I have used soy protein for many years. I can’t imagine my life without it. And when I heard about the estrogen issues that are related to soy, I did some research. I would have had a very hard time if I had to give it up.
A Soy Protein Shake is my breakfast of choice and the main reason is because of the way it makes me feel. It’s not like I get a burst of energy, but I get sustained energy. I feel alert and focused. I feel balanced in terms of no highs from sugar and then the nasty drops. I have energy and I don’t feel hungry until the next meal. Plus this balanced blood sugar state in the body contributes to better moods as well.
It is fascinating how foods control the way we feel. I like being in control and having the choices of what I eat and how that is going to benefit me. My research about soy and estrogen brought me to some interesting information. I liked learning that the phytoestrogens from soy can regulate and even help block excess estrogen.
I have read, as I am sure you have, about the questions raised between soy and breast cancer. The interaction with patients who take tamoxifen to prevent or treat breast cancer is being studied ongoing. However, research has shown some very positive results in favor of soy with breast cancer patients (lower risk of death and reduced risk for recurrence.). Information and the results of one important study can be found here: Soy and Estrogen.
The benefits of soy in regard to menopause (too much estrogen) symptoms, including hot flashes, are very satisfying to many women who use it successfully. Insomnia and mood swings are other symptoms that women say have been helped with soy.
Soy has so many health benefits, in addition to the positive ways that you feel when you use it as a meal. I was told once that morning is a great time to have a soy shake because it balances your blood sugar levels so well and helps set the tone for the rest of the day (as long as you don’t totally blow that up with bad choices throughout the day).
One powder shake product is not the same as another. For example, many brands wash the soy with alcohol that removes beneficial isoflavones and creates cross-contamination with the processing chemicals. You want to find soy protein that is water-washed to retain the critical isoflavones genistein and daidzein and provide you with the whole goodness of this valuable nutrient.