5 Important Points How Soy Helps In Hormonal Balance
Hormonal imbalance is generally associated with mental health issues like stress, anxiety, depression, and mood swings. The condition is also linked to sleep deprivation, fatigue, bloating, and unintentional weight gain.
But if recent findings are anything to go by, the body’s inability to regulate hormonal activities might result in far worse medical conditions. These include cardiovascular problems (such as bradycardia and tachycardia) and certain cancers (such as breast and prostate cancer).
Therefore, it’s imperative to take every proactive measure to keep your hormonal activities in check. And one way to do that is by making healthy dietary choices.
Soy is a superfood associated with many health benefits, including the ability to restore hormonal imbalance. Below are the five important ways soybeans may positively impact your hormonal activities.
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1.Soy May Have Anti-estrogenic Properties
Estrogen is the primary female sex hormone. It’s responsible for maintaining female characteristics, including physical features like breast development and emotional attributes like nurturance.
However, high estrogen levels in a woman’s body can trigger various adverse effects, including chronic fatigue, unintentional weight gain, fibroids, and heavy periods. In males, a surge in estrogen levels may cause undesirable development of breast tissues, erectile dysfunction (ED), and infertility. Multiple studies also link high estrogen levels with increased risks of breast and prostate cancer.
Fortunately, supplementing with soy protein may help restore abnormal surges in estrogen levels, thereby preventing associated medical risks. Soy’s anti-estrogen properties come mainly from its abundance of isoflavones.
Isoflavones are a type of plant estrogen (also known as phytoestrogens) which produce similar but weaker effects as human estrogen. When consumed, soy isoflavones readily bind to estrogen receptors in the body. This can result in either weak estrogenic or anti-estrogenic effects.
2.May Boost Dopamine Levels
The primary reason behind soy’s raging popularity is its high protein content.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), a 100-gram serving of whole soya beans provide as many as 36 grams of protein. That’s the highest protein concentration in any natural food product, even higher than beef and poultry.
But what truly makes soy the go-to protein source is that this legume is high in all nine essential amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. They’re classified into non-essential (those that the body can synthesize on its own) and essential (those that must come from the foods we consume).
One of the nine essential amino acids is phenylalanine, which is a precursor to dopamine. Dopamine is the chemical neurotransmitter and hormone that aids numerous brain functions. The hormone is most noted for its ability to trigger the feelings of pleasure and self-motivation.
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3.May Improve Serotonin Signaling
Serotonin is another important chemical neurotransmitter and hormone in the body whose levels can fluctuate significantly depending on the foods we eat. The hormone regulates our moods, appetite, and circadian rhythms. It also influences various aspects of cognitive performance, including memory and learning.
Low serotonin levels are often synonymous with stress and anxiety. On the contrary, high levels of this hormone may lead to feelings of happiness and positivity.
We’ve already pointed out that soybeans are significantly high in all essential amino acids. These include the amino acid tryptophan, which serves a precursor to the serotonin. Besides tryptophan, soy is also high in vitamin B6 and isoflavones, both of which may increase serotonin production.
It’s important to note that soy’s effects on serotonin depend on the legume’s formulation consumed. Edamame (immature soybeans) are considerably higher in serotonin-boosting compounds.
4. May Increase Melatonin Levels
Melatonin is a hormone that plays the biggest role in regulating our sleep-wake cycles. High melatonin levels translate to restful sleep, while low levels are often associated with sleep deprivation. Melatonin may also impact the brain’s performance in various ways. The chemical can work alongside other ‘feel-good’ hormones, such as dopamine and serotonin, to produce nootropic effects.
Although the body has a natural ability to secrete melatonin, that ability declines with age. Fortunately, there are numerous dietary sources of melatonin, including soybeans. Supplementing with soy may help replenish your depleted melatonin reserves, thereby restoring a balance of this useful hormone.
Like serotonin, melatonin tends to be higher in edamame. However, dry soybeans can also provide a decent serving of the compound.
You could also derive melatonin from a range of processed soy products. These include soymilk, tofu, tempeh, and soy sauce.
5.Soy May Flush Excess Hormones from the Body
Protein isn’t the only abundant nutrient in soybeans. These legumes are also considerably high in dietary fiber. Soy packs decent amounts of soluble and insoluble fiber, each of which comes with certain benefits for maintaining hormonal balance.
Soluble fiber readily dissolves in your gastrointestinal tract, acting as prebiotics for your gut microbiome. Nourishing gut-friendly microbes can provide all-rounded immune-boosting benefits, including the ability to guard against hormonal disorders.
On the other hand, insoluble fiber moves through the gut undigested. In the process, it binds to excess amounts of potentially harmful hormones in the body, eventually removing these chemicals through the colon.
Insoluble fiber is also famous for triggering the sensations of fullness for longer between meals. Therefore, fiber-rich products like soy can reduce the risks of weight-related diseases, most of which are exacerbated by hormonal imbalances.
Remember
Soy is only effective at regulating endocrine activities if moderately consumed. Excess soy intake can adversely impact your thyroid glands, throwing your body’s hormones off balance.
