibited, the doctors reported. Overall, the period up to puberty is very sensitive. Later, testicular cancer is favored.

Warnings about the frequent consumption of soy are not new. According to a publication in the British Journal of Urology - International (1), women who follow a vegetarian diet during pregnancy are five times more likely to give birth to male infants suffering from a penile deformity (hypospadias). The scientists suspect that the harmful effects of phytoestrogens from soy are also responsible for the deformities.

Source:

(1) K North, J Golding and ALSPAC Study Team - A maternal vegetarian diet in pregnancy is associated with hypospadias BJU International 2000;85:107-113

Source: Belfast / London [lme]