are steamed soybeans healthy?

jonnythan

Or maybe "molecularly upgraded."

kellykw

For all of the negative info on soy out there, there is also positive. If you're concerned, do some research and decide for yourself. The American Cancer Society seems to think soy is a pretty good thing.

http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/dietandnutrition/soybean

Soybean products are promoted for their protective properties against breast, prostate, colon, and lung cancer.

As a protein source, soybean products are promoted as a healthier alternative to meat and as an aid to weight loss. Soy products are also used to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and to relieve symptoms of menopause and osteoporosis. Soy protein in a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol is also promoted as a method to help reduce the risk of heart disease.

As long as labels can be trusted, I have no problems at all finding non-gmo soy. There seems to be way more of it out there now than gmo-soy.

bcattoes

I think we should stop using the term "genetically modified" and use the term "genetically improved."

Very little soybeans sold in stores are GMO anyway. Most GMO soy is used in additives for processed foods. It's rare to find soy milk, edamame (fresh or dry roasted), dried soy beans, tofu, etc that is not non-GMO and usually organic.

grimendale

Soy is perfectly healthy. Examine the source of those studies. The organization that sponsored that research actively promotes that animal products are necessary for a healthy life and so have an active interest in showing soy to be harmful. For every study showing problems, other show it to be beneficial. The article on livestrong gives a more balanced approach.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/381474-is-soy-healthy-to-eat/

If you are a prepubescent girl, you might want to avoid soy, but there is no evidence that it is harmful to boys and men, and can in fact reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/455553-is-soy-milk-healthy-for-men/

Soy is the latest boogeyman. It was eggs for a while, then it was wheat, now it's soy. As long as you don't eat lab rat portions (which are beyond the bounds of any realistic diet for a human being), you're fine. Soy has been a staple of numerous cultures for centuries, and has had no statistically significant ill effect on the populace.

Soy promoting estrogen production is not a "boogeyman" factor, and it's not new either. We've known this for a good ten years+

It doesn't promote estrogen production, it contains an estrogen-like product. And I didn't deny that. If you actually looked at the cited sources, that fact was clearly acknowledged. My point is not that there are no effects, but that the effects are blow out of proportion for the vast majority of the population. Eggs do in fact contain cholesterol, and too much is bad for you. That doesn't make their demonizing a decade ago any less of a boogeyman factor. Soy "contains phytoestrogens called isoflavones that may mimic the activity of the hormone estrogen in your body. The effects of soy isoflavones on human estrogen levels are complex. Soy is safe for everyone to consume in moderation and can have a modest effect on estrogen levels". That doesn't make the recent 'omg, soy is poison, don't eat it your you'll grown boobs' response any less of a boogeyman factor.

http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/eating-soy-increase-estrogen-production-2870.html

hexrei

Soy is perfectly healthy. Examine the source of those studies. The organization that sponsored that research actively promotes that animal products are necessary for a healthy life and so have an active interest in showing soy to be harmful. For every study showing problems, other show it to be beneficial. The article on livestrong gives a more balanced approach.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/381474-is-soy-healthy-to-eat/

If you are a prepubescent girl, you might want to avoid soy, but there is no evidence that it is harmful to boys and men, and can in fact reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/455553-is-soy-milk-healthy-for-men/

Soy is the latest boogeyman. It was eggs for a while, then it was wheat, now it's soy. As long as you don't eat lab rat portions (which are beyond the bounds of any realistic diet for a human being), you're fine. Soy has been a staple of numerous cultures for centuries, and has had no statistically significant ill effect on the populace.

Soy promoting estrogen production is not a "boogeyman" factor, and it's not new either. We've known this for a good ten years+

It doesn't promote estrogen production, it contains an estrogen-like product. And I didn't deny that. If you actually looked at the cited sources, that fact was clearly acknowledged. My point is not that there are no effects, but that the effects are blow out of proportion for the vast majority of the population. Eggs do in fact contain cholesterol, and too much is bad for you. That doesn't make their demonizing a decade ago any less of a boogeyman factor. Soy "contains phytoestrogens called isoflavones that may mimic the activity of the hormone estrogen in your body. The effects of soy isoflavones on human estrogen levels are complex. Soy is safe for everyone to consume in moderation and can have a modest effect on estrogen levels". That doesn't make the recent 'omg, soy is poison, don't eat it your you'll grown boobs' response any less of a boogeyman factor.

http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/eating-soy-increase-estrogen-production-2870.html

You made it sound like it was a cultural boogeyman, not "one guy in this thread said it" boogeyman. You should quote him next time or something so we know you were referring to him specifically.