Soybean products have gained significant traction in the “health foods” market as a product that is better for human consumption than traditional sources of protein such as red meats. This is part of a larger movement in which areas of the health community are moving towards meatless products in search of other sources of protein. Many of these meatless products are marketed as healthier and more beneficial for the human body as well as the environment when compared to traditional protein sources. In this post, we will explore the history of these products and the scientific literature on the effects they have on the human body.

Where/when/why did Soy products originate?

Unless you have been living under a rock for the last quarter-century, you will have noticed an uptick in meatless protein products. Everything from “beefless” ground beef in grocery stores to fast-food restaurants marketing their meatless burgers. This can be alarming for some in the health and fitness sector who perhaps believe that this new trend has not been investigated enough to understand the long-term impacts. I for one would agree with this perspective. The origins of these fake meat products are disputed but most claims put this invention around the early 20th century (the 1900s). These products do not appear to have gained much traction until a larger social push for the lower consumption of meat began in the United States around the 1970s. Frances Moore Lappé published the best-selling book “Diet for a Small Planet” in 1971. This book became the jumping-off point for a movement that promoted consuming less meat for the sake of world hunger. Ms. Lappé saw the world as a place where there was plenty of food to go around but it was being wasted on feeding animals to produce beef. In Lappé’s opinion, the process of raising cattle for food is inefficient, and that the entire world would be able to eat from the grain supply currently going towards the meat industry.

While an honorable purpose, freeing the world from hunger, it does not seem to be as potent of an issue today. In 1970 just prior to the release of “Diet for a Small Planet” the number of people living in extreme poverty was 1.77 billion, roughly half of the global population at that time. In 2015, that number was 733.48 million, roughly 10% of the global population and declining. Not only have we been able to decrease the percentage of the population in extreme poverty but we have done so while the population is skyrocketing. The percentage of the world population living in extreme poverty is expected to drop to near zero by 2030. It does not appear to make sense to up-end the food industry in many industrialized nations in order to fix a problem that is already being addressed. The statistical data indicating that the introductory purpose of soy products has been rendered useless has caused a shift in the narrative surrounding the marketing of meatless products.

Red flags

Soy contains a high concentration of isoflavones which are essentially a type of plant estrogen aka phytoestrogen. These isoflavones are able to function in similar ways to the estrogen that is produced by the human body. Phytoestrogen can bind to the estrogen receptors in the body and cause estrogenic or even anti-estrogenic activity. When bound to the receptors in the human body, these isoflavones can cause issues with thyroid function which suggests that there is some potential to affect hormonal function. The issue comes specifically with genistein which is the main isoflavone in soy. Research suggests that high consumption of genistein alters reproduction as well as the development of embryos. A study conducted on female mice showed that the consumption of genistein led to reduced fertility levels and as a consequence, abnormal embryo development. Another study conducted on young female rats found that those rats who had been fed large amounts of genistein from birth suffered from issues including early puberty and irregular estrous cycles. These high-dosage rats also birthed smaller than normal litters.

The findings of these studies are concerning due to the fact that the basic structure of reproductive systems between rats and humans is similar. The estrous cycles experienced by female rats are comparable with the menstrual cycle that the female human body undergoes. The scientific literature featuring human subjects is sparse and under-researched, to say the least, however one long-term study on women who were fed soy formula as infants have been conducted. This study concluded that the women who had been exposed to soy since birth suffered from hormonal issues that included longer periods and more intense menstrual cramping. The main issue with soy is that the scientific studies needed to determine the safety of soy-based products have not yet been concluded. While the American Association of Pediatricians has declared these products are not toxic to children, they were unable to say that there was no impact on the human body from the consumption of soy. Additionally, there are many gastrointestinal issues that can result from the consumption of soy which points to the fact that human beings were made to consume protein primarily from animal meat. Supporting this idea is the fact that allergy to soy is one of the most common allergies among the human population while allergy to meat is very rare and most of the time comes from the bite of the “Texas Lonestar” tick.

Perhaps more alarmingly, the US Food and Drug administration moved to revoke a health claim regarding the benefits of soy consumption in 2017. This was related to the claim that the consumption of soy protein reduces the risk of heart disease, a very common talking point for those that push soy products. Heather Patisaul who is a developmental biologist has sounded the alarm on soy consumption, pointing to the fact that it has similar effects to bisphenol A aka BPA. This is the estrogenic substance that is contained in plastics that can harm brain function as well as hormone regulation. Patisaul claims that genistein affects the human body in a similar way to BPA however, it is marketed as healthy.

Red meat

The common reason given to justify the consumption of soy products is the fact that they are healthier than traditional sources of protein such as red meat. However many of the studies on red meat consumption conducted for the sake of increasing the viability of soy products do not tell the whole story. Many of these studies are observational studies that are unable to prove causation. In the age of mass consumption, it is important to realize that all red meats are not equal. Processed foods can contain hormones and substances that are used to increase the size of the animals the meat is taken from. The presence of growth hormones in some animal products has been the subject of many studies over the years and the results show that it is more likely present in processed meat products. However, grass-fed and organic red meat products are still necessary for the human diet. Red meat is one of the most important sources of a number of nutrients that can positively impact the human body. Strong levels of zinc, iron, vitamin B3, B12, and B6 are all present along with high levels of protein. Red meat also contains creatine and carnosine which are important to keep the systems of the body functioning normally. When it comes to red meat the most important thing is that it is unprocessed and as natural as possible.

Conclusion

The evidence that red meat causes health problems is far from definitive when combined with studies on organic red meat and the fact that many derogatory studies are done by those who are trying to push soy products into the market. The isoflavones in soy can result in estrogenic or even anti-estrogenic effects on the body resulting in a myriad of issues related to hormones and hormone production. This can be as simple as feeling tired most of the time due to low thyroid production or even fertility issues as suggested in animal studies. When looking to consume protein through red meat it is important to ensure that the meat is organic and of the highest quality possible.

Thanks for reading.

*The information provided in this post is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice*

References

https://ourworldindata.org/extreme-poverty

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/is-red-meat-bad-for-you-or-good#TOC_TITLE_HDR_2

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/16/us/plant-based-meat-has-roots-in-the-1970s.html#:~:text='%E2%80%9D%20Companies%20like%20Beyond%20want%20consumers,Lapp%C3%A9%2C%20nearly%2050%20years%20ago.

https://www.morningstarfarms.com/incogmeato/home.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=MSF%7CGoogle%7CSearch%7CBrand%7CGeneral%7CIncogmeato%7CExact%7CAugust&gclid=CjwKCAiAp4KCBhB6EiwAxRxbpHcXI81Ro7tt8Z3MzaOKzYFB57TiAD_vFHNhRXvVSWSLVghUIsDVWxoCsOMQAvD_BwE#faq

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/soy/

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/soya-male-body-health-side-effects-truth-milk-sexual-function-a8382976.html

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/soybean-fertility-hormone-isoflavones-genistein/#:~:text=Many%20of%20soy's%20health%20benefits,development%20of%20fetuses%20and%20children.

https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/dietary-factors/phytochemicals/soy-isoflavones

https://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/30/health/fda-soy-heart-health-claim-bn/index.html