Does soymilk really cause hormone imbalances?
458983
This is a very 'controversial' issue.  A lot of scientific work is being done to gather enough evidence to give a clear answer.\n\nSoy Isoflavones have a mild estrogenic activity in the body.  They compete with estrogen by binding to estrogen receptors.  However, they only weakly activate the receptor, whereas estrogen strongly activates the receptor.  For most women the net effect of this is to 'modulate' the estrogen receptor response.  This means if the woman's estrogen levels are too HIGH, the soy isoflavones will reduce estrogen receptor responses.  And, if the woman's estrogen levels are too LOW, the soy isoflavones will bind to the receptor and initiate at least a little response (increasing her receptor responses overall).\n\nSo, the best way to think about all of this, is to think of 'soy' as an estrogen 'modifier' or 'moderator'.  If estrogen activity is too high, soy lowers it.  But, if estrogen activity is too low, soy raises it.  It is a pretty neat 'biologic trick' that will be 'productive' for most women.\n\nHope you find this helpful.  Best wishes and good luck.
573597
Prolactin has many effects, the most important of which is to stimulate the mammary glands to produce milk (lactation).\n\nIncreased serum concentrations of prolactin during pregnancy cause enlargement of the mammary glands of the breasts and increases the production of milk. However, the high levels of progesterone during pregnancy act directly on the breasts to stop ejection of milk. It is only when the levels of this hormone fall after childbirth that milk ejection is possible.\n\nSometimes, newborn babies (males as well as females) secrete a milky substance from their nipples. This substance is commonly known as Witch's milk. This is caused by the fetus being affected by prolactin circulating in the mother just before birth, and usually stops soon after birth.\n\nAnother effect, recently discovered by the University of Paisley and the Technische Hochschule Zürich, is to provide the body with sexual gratification after sexual acts. The hormone represses the effect of dopamine, which is responsible for sexual arousal, thus causing the male's refractory period. The amount of prolactin can be an indicator for the amount of sexual satisfaction and relaxation. Unusual high amounts are suspected to be responsible for impotence.\n\nOther possible functions of prolactin include the surfactant synthesis of the fetal lungs at the end of the pregnancy and immune tolerance of the fetus by the maternal organism during pregnancy.\nEstrogen is produced primarily by developing follicles in the ovaries, the corpus luteum and the placenta. Some estrogens are also produced in smaller amounts by other tissues such as the liver, adrenal glands and the breasts. These secondary sources of estrogen are especially important in post-menopausal women. Synthesis of oestrogenes starts in theca interna cells in the ovary, by the synthesis of androstenedione from cholesterol. Androstenedione is a substance of moderate androgenic activity. This compound crosses the basal membrane into the surrounding granulosa cells, where it is converted to estrone or estradiol, either immediately or through testosterone. There is evidence that a testosterone supplement can support female sexual desire (Braunstein et al, 2005). Many studies of the role of sex steroid hormones on sexual desire have been done in naturally post-menopausal women or women who have had their ovaries surgically removed. Such studies have found better correlation between sexual desire and androgen levels than for estrogen levels (Warnock et al, 2005). A clinical study found that women aged 18 to 44 who reported low sexual desire tended to have low levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (Davis et al, 2005). Dehydroepiandrosterone is an abundant sex steroid in women and like other steroids is efficiently sulfated. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a precursor steroid that can be converted to estrogens (estradiol) and androgens such as testosterone and 5α-dihydrotestosterone[1].
340254
yup. hormonal imbalance is a known cause of acne.
449628
I'd be more worried about the side effects of drinking that much processed soy every day.  Processed soy products contain a lot of extra plant hormones and isoflavens that can accumulate in your body and cause problems with your thyroid, your brain, and your hormone levels.  If you're pregnant, you definately shouldn't drink it that often, nor should you if you are a teenage or pre-teen, even more so if you are male.
849311
No. Whey protein is meant for those that are trying to bulk up, or add muscle mass to their frame. Generally, soy protein is taken by women just for good health and to ensure that they are taking the required amount of protein. I've placed a couple links for further information. Very reputable sources. Best of luck
220628
Check any other ingrediant listed on the soy milk box for possible allergins. Even trace chemicals not listed or used in the manufater of the container can trigger a esponse in some individuals.  The only way to know for sure it to visit an allergist and be tested for this problem.  I would be very concerned to consume any soy based products untill you are positive that is safe to do so.  The symtoms you present, are quite disturbing and could lead to a life threatening situation in the future.
1075808
It is possible since you will still have fluctuating hormone levels.
721386
Like many food & supplement - cancer issues, there are a variety of opinions but this peer reviewed study seems to indicate soy intake corresponds to reduced levels of ovarian cancer.\n\nhttp://tinyurl.com/plqjv
292817
Depends on what you are looking to correct.  Could be a supplement deficiency, diet adjustment, stress.  Must be USP grade, because herbals have active components to be effective.  I would recommend reading one of the books, "what your doctor may not tell you about.." series by John R Lee MD.  Natural progesterone cream is very effective in balancing hormones, because it is a precursor to many other hormones.
1158918
Keep in mind that HRT was based upon taken natural estrogens, tinkering with them slightly, in order to produce biologically unprecedented analogues that could be patented and granted exclusive rights, allowing for incredibly high profits. This was an experiment that went awefully wrong. It turned out that it caused greater risk for cancer, stroke and heart attack.  The real irony is that the natural estrogens they started from, like the kind in black cohosh or soy leaf, or in flaxmeal are safe and capable of protecting us from cancer....but being that Mother Nature holds no patents, no doctor was interested in recommending these heavily researched phytoestrogens.  Phytoestrogens are relatively weak, but are capable of blocking out the action of synthetic or endogenously produced powerful estrogens, which can cause unregulated cell division, and other side effects like weight gain, stroke, etc.  The other side of the coin, though is progesterone, a "master" or "mother" hormone that actually is converted into estrogen in the body, and is itself a good remedy for hot flash, unexplained weight gain, mood imbalance, week bones, etc......it is actually the only safe way to put unopposed estrogen in check. But, make sure you get it either from someone who practices bioidentical hormone testing and replacement, or a health food store where they have mexican yam derived progesterone which is bioidentical to the way you produce it.  If you need a good reference check out Christine Northrope's "Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom." She covers all the bases quite well, and being that she is a Female, she understands far better than any man.
63011
Well, I do believe that hormones and the foods you eat change chemical levels in the body.  Thus, changing our moods, etc. And the doctors and scientist that study the human body and medicines try to find soulutions to these mood swings, etc.
795001
Its true because of the excess estrogen that it contains. It also gives women thyroid cancer.
406800
Get yourself to the doctor & have him give you a blood hormone test & thyroid hormone test...imbalances & fluctuations in these can cause mild to severe mood swings & depression. Hormone problems are often easily fixed!
275880
Kind of depends on what symptoms experiencing.  Too often estrogen is NOT low, but progesterone is.  There are bio-identical hormones (natural) that are not synthetic like the birth control pill and definitely would be more safe.  You would need to talk with your physician or a compounding pharmacist.  According to John Lee, MD the safest and weakest form of estrogen is "Estriol".  There are phytoherbs or phytohormones which are plant sapins which also mimic estrogens in the body, but the phytoherbs are not a true estrogen.  Examples would be black cohosh, chaste tree berry, soy.\n\nSomething else to consider is natural progesterone cream.  Progesterone is a precursor of estrogen, so by supplementing with it, could actual help any estrogen deficiency and or wake up estrogen receptor sites in the body.  \nThe best thing to learn more is to read John R Lee MD's series of books  What Your Doctor May Not Tell you About PreMenopause,.... Menopause and .....Breast Cancer.   \n\nHope this helps answer your question.
1025120
Have you considered switching her to soy? Good luck!
406760
"The dairy industry..." nice one Denial.\n\nI've been drinking soy milk for years, and my sons are drinking it now.   No adverse effects -- in fact, my oldest was lactose intolerant, and my youngest had allergies, so they enjoy the soy.  (Rhythm intended).\n\nMy dad has told us that he drank whole milk as a young child, and his bones were always strong.  I just don't know if the milk today is as wholesome as in his days.  \n\nAs far as ethnicity, it could well be that countries which consume a lot of dairy products (Western Europe) or regions where cows are raised, have a genetic affinity to milk.\n\nAnd I can't justify this statement, but I've heard it said that cow's milk is meant for cows.  I know, that sounds naive, but I thought I'd throw it out there.\n\nIf you wanted me to sum it up -- cow's milk, with the additives and hormones removed, is probably just fine, if your body can handle dairy products.\n\nAnd yet, there are so many good, natural alternatives, like green tea.  (Check out the calcium content of green tea).   \n\nSo what is milk good for?   Objectively speaking, yeah, the dairy industry!
1068125
Increases in estrogen, the female sex hormone, cause it.