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genistein

The “Soy is Evil” Saga Continues: 7 Effects on Prediabetes

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For those of you that read my blog post on soy a few weeks ago and still think I’m off my rocker and being paid under the table by the soy growers association, I present exhibit B.

With the usual caveats of non-processed and non-GMO soy, the research is overwhelmingly in support of soy as part of a healthy lifestyle.  I’ve read the arguments stating that soy was only recently introduced into the human diet maybe 75 years ago, but much like all the other misconceptions about soy, this is untrue and, in this case, the authors are only maybe 5,000 years off (and, in the timeframes of the universe as well as carbon dating techniques, this is merely a rounding error).

In this particular study, authors looked at the ability of genistein (the protective isoflavone found in soy) to help improve prediabetes.  120 women with prediabetes were given 54 mg genistein (about the amount found in a serving of soy) for 1 year.  Here’s what they found:

  1. With genistein use, fasting glucose and fasting insulin dropped.
  2. HDL-C increased an average of 10 mg/dL.
  3. Increased adiponectin levels (an anti-diabetic hormone produced by the fat cells).
  4. Decreased total cholesterol, LDL-C down 30 points, triglycerides and visfatin (another fat derived hormone that drives inflammation and chronic disease).
  5. Homocysteine levels dropped as well (an amino acid linked to heart disease and stroke).
  6. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure was also reduced.

To top it all off, genistein users complained of no more side adverse effects than the non-users in the study and did not discontinue the study at any different rate.

Looking at the drop in LDL cholesterol and triglycerides coupled with the increase in HDL, the risk of heart disease is going to plummet with this as well.

Compare this to statins, the wonder drug that I love so much, which ONLY effects one single blood marker (LDL) and will actually LOWER HDL.  So, a drug with loads of side effects (which can be perused ad nauseam in my eBook, which can be found on the eBooks page by clicking here) that has almost no effects on heart disease or stroke rates is not even in the same ballpark as a serving of soy at protecting your heart.

Much life the proverbial death match between the HR Block accountant and the ninja warrior.  Too bad the accountant has billions of dollars backing him up.

Your Heart and Blood Vessels on Soy: 5 Things to Know

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A simple Google search will leave you confused about whether eating soy is good for your heart and blood vessels or as evil as Twinkies.

Ok…so nothing could be as evil as Twinkies.

But what IS the deal with soy?  Is it good for us, or does it vaporizes the thyroid, cause breast cancer and stimulate teenage boys to grow Dolly Parton-esque boobs?

As someone who reads through hordes of medical literature, I can tell you that the evidence overwhelmingly points to soy as being very protective for our health.  I don’t even recall coming across any negative studies on soy, and this is a topic I always keep my radar screen open for.  Interestingly enough, all of the articles and blog posts on the Internet demonizing soy seem to point out the evils and then, in fine print, begrudgingly note that soy might be ok if it’s not processed and non-GMO.

When pressed, the naysayers agree that soy is part of a healthy lifestyle once those two factors are addressed.  So why not address these two requirements right out of the gate?  I can’t figure that one out myself.  Regardless of other opinions, I continue to promote soy as part of a healthy lifestyle.  And, as noted, this means no processed soy (as in veggie burgers, veggie dogs, textured vegetable protein, etc..) and non-GMO.

Also important to note is that soy contains protective compounds referred to an isoflavones, specifically daidzein and genistein.  By themselves, these compounds have protective effects.  Beyond this, if someone has the right blend of bacteria in his or her gut (like Asians raised on soy) these bacteria in the gut convert another class of compounds (lignans) into an even more potent compound called enterolactone.  This benefit may be destroyed by antibiotics.

You can see that it’s not all that simple.  The take home message is that soy is, in almost all circumstances, very good for you, so long as the above 2 criteria are met.  And you’re not allergic (not really all that common unless you were inundated with soy over a long period of time), and in some susceptible people it might cause some thyroid problems.

All of this brings me to this particular study looking at the effects of genistein on certain cardiovascular markers.  Participants to 54 mg/day (just under a cup’s worth of tofu) for 6 months, along with a Mediterranean-style diet.  Here’s what they found:

  1. Blood flow (as measured by flow mediated dilation at 50 seconds and peak FMD) improved.
  2. Decreases in total cholesterol, triglycerides and homocysteine.
  3. Descreases in visfatin (a hormone produced by fat cells that drive diabetes and inflammation).
  4. Adiponectin (another fat-derived hormone, but one that protects against diabetes and inflammation) levels were increased.
  5. The participants on the genistein experienced no more side effects nor discontinued the study.

Overall, this was a very positive effect on the health of the blood vessels.  Contrast this with the negative health effects of poor quality, abused, commercially grown beef.  Complete opposite ends of the vascular health spectrum.

Phytoestrogens Alter Adrenocortical Function – (11-19-01)

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Phytoestrogens Alter Adrenocortical Function

This study finds that the genistein and daidzein (both found in soy) lower cortisol levels and increase DHEA levels, essentially reversing the pregnonolone steal. The pregnonlone steel occurs when precursers in the adrenal cortex get shunted over to cortisol production instead of DHEA in times of chronic or extreme stress.

JCEM — Abstracts: Mesiano et al. 84 (7): 2443

Read entire article here

Genistein Increased DMBA-Induced Mammary carcinoma in mice – (12-27-01)

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Genistein Increased DMBA-Induced Mammary carcinoma in mice

This article shows an increase in carcinogen induced breast tumors in mice. A few things to consider here. I have always said that there is a danger in taking components of natural compounds and taking them in high levels. Mother Nature, in her infinite wisdom put compounds together in foods to work together. Unfortunately, many times certain “health companies” grab onto an idea and mutate it. Soy based diets have shown to protect against many chronic health conditions. Remember that soy based diets usually include high levels of whole grains as well as vegetables and spices. If we take one or two compounds in soy, isolate them and manufacture them in high levels of course we’re likely to see adverse effects.

Read entire article here

ASSOCIATION WITH ANTIBIOTIC USE AND BREAST CANCER – (01-17-05)

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FLAVONOID GLUCOSIDES ARE HYDROLYZED AND THUS ACTIVATED IN THE ORAL CAVITY

You can add this one to the damaging effects of antibiotics. Always irks me when all the concern about antibiotic overuse focuses on antibiotic resistance, when the real, long term damage comes from destroying normal bacterial flora.

This study finds that the bacterial conversion of certain flavonoids (genistein from soy and quercetin from onions) can occur as early as the oral cavity, thus producing more effective compounds to protect the oral cavity from diseases such as cancer. So, while antibiotics may not cause cancer, they may remove some of the potential protective effects given to us by foods. We have seen an association with antibiotic use and breast cancer recently as well.

Read entire article here