Originally published June 30 2005
Soya is great for health, may not be great for fertility
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
The health benefits of soya are well documented, but recent research suggests it may prevent sperm from binding with an egg, reports the Telegraph, so health experts suggest women restrict their soya intake during ovulation.
At the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology conference in Copenhagen, Professor Lynn Fraser of King's College, London said that chemicals in soya could prevent male sperm from binding with an egg.
"It might be practical, if you are in the habit of eating a lot of soya-based products, to restrict your diet for a short period over your window of ovulation," she advised women who are trying to get pregnant.
Phillips adds that, while there is no harm in cutting down on soya if you are trying to conceive, there are plenty of reasons to keep it in the diet if you are not.
"It is a low-fat food and a good source of protein for vegetarians and vegans," she says.
"And there are numerous studies supporting its health benefits - particularly for the heart."
A couple of years ago, the UK's Joint Health Claims Initiative, an independent consumer and trading standards panel, gave the go-ahead for makers of soya-rich foods to claim that their products were good for the heart.
After reviewing more than 50 scientific studies, British experts agreed that consuming 25 grams of soya protein daily, as part of a diet already low in saturated fat, may help to reduce the risk of heart disease.
The research, carried out over 25 years, showed how a regular intake of soya can lower overall cholesterol by an average of nine per cent, and result in a 13 per cent drop in levels of the unhealthy LDL-type cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein), which clogs the arteries.
While they are unsure about the precise mechanisms that cause this, experts point to the combination of the unusual composition of the proteins in soya and the high concentration of naturally occurring chemicals - isoflavones - in the bean.
Although the evidence for soya's heart protection qualities is compelling, the bean is also believed to help fight other diseases.
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