Belonging to the plant family Leguminosae, soy is mostly found in the mainland of South and Southeastern Asia. It contains more vegetable protein and edible oils than any other legume. In fact, soy can provide alternative options for a variety of meat and dairy products. In recent times, soy has also been studied scientifically for numerous health benefits, including diabetes and cancer. Nevertheless, you must not add large amounts of soy products to your diet without talking to a doctor. When eaten in excessive amounts, soy can cause many health disorders, including hypothyroidism -- the underactivity of the thyroid gland.
Soybean Composition
Soy is a highly nutritious food. It provides a number of health promoting nutrients, such as protein, vegetable oils, mucilage fiber, polyunsaturated fats, vitamins, salts and minerals. The best thing about soy is that it contains complete protein, meaning it offers all nine of the essential amino acids for good nutrition. Thus, the quality of soy protein is nearly equivalent to meat and milk protein. Soybean oil is rich in two types of essential fatty acids linoleic and linolenic acids, which are essential for smooth muscle contraction, blood pressure and healthy growth. Soy also contains numerous non-nutritive compounds, including isoflavones, resveratrol and phytosterols. Each of these compounds produce soy's therapeutic benefits.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism develops when the thyroid gland, a butterfly-shaped gland lying at the anterior portion of your neck, produces less than the normal amount of thyroid stimulating hormones. Because thyroid hormones help regulate the body's metabolism, low thyroid levels result in the "slowing down" of many bodily functions. The symptoms of hypothyroidism are not easily detected because they mild and subtle. Hypothyroidism affects both men and women regardless of genders, although it is more common among women over age 50. The most common side effects of this condition include malaise, sleepiness, indigestion, constipation, dry skin, hair loss, weight gain and even goiters.
Soy and Hypothyroidism
Soy and soy isoflavones have negative effects on the thyroid gland. They decrease the effectiveness of the enzyme thyroid peroxidase substantially. Thyroid peroxidase is necessary for utilizing serum iodine for thyroid hormone production. So, too much consumption of soy-based products can lead to a hypothyroidism.
Other Side Effects
People who are susceptible to food allergies must not consume soy in large amounts; otherwise they may experience soy allergy symptoms, such as skin reactions, itching and swelling of the mouth and throat, wheezing, labored respiration, increased pulse, low blood pressure and gastric problems. Soy contains moderate amounts of purines. So, people with purine-related health problems, such as gout, must avoid soy foods at all coats. Purines metabolize to form uric acid. Uric acid can accumulate in the cartilage of joints as needle-like, jagged crystals, called tophi, which cause a painful inflammation and swelling, called gout.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Soy
- Ohio State University: Department of Food Science & Technology: Soybeans Protein
- Florida Agency for Health Care Administration; Soy; May 3, 2009
- University of Hawaii; College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources: Food Allergies; Alfonso Tirado; 2005
- "The Anti-Estrogenic Diet: How Estrogenic Foods and Chemicals Are Making You Fat and Sick"; Ori Hofmekler and Rick Osborn; 2007
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Gout
