Is it true that soy milk can faminize the boy? Should I stop giving soy milk to my 4 year son?

Sukh wrote:

Is it true that soy milk can faminize the boy? Should I stop giving soy milk to my 4 year son?

I am not sure about this...

What a preposterous thought! Where did you hear that? Soy milk is all but nutritious, with no influence upon the sexulaity of an individual. 

Sukh's question was perhaps triggered from what is known of soy products to stimulate estrogen-sensitive cells in the body. This raises a doubt in certain minds regarding whether there is any risk of developing effects of estrogen excess (like feminization) if these foods constitute a significant part of mens diets?

The answer is that Soy has no discernible effect on male sexual development, and no feminizing effects at all.  This is absolutely clear given the millions of men in Asian countries have had soy foods in their daily diets from earliest childhood. Numerous laboratory and population studies have also clleared all such dounts repeatedly raised in the western world. None of the studies showed that consuming soy had any effects on reproductive hormones or semen quality, both changes that you might expect to see before any overt "feminization" would occur.

On the contrary, soy foods are always recommended for their nutritional benefits against heart disease and prostate cancer.

Soy isn't bad for men at all. You don't have to worry before enjoying your soy milk, soy burgers or tofu. Soy has plenty of health benefits for men -- from lowering cholesterol levels to protecting against prostate cancer. The evidence that soy protects against prostate cancer is quite strong. Research findings have generally not borne out fears that that men who consume large quantities of low-carb soy bread, soy cereal or other soy-filled foods may get a little too in touch with their feminine sides.

Soy is a very healthy food and very safe. Unless you are the one in a million who is allergic to soy, it can do you no harm at all. Also, overconsumption of soy up to 30 times has shown changes in men such as nipple discharge, *** enlargement and slight decreases in testosterone. However, this wa snot accompanied by any shrinking of testicles or massive *** enlargement. Besides, soy is eaten as a part of a diet or meal. Who would think of consuming 30 times more than normal?

 Such doubts are triggered by people who have no scientific credentials at all, yet consider themselves an authority to assert that soy products cause male homosexuality. They have no basis at all to make statements that the rise in soybean products has feminized boys and made them “gay.” Such claims are  completely unfounded. Soy food does not stimulate the feminine side in men, nor does it repress their masculinity. Soy food does not cause a decrease in penis size, sexual confusion and homosexuality.

 I have two kids and we eat a fair amount of soy...Concerend with all the conflicting data about soy feminizing boys, i did some research, read several case studies, and this is what i have found: "Studies suggest no effects on growth (height, weight, and body mass index) or sexual maturation (e.g., precocious puberty or gynecomastia." The following makes for more interesting reading:

"Soy product consumption has not been consistently associated with reproductive effects in men. In diet intervention trials, no significant association was observed between soy product exposure and circulating testosterone. One study observed no significant association between soy consumption and testicular volume or semen parameters."