Short Answer: Soy is good for PCOS. Because it has isoflavones, phytoestrogens, and antioxidants and they can balance hormones, lower androgens, improve insulin sensitivity, reduce oxidative stress, and enhance fertility.
PCOS is a condition that affects your ovaries and hormones.
In PCOS, your body produces too much androgen, a male hormone, and has problems using insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar.
This can lead to various health problems, such as irregular periods, infertility, acne, weight gain, diabetes, and heart disease.
One of the key factors in managing PCOS is diet.
What you consume can affect your blood sugar, insulin, and hormone levels, which can impact your PCOS symptoms and overall health.
To effectively manage PCOS, you should consume fiber-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes and avoid refined carbohydrate-rich foods like white bread, pasta, rice, and sweets.
Now, soy is a plant-based protein that comes from soybeans.
People usually eat soy in the form of tofu, tempeh, edamame, soy milk, soy nuts, or soy sauce.
Soy is good for PCOS because it contains isoflavones, phytoestrogens, and antioxidants.
Isoflavones are compounds that can act like weak estrogens in the body and help balance hormones.
Phytoestrogens are plant chemicals that can lower androgen levels and improve insulin sensitivity.
Antioxidants are substances that can protect cells from oxidative stress and inflammation.
100 grams of soy protein can give you 40 grams of protein (80% of your daily needs), 18 grams of fiber (72% of your daily needs), 120 mg of calcium (12% of your daily needs), and 2 mg of iron (11% of your daily needs).
Isoflavones can positively affect PCOS by reducing testosterone, improving ovulation, and enhancing fertility.
Phytoestrogens can positively affect PCOS by lowering cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, and insulin.
Antioxidants can positively affect PCOS by reducing oxidative stress, inflammatory markers, and acne.
Furthermore, soy is a low glycemic index food and low glycemic index foods are good for PCOS.
Because, they can help control blood sugar, prevent insulin spikes, and reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease.
You can eat 25 grams of soy protein per day safely.
More than that can cause gastrointestinal discomfort, bloating, or gas.
Also, you shouldn’t eat soy if you have a soy allergy or thyroid disorder to prevent allergic reactions or thyroid dysfunction.
Because, soy can trigger an immune response or interfere with thyroid hormone production.
You can buy fresh soy products in your local market or can order them online.
Always choose organic, non-GMO, and minimally processed soy products.
Because, they are healthier, safer, and more nutritious.
You can store them in the refrigerator for up to a week or in the freezer for up to three months.
Finally, remember, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management and essential medical care is key to managing PCOS effectively.
I always recommend my PCOS patients to follow a PCOS-friendly diet to improve their overall well-being, and enjoy a longer and healthier life.