Dr. Melissa Reilly is here to once and for all bust one of the most pervasive myths within veganism: the myth that soy is bad. That it causes man boobs in males. That it causes cancer. That it causes infertility or messes with our hormones.
In this episode, learn what the research really says about soy. You might be surprised.
Melissa is a clinical assistant professor of pharmacy practice at the University of Mississippi. She’s also a clinical pharmacist. She completed a post doctorate residency program is geriatrics and primary care, and she’s run 9 marathons in 9 different states!
Important topics and points you don't want to miss:
>> What is soy, and why does it have such a bad rap?
>> What's the difference between phytoestrogens and estrogens? (Hint: they're very different.)
>> Myth #1: Soy increases cancer risk, including cancers of the breast, gastrointestinal system, and prostate.
>> Myth #2: Soy causes man boobs.
>> Myth #3: Soy causes infertility.
Links mentioned in the episode:
>> Isoflavone content in selected foods (Harvard Medical School)
>> Article by dietician Susan Levin (of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine) on the research that's been done on soy.
The structural difference between phytoestrogens and the estrogen hormone:
Genistein and daidzein are phytoestrogens. Estradiol is the main female sex hormone in animals (including humans, of course).
Research studies:
>> Meta-analysis of Soy Intake and Breast Cancer Risk (Trock, Clarke, & Clarke, 2006)
>> Association between Soy Isoflavone Intake and Breast Cancer Risk for Pre- and Post-Menopausal Women: A Meta-Analysis of Epidemiological Studies (Chen et al., 2004)
>> Effect of Dietary Soy on Breast Cancer Recurrence and Mortality: A Review (Prasad & Shayne, 2016)
>> Meta-analysis of Soy Consumption and Gastrointestinal Cancer Risk (Lu et al., 2017)
>> Soy Consumption and Prostate Cancer Risk in Men: a Revisit of a Meta-Analysis (Yan & Spitznagel, 2009)
Connect with Melissa:
A link from an awesome listener:
>> An awesome listener, Ellen, shared this resource with us: A Vegan Doctor Addresses Soy Myths and Misinformation
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