Phytoestrogens

Overview & Description

Phytoestrogens are estrogens contained in plants. They have a chemical structure similar to the human hormone estrogen. They have a weak estrogen effect when eaten. The most commonly studied are the isoflavones, found in soybeans and other legumes. The word soyfood refers to any food products made from soybeans. Soyfoods provide significant amounts of isoflavones.

Information

In addition to the possible health benefits, soyfoods are very nutritious. They are low in saturated fat, free of cholesterol, high in fiber, and rich in many vitamins and minerals. Soyfoods are high in protein.

Soy protein is the only plant protein that is considered complete. In fact, it is equivalent in quality to animal protein. Soy protein causes less calcium to be excreted from the body than animal protein does. This may protect kidney function. Soyfoods are also a good source of calcium, helping to protect the bones Soyfoods are also high in iron.

The benefits of adding phytoestrogens to the diet appear very promising. But researchers caution against adding large amounts. Too much of them may cause problems with development and fertility. No one suggests that they replace regular treatment for osteoporosis, heart disease, or high cholesterol. Plant estrogens should be avoided by people who take certain medications. These include tamoxifen, which is used to treat breast cancer.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved a food label health claim for foods that contain soy. The health claim states that soy protein may reduce the risk of coronary artery disease. For a food to qualify for the health claim, each serving must contain 6.25 grams of soy protein. It must also meet other criteria for fat, cholesterol, and sodium content. The FDA has based this on studies that show 25 grams of soy protein per day have a cholesterol-lowering effect.

Making soyfoods part of a healthy diet can be easy, nutritious, and delicious. The following foods are excellent sources of isoflavones. They provide from 30 to 50 mg per serving:

roasted soy nuts (1 ounce)

soy flour (1/2 cup)

soy grits (1/4 cup)

textured soy protein (1/2 cup, cooked)

soybeans (1/2 cup, cooked)

regular soymilk (1 cup)

tempeh (1/2 cup)

tofu (1/2 cup)

The only two soy products that do not contain isoflavones are soy oil and soy sauce.

Here are some tips for adding soy to a healthy diet:

Soy milk can be used instead of regular cow's milk.

Soymilk can be blended with a banana or other fruit to make a quick breakfast shake.

Tofu can be used in salads, soups, chili, stir-fries, or sauces. It can be a substitute for eggs, yogurt, or meat. Tofu soaks up the flavor of whatever it is cooked with.

Soy yogurt can be mixed with fresh fruit.

Textured vegetable protein (TVP) can be substituted for part or all of the beef in ground beef recipes.

Veggie burgers are great on the grill.

Roasted soynuts can be kept around as a crunchy snack. They can be sprinkled on cereal, yogurt, or salads.

Soynut butter can take the place of peanut butter on bagels, bread, or English muffins.

Here's how to replace ingredients in favorite recipes with soy products:

1 cup dairy milk = 1 cup fortified soy milk

1 egg = 1 Tbsp. soy flour + 1 Tbsp. water or 2 oz. silken tofu

1 egg = 1/4 cup tofu (blend with liquid ingredients until smooth, then add to dry ingredients)

1 cup buttermilk = 1 cup soymilk + 1 Tbsp. vinegar

1 cup fruited yogurt = 1 cup soft silken tofu + blended fruit

1 cup ricotta cheese = 1 cup firm tofu, mashed

replace 1/2 the cream in soup or sauces with silken tofu

replace 1/2 the cream cheese in cheesecakes with silken tofu

replace up to 1/4 of the flour in homemade breads with soy flour

replace up to 1/3 of the flour in muffins with soy flour

Functions and Sources

What food source is the nutrient found in?

Soy is found in numerous foods. Soyfoods include:

tofu

soy milk

soy flour

soy cheese

soynut butter

soy yogurt

tempeh

textured soy protein or TSP

soybeans

veggie burgers

How does the nutrient affect the body?

Research is uncovering more and more about the health benefits of eating soyfoods. Soy isoflavones may decrease the risk for heart disease. They may reduce the risk of breast cancer, cancer of the uterus, prostate cancer, and colon cancer. They seem to help prevent osteoporosis, or bone thinning. They also help control diabetes, and ease the symptoms of menopause.

During menopause, women have fluctuations in estrogen levels. These hormonal changes may increase the risk of heart disease and osteoporosis. These changes also cause hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and headaches. The ability of plant estrogens to reduce these symptoms is now being studied.