Soya myths blasted

| 7 December 2021
minute reading time
Soya foods

400 studies show soya is safe

New research blasting one of the most common myths that soya foods can disrupt our hormones provides reassurance that soya is safe. This study reviewed 417 reports exploring the safety of soya food and isoflavone consumption and human health, revealing soya does not disrupt the body’s hormonal (endocrine) system, as is often alleged.

Concerns over the safety of isoflavones, phytoestrogens found in soya products, are largely based on animal experiments not relevant to humans. Lead author, Dr Mark Messina says: “Soya provides high-quality protein and healthy fat… moderate amounts of soya may reduce risk of several chronic diseases include coronary heart disease, osteoporosis, and certain forms of cancer.”

Messina M, Mejia SB, Cassidy A et al., 2021. Neither soyfoods nor isoflavones warrant classification as endocrine disruptors: a technical review of the observational and clinical data. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 1-57.

About the author
Dr. Justine Butler
I joined Viva! as a health campaigner in 2005 after graduating from Bristol University with a PhD in molecular biology. My scientific training helped me research and write numerous reports, guides and fact sheets for Viva! including Meat the Truth, Fish-Free for Life, One in Nine (breast cancer and diet) and the substantial report on the detrimental health effects of consuming dairy; White Lies. This accompanied Viva!’s report The Dark Side of Dairy which spelt out the inherent cruelty of dairy farming. We were the first UK group to take on the dairy industry in this way, and many of our supporters go vegan after reading these reports.

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