The pros and cons of soy!
You've heard mostly negative reports about soy lately. But what exactly is it and what are the pros and cons? You can read all about it here!
What is Soy?
The soybean is a legume, originating from the soy plant, which is used as a raw material for many soy products. The soy we use in the Netherlands mainly comes from South America. There are many products that contain soy, such as:
- Soy milk
- Tofu
- Tempeh
- Soy sauce
- Soya oil
- Soy based vegetarian products
Benefits of soy-free protein powder
Although there are currently more negative messages about soy than positive, soy also contains a number of positive elements:
- Rich in protein > Soy is rich in protein, which is why it is often used in protein powders.
- Unsaturated fats > Soy contains unsaturated fats, which means that these are good fats.
- Rich in iron > Soy is rich in iron and iron is good for the formation of hemoglobin, a component of red blood cells.
- Rich in Vitamin B1 > Thiamine is essential for energy supply and for the proper functioning of the heart muscle and nervous system.
- Gluten free > Soy is naturally gluten-free, which is good for people with intolerances.
Disadvantages soy-free protein powder
When using products that contain soy, you have to take into account a number of possible disadvantages:
- May cause allergies and cross allergies > Soy is a potential allergen and should therefore be listed on the packaging. People who are allergic to legumes such as peanuts should be careful. This is due to the possible cross-contamination.
- Deteriorated hormone balance > Soy contains phytoestrogen, our body considers this as natural estrogen. In men, this can lead to fluctuating testosterone levels, infertility, a decrease in sperm cells and an increased risk of cancer. In women, it can cause estrogen dominance, which is linked to infertility, menstrual problems and the risk of cancer, especially breast cancer.
- Limited presence of amino acid methionine > Methionine is an essential amino acid and is therefore not produced by the body itself. You have to get methionine from protein-rich food and if you eat soy as a protein source, a shortage can occur.
Due to the negative side of soy on your hormone balance, for example, we have chosen not to add soy to our Vegan protein powders in our Vegan protein powders. To ensure a good protein source, we have chosen brown rice protein and pea protein.
