Why Men Think Plant
A viral claim that Impossible Whoppers would make men grow boobs plays into long-held beliefs about power and sex.
Burger Kings inaugural commercial for the Impossible Whopper, the plant-based burger it launched internationally in November, is dominated by burly men biting down and experiencing aggressive disbelief. In a hidden-camera scenario, loyal consumers of the Whopper are deceived, receiving an otherwise-identical burger whose patty has been forged from soy by the company Impossible Foods. True to the brand name, the men appear incredulous. Two are only able to process their emotions by swearing.
This is a cow, one man splutters.
Not to be outdone, the baritone narrator replies, No cow.
The tension in the commercial derives from the divide between fast-food consumer bases, which skew male, and vegan consumer bases, which skew decidedly less so. Yet the manly Burger King customers ultimately come away open-mindedif not altogether convertedand say theyre more inclined to order an Impossible option tomorrow. Though its never addressed head-on in the ad, theres a clear subtext of sexual stigma: Are they really man enough to eat a soy burger?
I emailed Stangle for his take on the fallout from his post. He flatly said he had been wrong, specifically about the 18 million number.
Is Soy Healthy For Males
Soy is a healthy food for males.
Isoflavone in soy has no adverse effects on testosterone or estrogen levels in men, making it a safe food to consume. Even when consumed in relatively high quantities, it still has marginal effects on the hormonal balance in men .
Men can draw many health and nutritional benefits from soy protein. You can gain muscle mass much better using soy protein than using whey protein. We look at plenty of other effects of soy protein in the next section below. Also, find out how certain diets can inhibit your ability to boost testosterone naturally here
Here are some amazing facts about soy:
Soy And Estrogen The Evidence
Recent clinical evidence found no effect on circulating estrogen levels in men. There was no effect even after consuming as much as 150 mg of isoflavones per day6. Now, 150 mg/day might seem like a very small amount. However, it is very high when you compare it to the mean intake of 30-50 mg/day in Japanese adults2, who consume a much greater amount of soy than the rest of the world. The table below shows the isoflavone quantities per 100g serving of different soy foods 5,7. As you can see, even the most commonly consumed soy products contain very small amounts of isoflavones.
Also Check: How To Help Cortisol Levels
Soy Estrogen Men: Whats The Relationship
Scientific evidence shows no relationship between soy, estrogen, and men. Neither soy nor soy isoflavones increase the level of estrogen in men . Unless consumed in morbid amounts, they have no observable effects on the hormonal balance of males. Soy does not increase or reduce testosterone levels either. Heres how to increase testosterone naturally.
Symptoms Of High Estrogen Levels In Men
Here are some of the main symptoms of high estrogen levels in men:
- Infertility. Estrogen is one of the hormones your body uses to produce sperm. High estrogen levels can slow down sperm production and make it harder to create healthy sperm.
- Gynecomastia. Increased estrogen can cause more breast tissue to develop than normal. High levels can lead to the development of a condition called gynecomastia. This happens when the amount of breast fat tissue is abnormally high.
- Erectile dysfunction . Increased estrogen levels can affect the balance of hormones that are needed to help get an erection and stay erect. This is especially true if you also experience low testosterone.
- . Too much estrogen can result in short stature or delayed puberty in boys.
- Epiphyseal closure. This can happen in adolescents with high estrogen, causing boys to have short stature.
Other possible symptoms of high estrogen that may happen along with other hormone imbalances include:
- reduced sex drive
Recommended Reading: Can I Give My 10 Month Old Melatonin
Contact Ft Lauderdales Leading Mens Clinic For A Consultation
While somemale sex myths and studies claim that soy is bad for you, these studies work under the assumption that youre eating abnormally large amounts of soy.
If you moderate your intake to the recommended serving size of 25 grams per day, you wont experience any adverse effects on your testosterone levels or libido issues related to sex drive.
In fact, youll likely be experiencing health benefits from consuming soy in moderation, including lowered cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and protection of the heart.
So, is soy bad for men? The answer is no, as long as youre eating it in moderation.
If you want to learn more about soy and its effects on testosterone or erectile dysfunction, as well as tips for increasing your testosterone levels naturally,contact the team at Preferred Mens Medical Center in Ft. Lauderdale now to schedule an appointment to have a consultation with an experienced and specially trained medical staff. We are Ft Lauderdales leading mens clinic providing ED therapy, PE therapy, Acoustic Wave therapy, hormone therapy, and much more.
Soy Estrogen And Cancer
Scientific studies have shown varying results about whether or not soy isoflavones affect estrogen production and have any effect on estrogen-receptor positive and negative cancers. One study published in the December 2009 edition of the “Journal of the American Medical Association” found that eating soy-based foods had a positive effect on cancer survival for women and actually demonstrated anti-estrogenic effects in the body. Another study from 2018 published in “Dietary Patterns and Whole Plant Foods in Aging and Disease. Nutrition and Health” found similar results. But, a study in the September 2014 edition of the “Journal of the National Cancer Institute” found that ingesting large amounts of soy isoflavones can have pro-estrogenic effects and the isoflavone genistein can stimulate breast cancer tumor growth by activating estrogen receptors.
Don’t Miss: Cortisol Manager Integrative Therapeutics Reviews
Why Tofu Is In Everything Now
Im not a tofu hater. Hate implies disdain or animosity. Im indifferent to the stuff. Tofu just isneither good nor bad, neither memorable nor offensive. I dont doubt this is a position born of ignorance, but I would argue that that ignorance is born of a lack of tradition, of context.
America has never been what you would call a tofu-making country even though Asian cultures have been producing it for more than a thousand years. Its history in the U. S. begins properly in the 1970s, says Tara McHugh, Ph.D., a food technologist and researcher at the USDA.
Im not a tofu hater. Hate implies disdain or animosity. Im indifferent to the stuff.
At this time, eco-consciousness was ascendant, when plant-based eating went from the margins to the mainstream. It was not deliciousness that accounted for its relatively rapid adoption in the U. S. It was politics.
Tofu was not meat. It did not come from factory farms. If you were looking to take a personal stand against agribusiness, if you wanted to abstain from the ills of carnivores, tofu was a convenient vehicle, a kind of culinary conscientious objection.
In this ideological context, it was almost unseemly to suggest that, well, tofu didnt taste all that great. Flavor? How about the flavor of the resistance?
Since the 70s, tofu making has become more widespread, so it is no surprise that the quality has become better and better.
Its time to take back tofu, Tsai tells me over lunch the day after I met him at the factory.
How Did The Soy Estrogen Myth Start
The Soy Estrogen Myth began when a popular online newspaper cited a 2008 study that found that among men with low sperm counts, eating soy lowered their sperm counts even further. The study noted that soy did not lead to infertility.
However, this study had some serious limitations. They limited it to 99 men, with about 70 of them obese or overweight. It did not use a multivariate approach and soon, other studies emerged, finding no association between soy and low sperm counts.
Researches noted that there were no notable effects of soy protein on testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin, or free testosterone levels .
Also Check: Coffee And Cortisol Weight Gain
Effect Of Soymilk Consumption On Serum Estrogen And Androgen Concentrations In Japanese Men1
To whom requests for reprints should be addressed, at Department of Public Health, Gifu University School of Medicine, 40 Tsukasa-machi, Gifu 500-8705, Japan. Phone: 81-58-267-2247 Fax: 81-58-265-9020.
Chisato Nagata, Naoyoshi Takatsuka, Hiroyuki Shimizu, Haruo Hayashi, Tomomitsu Akamatsu, Kyouichi Murase Effect of Soymilk Consumption on Serum Estrogen and Androgen Concentrations in Japanese Men. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 1 March 2001 10 : 179184.
Is Soy Bad For Testosterone
No, soy isnt bad for your testosterone levels. Besides that, soy protein does not increase or reduce t levels in the human body.
Although its phytoestrogens can bond with estrogen receptors in similar fashion to human estrogen, they produce marginal effects. They neither increase or reduce estrogen levels in men or women. Sometimes, soy even has antiestrogenic effects.
Read Also: How Do You Test Testosterone Levels
Hormonal Effects Of Soy In Premenopausal Women
The interest in hormonal effects of soy in premenopausal women has centered mainly on the potential benefits of antiestrogenic effects on estrogen-dependent cancers such as breast cancer. The hormonal endpoints studied include blood concentrations of reproductive hormones and menstrual cycle and phase lengths. A pattern consistent with lowered risk of breast cancer would include a longer menstrual cycle , reduced estrogens and increased sex hormone-binding globulin 3 , and increased urinary excretion ratio of 2- to 16-hydroxy estrogens . At the same time, there has been some concern that estrogenic effects in the endometrium and breast might stimulate cancer growth.
Seven studies have been reported that have controlled for menstrual cycle phase in premenopausal women . Only three of the seven intervention studies fulfilled the ideal design criteria of a randomized crossover or parallel arm study of at least two menstrual cycles in length, with a true control period or group. Additionally, three studies were in-patient studies performed in metabolic wards with excellent dietary control, but the menstrual cycle results may have been confounded by cycle synchronization .
What Components Are Found In Soy
Fermented soy foods are an excellent source of protein, providing all the essential amino acids required by the human body. In addition to protein, dietary soy products contain water, fiber, healthy fat, vitamins, and minerals.
The main active component in soybeans is a class of compounds called isoflavones. Isoflavones are structurally similar to the hormone estrogen and can bind to both estrogen receptors and testosterone receptors in the body.
The two main isoflavones found in soybeans are genistein and daidzein. Genistein is considered to be the more potent of the two, with daidzein having weaker estrogenic effects.
Aside from that, soy is rich in a variety of different nutrients. These nutrients are important for maintaining normal testosterone levels, as well as supporting overall hormone health.
Heres what a100-gram portion of boiled soybeans looks like:
Based on the nutrition data above, soy is an excellent plant-based alternative to meat products when it comes to protein. Its also a good source of fiber and fat.
You May Like: How To Lower Estrogen Levels In Females Naturally
Will Soy Increase Estrogen Levels In Men
Absolutely not! Testing has shown that eating soy protein and foods containing soy isoflavones does not increase estrogen levels or decrease testosterone levels in men. But there are other ways that men can increase testosterone naturally without worrying about increasing estrogen.
Diagnosing High Or Low Estrogen
A doctor will have you take a laboratory blood test if they believe you may have either high or low levels of estrogen.
For this, youll go to a laboratory that collects samples, and someone whos trained to take samples will use a needle and vial to collect the blood for testing.
You should receive your results in about a week. Youll see your blood estrogen levels shown in measurements of picograms per milliliter . Once you get your results, your doctor will let you know what youll need to do next.
If theyre normal, you wont necessarily need to do anything. But if your levels or high or low, your doctor will recommend the next steps to help get your estrogen levels balanced.
Here are some of the possible treatments a doctor may recommend to help control your estrogen levels.
Don’t Miss: What Does Low Estrogen Cause
Foods That Increase Testosterone Levels
If youre looking for foods that will help toincrease your testosterone levels, here are some of the best options:
- Eggs: Eggs are rich in protein and contain all nine essential amino acids, which are necessary for testosterone production.
- Pumpkin seeds: Pumpkin seeds are a great source of zinc, a necessary mineral for testosterone production.
- Oysters: Oysters are considered a natural aphrodisiac and are also high in zinc.
- Beef: Beef is a great source of animal protein and also contains the mineral iron, which is necessary for testosterone production.
- Spinach: Spinach is high in magnesium, a mineral that has been shown to increase testosterone levels.
Nutrition News Should Men Cut Back On Soy
Recently, a friend called my husband to inquire about the risks for men in consuming too much soy milk. He had read an article that described how one individuals plight led him down the path of breast enlargement, and was concerned. This question caused me to want to explore soy milk in greater detail.
Gynecomastia, or the growth of abnormally large breasts in males, is caused by a change in hormone levels and how the body responds to them. Possible contributing factors include aging alcohol, steroid or marijuana use plant oils such as lavender and some medications and medical treatments. The change in hormone levels has also been attributed to dietary soy, although there is little in the scientific literature to support this idea.
The reason for the proposed link lies in the structure of soy. Soy contains isoflavones, which are converted in the body to phytoestrogens, similar to human estrogen that occurs naturally in both men and women. Theoretically, a high isoflavone intake could stimulate production of estrogen and decrease production of testosterone, with one result being enlarged breast tissue. A publication in 2008 told the story of a man who developed large breasts due to the consumption of soy milk, and was further circulated in blog posts urging men to avoid all soy sources. What is often lost in the telling is the amount of soy milk consumed: three quarts every day! Remember what I have told you about moderation.
Recommended Reading: How To Check Cortisol Levels At Home
It Could Protect Your Prostate
Men whose diets included soy foods had a 29 percent reduced risk of developing prostate cancer, found a 2018 meta-analysis in Nutrients. Again, thank isoflavones, such as genistein and daidzein, which the scientists think may disrupt the development of prostate cancer.
But what about low sperm count and man boobs? Back in the 2000s, a few small studies and rodent research suggested that the phytoestrogens in soy products could disrupt hormones. Several news outlets may have overblown those findings.
Such a link has never been substantiated in human studies, says Qi Sun, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition at Harvard University. I dont think this is a concern at all, Sun says.
How Much Is Too Much Soy
The Food and Drug Administration recommends eating 25 grams of soy a day for a balanced diet, equal to 2-4 servings per day . Too much of anything, even if its healthy, could have adverse side effects and lead to health problems.
That being said, its very difficult to overeat soy. Men in Asian countries, especially Japanese men, consume the most soybeans globally, and some eat anywhere between 60-120 grams of soy per day without any adverse side effects .
It would be best if you watched out for highly processed foods containing soy, such as soy protein bars, soy powders, and soy meat substitutes. These tend to have more unnecessary ingredients like sugar and salt, and if consumed in large amounts can lead to negative health effects like cardiovascular disease.
Also Check: Estrogen Replacement High Blood Pressure
Make Soy Part Of Your Healthy Diet
Soy foods can play an important role in the diets of men by providing high-quality protein and healthy fat. Soy protein also supports normal blood cholesterol levels and is a good choice of high-quality, plant-based protein for those wanting to increase muscle mass.
The research overall indicates that soyfoods can be safely incorporated into the diets of essentially all healthy individuals except for those allergic to soy protein, which is relatively uncommon. The key is to incorporate soy as part of your nutrient-dense overall healthful diet.
Soy Does Not Raise Estrogen Or Lower Testosterone Levels In Men
Misconceptions concerning soyfoods stem from the fact that soy is a uniquely rich source of isoflavones, which are naturally occurring plant chemicals classified as phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens are plant components found in several different types of food but the amounts in soy are much greater than other foods. However, despite being classified as plant estrogens, soybean isoflavones differ at both the molecular and clinical levels from the human hormone estrogen.
The origin of the concern about hormone disruption has a lot to do with two casereports each describing individual men who experience hormonal disturbances that allegedly occurred as a result of consuming soy foods. But and this is important to note each of the men described in these reports consumed extremely high amounts of soy foods, about nine times the amount of isoflavones typically consumed by older men in Japan, a country for which soy is a traditional component of the diet.
Too much of any food may lead to health problems. Furthermore, the soy intake of these two men occurred in the context of nutrient-deficient diets since most of their calories were derived from one food.
In contrast to these two case reports, extensive clinical data show that neither soy foods nor isoflavones affect testosterone and estrogen levels in men. This is true even when intake greatly exceeds typical Japanese intake.
You May Like: How Many Mg Of Melatonin Is Safe For Adults