Revival Soy & Whey Diet

As national obesity rates continue to rise, more and more people have continued to seek out different types of diets in hopes of finding one that can both improve their health and help shed unwanted pounds. One diet that has become particularly popular over the past few years has been the Revival Soy and Whey Diet. Developed by Dr. Aaron Tabor, the Revival Soy and Whey Diet is primarily a supplement-based diet revolving around soy and whey powders. Before embarking on such a diet, however, it is important to understand the positive and negative physiological effects this diet can have on your body. As always, check with your doctor before making significant dietary changes.

Soy Considerations

Soy is high in genistein and daidzein, two phytoestrogens that can wreak havoc on your reproductive hormones when consumed in excess. Phytoestrogens are plant compounds that have estrogen-like effects on the body. In a study published in 2008 in the "Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine," R.M. Harrison and colleagues, of Tulane University School of Medicine, found that subjects who were administered large amounts of soy had a significant increase in the estrogen hormone estradiol. Furthermore, a study conducted by R.C. Habito and colleagues, of Deakin University, and published in 2000 in the "British Journal of Nutrition," found that subjects who were administered large doses of soy had a significant decrease in testosterone levels.

Adverse Thyroid Effects of Soy

Soy consumption can cause a decrease in thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormones are important for a number of essential physiological functions, including proper metabolism regulation, and a thyroid hormone deficiency can often lead to numerous negative health consequences. A study conducted by M. Klein and colleagues, of The Institute for the Biology of Farm Animals, Dummerstorf-Rostock, Germany, suggests that the consumption of large amounts of soy may have negative effects on levels of thyroid hormone, according to a 2000 article in the "Archiv fur Tierernahrung."

Soy Warning

Consuming too much soy may put your liver as well as your ability to produce offspring at risk. According to research in the journal "Gastroenterology," subjects who consumed too much genistein and daidzein, the two phytoestrogens found in soy, were more likely to suffer severe liver damage and complete infertility.

Whey Potential

Although soy is a food that should not be consumed in excess, whey may be good for weight loss as well as your overall health. Research in the journal "Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Medical Care" has shown that foods such as whey are more satiating than foods high in other macronutrients, meaning you need to consume less calories of whey in order to feel full. Furthermore, a study conducted by T.L. Halton and colleagues, of the Harvard School of Public Health, has shown that foods such as whey increase your daily resting energy expenditure, making whey an overall excellent choice for those looking to lose weight, reports the "Journal of the American College of Nutrition."

Whey Benefits

In addition to aiding with weight loss, whey may have a positive effect on the immune system. The reason for this is that whey is high in a nutrient called n-acetyl-cysteine, which research in the journals "Clinical Investigate Medicine" and "Anticancer Research" has shown can greatly increase your body's natural levels of glutathione. Glutathione acts as a potent antioxidant and can significantly enhance your immune system as well as your overall health, making the whey aspect of the Revival Soy and Whey Diet potentially beneficial.