Health and Exercise

Whey and Soy manufacturers did a superb job of confusing the public. For 5 years now the health community has been drinking up soy.

Then studies revealed that due to its fast gastric emptying properties most of the protein taken in via whey protein is metabolized and burned up in the liver. The soy manufacturers first responded by increasing the number of grams per serving. Why not? More protein would have to be consumed, thus more protein is sold.

Soy was popular with vegetarians. The Soy manufacturers looked on as whey protein sales sky rocketed, and, in to get their own piece of the pie, they went after the “health” market, primarily women. Many of the studies the soy manufacturers cite are valid, but do not represent the entire picture.

In one particular study published in France, two groups of apparently healthy men were fed isocaloric diets with one group using soy protein, the other using animal products as a protein source. The goal was to see if there was a reduced propensity for gallstones if animal proteins are replaced by soy. Since gallstone accumulation can be linked with crystallization of cholesterol, at its conclusion the study examined cholesterol levels.

The study showed that cholesterol crystallization was slightly retarded in the soy group extrapolating that soy can aid in preventing gallstones. Here’s what the study did not seem to address. There wasn’t any control over fruit and vegetable intake. Soy is a vegetable, and it does happen to fall into the group of veggies that are high in isoflavones.

Isoflavones have been closely linked to health benefits including a lowering of cholesterol. We’ve known for years that a predominance of animal meats can have adverse affects on cholesterol, but that doesn’t mean that someone consuming soy would have better cholesterol levels than someone eating combinations of chicken breast, turkey breast, fish, and egg whites and a variety of natural vegetables. You can see how the conclusions drawn from studies can be misconstrued and over-emphasized in significance.

Many studies show the cancer resistive benefits of a nutrition plan heavy in vegetables, we do not take this to mean that people who consume soy instead of milk, egg, and animal protein will be in better health, if an exercise is part of the plan conclusions in non-exercising people will always be invalidated.

Most of the research information promoted specific to soy is publicized by organizations with a vested interest in Soy Protein sales, such as The United Soybean Board. This does not mean that soy is not a good source of protein, but rather that the health benefits, as is commonplace, have been taken out of context and overblown to sell products.

As far as metabolism is concerned it appears that you are best off ingesting supplemental protein from a mix of whey & casein protein. The new protein supplements will hit the market and feature this exact combination of proteins. You are best to include a wide a variety of food as possible in your nutrition program.