The pros and cons of soy

Your question:
A lot of low-carb products are made with soy. What are its pros and cons?

The expert answers:
Soy contains isoflavones and protein, which together can lower cholesterol. For many people, however -- especially women with thyroid conditions -- isoflavones can block thyroid function, causing hypothyroidism. Know the isoflavone content of a product before you use it, as more than 40mg of isoflavones a day can hamper the ability of your thyroid to keep your metabolism fired up. This will affect weight loss.