Discussion Board

Hi

I have been vegan for 7 months (after 25 years as a vegetarian) and find myself concerned and confused about the press surrounding soya and phyto-estrogens.

I have been trying to limit the soya in my diet (and my 3 children's - they are vegetarian and I am slowly introducing a more vegan diet) but read recently that it's a) perhaps not as bad for humans as some press makes out and b) almost impossible to avoid in a vegan diet as pulses, sesame seeds, flax seeds, etc also contain a high level (though soya has the highest density).

Can you please help me as I struggle to raise my children and myself as vegan, but do not want to introduce another potential health hazard into our diet.

Have there been extensive tests on humans on the effect on fertility, cancer risk, etc? I am currently reading 'Vegan - the new ethics of eating' but they make no mention of phyto-estrogens...

Honestly, if you're not using milk products you're already taking in WAAAY less harmful hormones than 99.9% of Westerners. A little soybeans or tofu won't kill you.

You should avoid isolated soy protein (which is in the fake meat products, which also contain added fat and so are not McDougall legal anyway). But otherwise I wouldn't worry much.