Additionally, soy has a positive effect on bone health because it contains both calcium and magnesium. The effects of osteoporosis may be lessened by the Isoflavone content in soy because it is found to inhibit the breakdown of bones. Soy has also been found to be especially beneficial to women in their menopausal years due to their high risk of osteoporosis.

Soy contains phytoestrogens, which are plant compounds that mimic estrogen in the human body. Because of this, soy may reduce hot flashes and maintain bone density for women going through menopause. For women who are not in their menopausal years, studies show that soy can help balance hormones and reduce the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.

Women who have a history of breast cancer should avoid eating soy because research has found that it can contribute to breast cancer. Other research has shown that soy can be helpful in the prevention of breast cancer. Scientists agree that additional research needs to be done to bridge the gap between whether or not soy is harmful or beneficial for prevention of breast cancer.

On the other hand, the phytoestrogen in soy may block some of the effects of testosterone in men, which could protect against prostate cancer.

Because of the controversy surrounding soy, many have excluded it from their diet completely. Most experts believe that including small amounts of soy in your diet is safe, with the exception of certain individuals who are at risk for certain cancers or those who have thyroid disease.

One of the potential risks of eating soy are for those who have impaired thyroid function and who are on thyroid medication. Soy has the potential to negatively impact thyroid function because it contains goitrogens, which are compounds that interfere with thyroid function. This is especially true for individuals who have iodine deficiency, which is essential for thyroid function.