Jeremy Piven = Soy or Sushi - NOT

Nov 10, 2009 | Stacy Matson | Celebrity Health
Jeremy Piven = Soy or Sushi - NOT

image by: Kasumi Loffler

It seems that for every study that proves a connection between soy and reduced risk of disease there’s another that challenges the claim. Just ask Jeremy Piven

Jeremy Piven seems to have a serious case of food OCD. The Entourage actor finds a food he likes and just goes for it - all or nothing. Recently, the 43-year-old actor claimed he developed Mercury poisoning from sushi and was forced to leave a Broadway play he was starring in.

Before you swear off sushi, relax, Piven wasn’t just eating the occasional sushi dinner; he was eating A LOT of sushi sometimes twice a day, everyday, for the past 20 years. After giving up sushi he moved on to his latest food obsession - soy milk. And, since we know he isn’t into moderation he found himself drinking up to 12 cups or about 3/4 of a gallon of soy milk a day! That’s a lot of cereal and soy lattes.

Jeremy PivenContrary to its healthy image, soy milk is not low in fat or calories and overconsumption usually leads to weight gain, which Piven experienced. Typically though, if a man starts looking a little larger up on top (busty), he might blame it on drinking a few extra beers, too much pizza, his age, or lack of exercise. 

Not Piven, he claims that his love of the soy caused him to develop moobs - aka man boobs.  "I was the guy that dabbled in soy milk (dabbled?), but now I've found out soy milk has enough estrogen for me to grow breasts.  I had to put the soy milk down. It was a very confusing time,” he said. I’ll bet it was.  Can you imagine Ari Gold bra shopping?

I’m fairly certain that Piven will get a lot of ridicule for the soy/estrogen/moob revelation but I think he might be on to something. There is a lot of conflicting information out there about soy, just do a quick Google search and you’ll see what I’m talking about. It seems that for every study that proves a connection between soy and reduced risk of disease there’s another that challenges the claim. Soy is a miracle food!  Soy causes cancer!

What are we supposed to believe? Personally, I think soy might be more dangerous than people think, and I’m a vegetarian. You are probably well aware of all the wonderful things soy is purported to do for you.  That's because the soy marketing machine has done its job. Soy is the latest “It” food and people are dazzled by what they hear; soy lowers cholesterol, it’s good for your heart, it’s high in protein, and it helps lessen the symptoms of menopause.  Sounds like a miracle food. Right? 

But, did you know that soy is higher in phytoestrogens than just about any other food source? Phytoestrogens are the plant-based estrogens that mimic the naturally occurring estrogen in our bodies and elevated estrogen levels are believed to be one of the leading causes of breast cancer, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, infertility, and low libido.

Additionally, soy is now the trendy choice for baby formula.  It has been found that an infant drinking the recommended servings is getting 13,000 to 22,000 times more estrogen in their system than babies fed with cow milk-based formulas!  That’s the estrogen equivalent of 4 birth control pill!  Not to mention that soy also suppresses your thyroid, blocks mineral absorption, and causes digestive problems including stomach cramps, and diarrhea. 

Perhaps the most frightening aspect is from a recent study at Harvard University which concluded that, “Steadily over the past five decades male sperm counts have decreased and are thought to be due to the introduction of soy into the western diet and the increased popularity of vegetarianism… there is a definite correlation between men with low sperm counts and a high intake of soy foods”.

And according to Fertility Awareness, “congenital abnormalities of the male genital tract are increasing, and once again soy phytoestrogens may be implicated.”  The study concludes with, “There is a higher incidence of birth defects in male offspring of vegetarian, soy-consuming mothers".  Scary.

Jeremy Piven- ever hear of 'everything in moderation'? But then again maybe Jeremy Piven’s off the cuff remarks will bring more attention to the soy debate. Do your own research and uncover the truth about soy products and the risks associated with it. For me though, I am putting down the soy milk. 


Stacy Matson is a health enthusiast from Southern California and regularly blogs on Celebrity Health for A Healthier World, as well as contributing to the Best of the Best.

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