The nutritional value of tofu is well-known. Regular consumption can replenish qi, clear heat and moisten dryness, promote the production of body fluids to quench thirst, and cleanse the intestines. However, some people now claim that eating tofu can harm sperm, while others argue that the amount of soy consumed in daily life does not pose a risk of increased estrogen in men. So, should men eat tofu or not?
According to recent reports from several U.S. media outlets, a new study from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health has once again confirmed that daily consumption of soy products can lead to a significant decrease in sperm count in men.
This study was conducted by Dr. Jorge Chavarro from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. From 2000 to 2006, 99 men were surveyed. The findings were astonishing: men who ate soy products every day had only 41 million sperm per milliliter of semen, which was significantly lower than men who consumed less soy. It is understood that a sperm count of less than 20 million per milliliter is considered too low, which can easily lead to infertility. Furthermore, this connection was even more pronounced in obese men.
Chavarro believes that soy products have an adverse effect on the male reproductive system, particularly sperm production. Soy and its products are rich in isoflavones, a type of plant estrogen. If consumed in excess, they can naturally affect the level of male hormones in the body, leading to a series of adverse consequences.
In China, some andrology experts have also suggested that excessive consumption of soy products can affect male sperm count. In the last five years, Pan Lianjun, a doctor in the andrology department of Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, has been paying close attention to this issue. He also found that men who regularly eat soy products are 3.46 times more likely to experience erectile dysfunction than those who do not.
However, according to a report by the British newspaper The Guardian on July 29, the Soy Protein Association, which represents the British soy food processing industry, stated that there is currently no conclusive evidence that soy is harmful to human health, and that the amount of soy consumed in daily life does not pose a risk of increased estrogen in men.
Although there is no definitive data to prove that eating soy products affects male fertility, it is still advisable to consume them in moderation. This is the best way to avoid potential health risks. "Moderation" means consuming it less than three times a week, with each portion being about 100 grams.