Many plant based foods contain isoflavones, which act like phytoestrogens (plant based estrogens) in mammals. Before you men out there give up your tofu, veggie burgers and soy milk, and dig into large cuts of red meat, read on about phytoestrogens and soy.
Phytoestrogens selectively bind to estrogen receptors in our body. This is a good thing and may be related to a decrease in our risk for certain diseases such as breast and prostate cancer. But, some studies (and numerous media sources) have indicated that soy isoflavones may affect a man’s testosterone levels. And low testosterone makes an alpha male no longer an alpha male (less muscle, fat gain, the “blahs”) which by all means, isn’t a good thing.
But, alas, soy was vindicated in a recent review of the literature by a team at the University of Minnesota. In their meta-analysis of 15 studies, they found 13 of the studies indicated soy had no measurable affect on testosterone and the remaining 2 studies were methodologically poor (i.e. their study design was not sound).
So alpha males, don’t be afraid to dig into a little edamame, tofu or veggie burgers. Just eat it like the Japanese do – in the food form (versus supplement) and on occasion.