Soy and the Thyroid: A Look at the Controversy
Over the past decade there has been a growing dispute over whether or not soy can have an adverse affect on or cause thyroid problems. One group claims that soy is a healthy food that should be part of a balanced diet while the other claims that its potential side effects far outweigh the benefits. So who’s actually right? Is there any way to really know? After all, for those who are vegetarian or vegan, not being able to eat soy could be a pretty big deal.
Soy is a food that has been booming in recent years, appearing in every kind of health food and supplement imaginable. Proponents believe that it can improve health during menopause, prevent cancer and heart disease and assist in weight loss just to name a few. Of course, soy doesn’t just show up in health foods but in virtually every other processed food we eat today from bread to ice cream, making it incredibly difficult to avoid. For soy supporters, however, this isn’t a problem as they tout the food as harmless and even beneficial, believing that it’s a much healthier alternative to red meat.
But is soy really the health wonder food it’s advertised to be? Studies by the American Heart Association and the American Medical Association suggest that the benefits of soy may not be all they’re cracked up to be. No direct link was found between soy and the prevention of illness, lowering of cholesterol, or reduction in bone marrow density. Of course, just because soy isn’t a panacea for better health doesn’t mean it’s harmful, and many doctors believe that it’s fine when consumed in moderation.
It wouldn’t be fair to ignore those who believe otherwise, however. Some medical professionals, going back almost 60 years, think that soy promotes the formation of goiters, slowing thyroid function and ultimately causing thyroid disease. Studies have been conflicting as to the veracity of this, some showing a connection between soy and thyroid disease and others attributing it to a myriad of factors including iodine deficiency and the presence of other goiter-inducing substances in the body.
The bottom line is that there's still no definitive resolution to this controversy and likely won't be for some time. For your personal health, you may want to talk to your doctor. Some may suggest erring on the side of caution while others will promote moderation, there is no one right answer and at the end of the day it's up to you to decide whether or not you want to make soy a part of your diet.
This post was contributed by Kathleen Baker, who writes about online health care administration degrees. You can learn about an array of health tips from her blog's web site Healthy Tips from Masters of Health Care.
She welcomes your feedback at KathleenBaker3212 at gmail.com
