Leanology Shakes and The Use Of Soy

Leanology Shakes and The Use Of Soy

From: Dr Minshew, Trivita’s Chief Science Offer

The Benefits and Risks of Soy

I have received a lot of mail from concerned members since the release of Leanology shakes in a soy protein base. Many were worried because of negative press about soy. I would like to take this opportunity to talk about soy benefits and risks and why it was chosen for use in the Leanology shake.

The soy story

First, let me say that there is no food on the planet that is beyond scrutiny, including soy. All have benefits and risks. Just as water can be toxic in large amounts, so can soy. The key is to know how much is too much. Medical science may provide information to help us make decisions on foods and diet. The word science comes from the Greek word, scie (to know). It is the discipline that seeks to know as much as possible: the good, the bad and the ugly. We make decisions about foods based on information, not ignorance.

Soy beans are legumes in the same family as lentils and peanuts. They are very high in protein and the amino acids are balanced and complete. Soy also contains plant-based hormones called isoflavones.

A couple of the isoflavones are:

•    Ipriflavone: Ipriflavone works to build strong, healthy bones.

•    Genestein: Genestein mimics estrogen. In pre-menopausal women genestein provides protection from estrogen-sensitive Cancer. It does this by signaling the estrogen receptor to accept the soy instead of inflammatory, toxic estrogens, such as dioxin. Dioxin and other toxic, environmental estrogens cause inflammation and disease. Food-based estrogens are cooling by comparison. This is one reason why it is suggested that soy helps reduce the chances of Breast Cancer in younger women.

In men, soy has an estrogenic effect. It is taken into hormone receptors as estrogen and produces a cooling, calming estrogenic effect. This is one reason why men who eat soy foods have a lower incidence of prostate cancer. However, it may have a different effect on older women. As their natural estrogen levels drop, plant estrogens are substituted in the receptor sites. Often, the effect of this substitution is very good: better skin, bones and arteries.

Soy and Breast Cancer

The dark side of plant estrogens – including soy estrogens – is seen in late-onset Breast Cancer. Most forms of Breast Cancer feed on estrogens. These are usually toxic estrogens like dioxin. Will tumors also feed on soy estrogens? We don’t know this for certain but it makes some sense to choose your foods carefully if you have Cancer. You certainly would not want to add to the burden of estrogens unless you were sure that the tumor was not feeding on them.

Soy and medications

Another problem with soy occurs with people on certain medications – especially thyroid medication. It seems that soy blocks the absorption of supplemental thyroid hormones if they are taken at the exact same time. Soy has the same effect on calcium and other minerals as well. The solution is to take medications and supplements before or after soy products.

Personal decisions

Remember, science means “to know.” With soy and late-onset Breast Cancer we just don’t know. That means that there is not enough information to make a decision either way. Soy-bashers and reporters in the popular press may take this to mean that we shouldn’t eat soy at all. I say that, as scientists, if we don’t know the facts we should say so. We need to leave personal decisions up to the individual.

Leanology weight loss shakes are based in a whole soy protein and other whole foods, such as whole flax seeds. The soy we selected is never genetically modified and it is naturally low in plant estrogens. We chose this base because it has known health benefits and no proven risks. We want everyone to benefit from fat loss and normal body composition. This strategy has paid off for thousands of people as they see their weight decrease and their health improve.

There is much benefit to be found in eating whole foods rather than food fractions. Soy beans are whole foods with proven benefit. There may also be concerns for certain people. Be an educated consumer and make the best choice for yourself based on the best science available.

Click here to learn more about leanology and leanology shakes

:

: