Is it okay to consume soy products while trying to conceive?

Question

What are some thoughts on this? My naturopath said to stop drinking soymilk because it has estrogenic effects which aren't helpful if I'm trying to conceive. I'm also taking some chinese herbs and going through with acupuncture treatments. No DR. including RE have been able to explain why my hormone levels change radically from one month to the next.

Answer 1

I would stop drinking it, I used to drink it till I found out it is a natural birth control method used in past times. Also people will say that soy is good for u well to the contrary if u look up on Chinese medicine SOY is poisonous, in past centuries the only way known to man to consume soy in china was to ferment it first before it was used this way it was no longer poisonous. I have included a very useful link hopefully it helps. Also if ur trying to get pregnant I would suggest u see a chiropractor it can boost fertility. also I have another link to a very useful site that I use because I'm TTC as well :) I find it very helpful and the ladies are ver nice and try ot help with any questions u may have. HTH GL and ***baby dust***

Answer 2

I'm hearing the entire range here from "Soy is poison.  No one should eat it ever!" to "Soy is good for everyone at all times!".  Whew, people, can we PLEASE get off this 'all or nothing mentality'?  Here's the truth:  Soy is cooling in the body, is extremely high in isoflavones and phytoestrogens, can in MANY people depress thyroid function and does contain many chemicals which are less than desirable in the human body, as do MANY members of the bean/legume family.  The reason it is often cultured or processed is at least twofold:  1)  So that products made with it can be kept for long periods of time, ie miso, tamari, shoyu, tempeh, and 2)  So that these less than desirable chemicals (extreme yin in Chinese Medicine) are altered by culturing processes and rendered either into something completely different or sufficiently altered and therefore balanced so that they are no longer detrimental to the body of the person consuming them, ie adding sea salt and culturing miso for a long time (sometimes years or even decades) to yangize it, make it more tonifying in the body, easier to digest, and aging/making safer and more balanced the soyfood.  People who should not eat soy would be a) those allergic to it; b) people who are hypothyroid; c) those who are always cold and even they may eat tamari, miso and shoyu as the salt creates warmth in the body because of its extreme yang nature;  d)  There has been some discussion that soy might not be good for women w/ PCOS or who are losing their hair, but the jury is still out on that one, and I find that women w/ PCOS are MUCH more disturbed by eggs, meat and dairy, than they are soy.  TCM says to always heat/cook soy and to add salt to it to balance it.  It's okay to serve it cold, as in tofu, as long as you've steamed or boiled it first, serve it w/ a dipping sauce that has tamari or shoyu or miso and some ginger or daikon to make balance.  And that folks, is the name of the game:  Balance and the middle path.  If you've consumed a diet that is very heating, very high in yang foods (meat, eggs, aged cheeses, salt and salt products), soy can actually help tonify, clear and balance/heal your body as it is considered extreme yin in TCM.  Soy is also the only protein that is cooling, which is a REALLY good thing for those of us who are waaaaayyyyyyy too hot all the time or who are getting those lovely menopausal heat surges.  An' thas the fax, Jack.

Answer 3

Anything in moderation is okay - well not everything but you know what I mean.  I.e. you're going to get soy protein from other things these days considering soy is used in a ton of foods.  

I live in japan and considering a huge percentage of peoples diets are heavy in soy....and Japanese still have babies ..i don't see the connection.

Stress is the most common factor in the inability to conceive (if both parties are indeed fertile).  

I have also seen studies that say soy may cause people to become g*y due to the estrogenic effects (isoflavones)...come on people...don't believe everything that you read..or hear.

Answer 4

soy is ok to consume always! it is the earth source of protein!!!!

SOY POWER

Answer 5

If you're trying to raise your Progesterone levels well there is a wonderful herb that helps, called "Vitex Agnus Castus"...

Tell your doc. about it.

Good Luck

Answer 6

I would listen to your naturopath. The western world drinks soy milk not Asian countries. It's what happens in the processing of the soy products that taking too much can make them harmful. The soy that's been fermented, like tempeh, is fine to eat.

"Average consumption of soy foods in Japan and China is 10 grams (about 2 teaspoons) per day. Asians consume soy foods in small amounts as a condiment, and not as a replacement for animal foods."

"Most modern soy foods are not fermented to neutralize toxins in soybeans, and are processed in a way that denatures proteins and increases levels of carcinogens."

Also be aware of Genetically Modified soy. Most soy grown in the states comes from these crops.

Read below for more info.

http://www.westonaprice.org/mythstruths/...