How Soy Isoflavones Affect Aging

Soy isoflavones are elements found in most soybean products. Discover how these elements can affect aging.

Various studies have reported that these compounds contain many advantages for the body. In this article, we will evaluate the potential of soy isoflavones as antiaging agents. Soy products have a high level of concentrated phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens are compounds that bind with estrogen receptors in your body. When these compounds bind together, the endocrine system—the system responsible for producing hormones in our bodies—is severely affected; therefore, the aging process is inhibited. Typically, soy isoflavones have an antioxidant effect on your body.

Aging is caused by a reduction in particular hormones. During childhood, your body produces many hormones to promote the growth of bones and muscles and regeneration of skin.
However, as you grow older, your body can no longer keep producing the hormones responsible for these functions. At this point, you will discover that you begin to develop wrinkles on your skin, your muscle tone begins to fade, you lose your bone density and hair begins to lose its color.

Understanding How Soy Isoflavones Affect the Aging Process

1. Imitation of Natural Hormones

As already pointed out, the body’s endocrine system is responsible for producing various types of hormones, and among them, three are especially significant:

Progesterone
Testosterone
Estrogen

These are mainly sex hormones that regulate how a person’s body grows and what particular features the person will have. To maintain proper health, these three hormones must exist at appropriate levels. The endocrine system is susceptible to compounds such as phytoestrogen.

Soy isoflavones introduce phytoestrogen into your body, the endocrine system is damaged, and the production and maintenance of the three hormones are significantly inhibited. Consequently, this causes an increase in estrogen in the body.

Soy isoflavones’ phytoestrogen imitates the naturally occurring estrogen in your body. With this kind of inhibition, however, the body loses its normal levels of testosterone. This effect can be pretty devastating for men, mainly due to the possibility of developing female characteristics caused by high estrogen levels.

2. The Estrogen-Like Effect

Soy isoflavones produce phytoestrogens that bind to the estrogen receptors in your body. This effect leads to an increase in the bodily levels of estrogen. Typically, estrogen is responsible for the following:

Bones
Growth of breast tissue
Hair color and growth
Brain development
Development of muscles in the pelvic region
Blood vessels
Heart
Reproductive system
Urinary tract

A high level of estrogen means that these organs can regenerate their tissues and function at excellent levels. For instance, high estrogen levels lead to better brain development, stronger bone mass, excellent reproductive capabilities, increased hair growth, better heart function and more robust blood vessels.

In essence, these organs are bound to be affected by the normal aging process and may fail when you advance in age. However, with the estrogen effect, these organs can function in better ways and regenerate.

3. Production of More Collagen and Hyaluronic Acid (HA)

As you grow older, you will probably notice a change in your skin. These changes include the skin texture, look and even the amount of moisture in your skin. The changes are caused by the loss of a compound called hyaluronic acid. Essentially, this compound can hold water molecules for your skin, maintaining the skin’s moisture.

In addition, aging leads to inadequate production of collagen. Collagen is the protein that forms the structure of our various body tissues. When high levels of soy isoflavones are consumed, the consequent high estrogen levels lead to the stimulated production of hyaluronic acid and collagen.

From this effect, your skin develops better ability to hold moisture. Additionally, your skin and muscles develop a better structure due to the collagen. Typically, increased skin moisture and more collagen have the effect of reducing skin wrinkles.

Conclusion

Soy isoflavones are a great way to counter the aging process. These compounds are found in many products. However, due to the adverse effects these compounds have on the overall hormonal health, it is advisable to stick to low levels. This can be done primarily by ensuring that you incorporate more wholesome dietary products into your meals.