Was doing a bit of a supplement clearaout yesterday, and came accross a tub of something called ‘estro-block’. This stuff contains Indole-3-Carbinol and Soy isoflavanoids in abundance. Now i got this completely free(which does make me wonder) with some pro-hormones last year before we had Androsol on our shores. I have my feelings that this may, in fact, suck rod - and havent found any particularly good news on them, and am not keen to take anything that could give me a budding B cup for my troubles. Have found a string By Bill Roberts on the indole, but a mix of the two. Any thoughts people would be appreciated. Ta
I’ve been wondering just what part of soy is the culprit on the estrogen conversion. Is it the oil, the flavinoids, or something else. I’ve been taking an ipriflavone supplement for quite some time. Also, many of the vitamins I take are a suspension in soy oil. I’ve also done protein bars with soy protein isolate. Am I headed down a dangerous road? What’s the real “bad guy”?
It’s the isoflavones. Specificly, genistein and daidzein.
I’m curious as well. I read “Bad Protein” by TC, but it was a while ago, so I can’t remember if that would shed some light. If you haven’t read it, find it on the search engine.
Thanks Cy. So the real culprit is found basically only whole soy. Moral of the story: soy protein isolates good, tofu bad.
No, soy is bad, period. Soy protein isolate has been shown to have detrimental effects as well.
I am familiar with the product that you are referring to Danny. Indole 3 Carbinol(or I3C) metabolises to di-indolymethane, which would be a more effective compound to use. I would not like to presume how much I3C you would be required to ingest as an efficacious dosage, but I expect it is far more than your supplement supplies. Then there is some evidence that the required dosage of I3C for optimal effect would be carcinogenic, so DIM is the preffered option. Regarding the soy isoflavones, there still seems to be a debate as to whether they promote estrogen or help reduce its effect in the body. The idea is that the flavones have a high affinity for the ER, whilst only having only a minute fraction of the estrogenic activity of E. Therefore, the result is occupied receptors that block E, overall lowering levels. Perhaps this assumes that the ERs will all be occupied as opposed to the possibility of an additive estrogenic effect with the flavones if they are merely occupying vacant receptors. Maybe Cy can clear this up? Meantime, I am off for a delicious dish of tofu and some big fat soy burgers. I will follow this with my evening hobby of knitting. Another pink sweater will do me.
I’m not trying to be a dick here, but I’ve gone over this many, many times. Read “The Evils of Soy” that I wrote a while back. To sum it up, these isoflavones are much stronger than previously thought in terms of actually inducing transcription and producing an estrogenic end product. Secondly, they may have an additive effect, meaning although they bind to estrogen receptors, they may still allow estrogen to bind and exert its effects. In other words, it’s like a double-punch.