Soy

Soy can be healthy when it is selected and prepared carefully. Some studies show soy can help regulate cholesterol balance by raising HDL and lowering LDL. Some studies show soy can help regulate cholesterol by raising HDL and lowering LDL. Most soy produced globally is GMO, and highly processed forms such as soy protein isolates may behave differently in the body than traditional fermented soy products. Soy's health effects depend on how it has been produced, processed, and prepared. China's soy consumption grew from approximately 14 tons of non-GMO soy in 1995 to 70 million tons, mostly imported GMO soy. Soy became prominent in Western health discussions partly because Japanese diets linked high soy intake with good health outcomes. Soy is embedded throughout China's food chain because the vast majority of pigs are fed soy-based feed. Soy contains isoflavones (genistein and daidzein) that are structurally similar to estrogen and can bind estrogen receptors in human tissue. Estrogenic signaling from soy phytoestrogens promotes prostate cell proliferation and enlargement. Soy exposure affects even consumers who do not eat tofu, because it enters through animal products. The liver…