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Food Court: Bean Gone Bad?

Food Court: Bean Gone Bad?

By MF Editors

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The Charge
Soy is bad. Not just bad-tasting, but actually bad for your health.

The Case for the Prosecution
» Soy is bad for your privates. A Johns Hopkins University study found that rats whose mothers ate soy regularly were more likely to suffer from both impotence and erectile dysfunction.

» Too much soy may increase your risk of kidney stones. According to a Washington State study, soy is high in a compound called oxalate, which can bind with calcium and form stones.

» Hawaiian researchers found that eating soy causes the brain to age more quickly, impairing memory and increasing your risk of Alzheimer's disease.

» Eating soy regularly can also cause your testosterone level to drop after just four weeks, according to one Australian study.

The Case for the Defense
» Soy may help to prevent prostate cancer. In animal studies, researchers at UC Davis Cancer Center found that eating soy may help to slow the growth of cancer cells.

» Compounds in soy called phytoestrogens may be good for the heart, improving blood flow and reducing damage to the muscle during a heart attack, according to a University of Illinois study.

» Studies show that those same soy-based phytoestrogens may also be helpful in preventing both obesity and weight gain.

MF verdict: Guilty! It's a close call, but in the end, we side with the prosecution. Sure, soy may have some benefits for an older guy with a family history of disease, but if you're a young buck looking to score, you simply don't need it.

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