Soy or Soybean has numerous health benefits. It comes with amino acids and is known for reducing cholesterol and cardiac issues. You can consume it in the form of tofu, salad, curry, bars, milk, etc.
However, many people think that soybean affects men's sexual health. How true is that? If you need an answer to this question, read along. Below we'll discuss whether or not soybean affects men's sexual health. You'll also find how much soya chunks in a day for males are safe. So, let's get started.
What is a soy or soy-based diet?
Soy/soybean is a type of legume which is grown widely across the world for its benefits. It's an amazing source of protein for the people who largely rely on a vegan diet. Apart from being a source of protein, soy also has:
- Antioxidants
- Fiber
- Saturated Fats
- Phytoestrogens
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids
And all of these for essential nutrients that are required by your body.
A soy-based diet simply includes soy products mostly. Tofu, textured vegetable protein, soy milk, soy bars, and fried soybeans are some common examples.
What are the known benefits of a Soy-based diet?
Many people have this question in mind "are soya chunks good for health?". Fortunately, the answer is yes. Let's learn about some benefits of soy-based diet:
- Helps Relieve Sleep Issues
- Helps Manage Diabetes
- Helps Improve Blood Circulation
- Helps Maintain Bone Health
- Helps Improve Heart Health
- Helps Improve Digestion
1. Helps Relieve Sleep Issues
Soybean comes with a good amount of magnesium. And magnesium is linked to improving the quality, duration, and restfulness of sleep for both men and women.
2. Helps Manage Diabetes
Certain studies suggest that soybean consumption increases insulin receptors in your body. And this can help you prevent diabetes from happening in the first place. Also, because of the low carb content, soybean makes good anti-diabetic food.
3. Helps Improve Blood Circulation
According to experts, abundant RBCs in your body can help improve blood circulation. Fortunately, soybean comes with good copper and iron content. And both copper and iron help in producing more RBCs and thus enhancing blood circulation.
4. Helps Maintain Bone Health
Soybean contains impressive amounts of:
- Zinc
- Copper
- Selenium
- Magnesium
- Calcium
All these nutrients help strengthen the bones and prevent osteoporosis. Also, regular soy consumption can ensure quick healing for bones.
5. Helps Improve Heart Health
People who have LDL cholesterol are always at risk of coronary heart disease. However, soy is a good source of unsaturated fats that help lower cholesterol in the body. These fats are known as omega-three fatty acids that also help reduce inflammation and thus limiting the risk to your heart
6. Helps Improve Digestion
Indigestion usually leads to constipation which is an unpleasant condition. And this happens, usually because of low fiber intake.
However, soybean can help. Soybean contains fibers that help move the stool smoothly through the intestines. This way, you can prevent indigestion and constipation.
These were some common benefits of soybean or soy. Now, let's learn how sexual health in men and soybean are linked.
Does Soybean Consumption Affect Men's Sexual Health?
Let's now move towards our main question. However, before concluding anything, we need to understand the link between men’s sexual health and soy.
Soy contains isoflavones which are phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens have structures similar to estrogen (sex hormone in females.). Many people think that if they consume more soy, the amount of female sex hormone will increase in their bodies leading to low sperm count and sexual desire.
However, this isn't true. According to a study, male rats showed the inability to produce offspring after consuming soy. But this study is limited to rats and cannot be linked to human males.
Also, human males and male rats synthesize isoflavones in two different ways. So, linking both of these would be stupid.
As far as female sex hormone (estrogen) is considered, it exists in small quantities in males.
All in all, some studies say that soy somehow affects men's sexual health. However, most studies are either incomplete or aren't backed by ample evidence. So, you can consider that soy doesn't affect sexual health in men.
However, you should always consume a limited amount of soy only. After all, excessive consumption of anything is harmful. And soy is no exception.
What are the side effects of consuming soya?
Here are some soy/soya chunks side effects:
- Makes Protein Digestion Hard
- Might Make You Fart
- Might Cause Cancer
1. Makes Protein Digestion Hard
Although soy comes with lean proteins, it also has protease inhibitors. These enzymes make protein digestion quite hard, leading to gastric distress.
2. Might Make You Fart
Soy contains prebiotic compounds, oligosaccharides along with fibers. Although these compounds are good for your gut bacteria, you can experience bloating and flatulence, which is embarrassing.
3. Might Cause Cancer
Some people believe that isoflavones in soy might lead to endometrial or breast cancer. However, evidence backing this claim doesn't seem to exist.
Although some side effects of soy exist, not many are backed by sound evidence. And the side effects are only noticed after excessive consumption. So, if you consume soy or soy chunks in a limited amount, you'll only come across the benefits.
How much soya chunks in a day for males?
Soya chunks are a popular soy product that you can consume as a snack. However, soy can affect the uric acid in your body, which can further damage your liver. So, you must stick to only 25-30 grams of soya chunks per day.
However, if you have a soy allergy, you must completely refrain from consuming it. Also, consult your doctor/physician for further expertise on this.
Wrapping Up
When it comes to health, several misconceptions exist. However, most aren't backed by strong evidence. And soy's link to men's sexual health is one fine example.
You might find websites claiming that soy consumption reduces sex appeal or sperm count in men, but there is not enough proof/evidence to back this claim. However, if you still have doubt, you can consume a limited amount of soy each day for protein.
Also, you can consider connecting with a doctor to find the right dosage of soya for your body. This way, even if the risk prevails, it won't affect you in any manner.