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Soy Wonder?  Originally published on June 12, 2007
Laila asks:
I am a 47-year-old African American female that is severely lactose intolerant, and I am having premenopausal symptoms. I have read that soy is not good for humans, as most soy products are too highly processed to be of any value. I use soy as my main source of calcium and protein, and I have read that soy is a great way to combat hot flashes. What's your take?
Drs. Roizen and Oz say:
Soy may turn out to be a bigger disappointment than a Brady Bunch reunion show. But you're right: Soy supplemented with calcium can be a great source of calcium and protein. As for fighting hot flashes, soy works in about 33% of women -- the same percentage of placebos that works in controlled studies. But if soy works for you, stay with it. Some studies have examined it for decreasing breast cancer risk. There are studies on both sides of these questions, which indicates there is probably no strong effect one way or the other.

Find expert-selected information on soy and calcium here.

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