Soya beans is the only plant food that is considered to be a complete protein as it contains all the essential amino acids and has all three macro-nutrients essential for health: protein, carbohydrate and fat. Soya beans are low in fat, providing a good source of fibre, iron, calcium, zinc, magnesium and B vitamins.

B vitamins play an important role in releasing and metabolizing energy from the food we eat. Zinc and magnesium help with enzymatic reactions in the body. Being low in saturated fat, soya beans is ideal for replacing animal protein from food such as red meat that contains high levels of saturated fat.

Even as the goodness of soya is apparent, certain alarming claims about soya beans producing certain undesirable results. Here, we take a look at concerns that have surfaced.

Increases Risk Of Gout And Kidney Stones
Some studies done on consuming too much soya bean have shown that oxalates in soya that cannot be absorbed by the body, bind with calcium to form kidney stones that can block the urinary system.

Gout is caused by the build-up of uric acid in the blood stream. This occurs when substances called purines found in food such as soya, tofu and meat are broken down by the body.

For these reasons, doctors often recommend that patients with kidney problems consume less products that contain oxalates. However, soya alone does not cause these problems. It is the combination of purines found in protein foods such as meat, seafood and milk.

Increases Risk Of Memory Loss
Although further studies are needed, coagulants such as salts and acids in tofu are thought to contribute to memory loss. Lab studies found that brain-derived neurotrophic factor in male rats causes brain atrophy that is associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Affects Male Fertility
A recent belief was that soya lowers a man’s sperm count. This has been debunked by dieticians who carried out a study of 100 subjects, where it was found that soya food intake was unrelated to sperm quality and male fertility. Instead, obesity may be a cause for infertility in men with high soya intakes.

Reduces Breast Cancer Risk
Studies carried out by American universities have shown that eating a serving of soya bean curd or drinking a glass of soya bean milk everyday reduces the risk of breast cancer in Chinese women.

Reduces Heart Disease Risk
Soluble fibre in soya bean helps to reduce cholesterol in the blood. Studies have shown that soya protein can lower bad cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Has Post-Menopausal Benefits
Soya bean benefits everyone but is especially beneficial to menopausal women, helping to prevent bone loss. It also helps in lowering blood pressure, cholesterol and breast cancer risks. However it does not improve hot flashes or other menopausal symptoms.

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