#Phytoestrogens

France’s top food safety agency, ANSES (Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l’alimentation, de l’environnement et du travail), has sent shockwaves through the international nutrition community with its latest recommendation: soy-based foods should be banned from all public mass catering, including schools, hospitals, and care homes. This call, issued in March 2025, has ignited global debate over the safety of soy products—a topic relevant to Thailand as plant-based menus become increasingly popular in schools and health-conscious households.

A French health agency has sparked a global conversation about soy in public catering, including schools, hospitals, and care homes. In March 2025, ANSES emphasized caution around high-intensity soy consumption, focusing on isoflavones, the plant compounds that can act like estrogen in the body. The agency warned that excessive intake could influence hormone balance and potentially affect children’s development if exposure is prolonged. Thai readers should note the emphasis on balanced nutrition and moderation as schools increasingly explore plant-based proteins.

For generations, the roots of Raak Saam Sip—known locally as “สามสิบ”, with aliases including “ผักชีช้าง”, “สามร้อยราก”, and many more—have held a cherished place in Thailand’s traditional medicine cabinets. Revered for its power to restore femininity and balance, yet often shrouded in myth, this unassuming plant, scientifically classified as Asparagus racemosus Willd., now finds itself in the crosshairs of rigorous modern investigation. As interest in plant-based wellness surges both in Thailand and globally, uncovering the true potential and limitations of Raak Saam Sip is more relevant than ever before for health-conscious readers seeking a bridge between the old and the new.

Pueraria mirifica, known in Thai as Kwao Krua Kao, has long been a staple of northern Thai forests and markets. From roots dried into powders to bottles of tonic, communities have believed it could restore vigor, improve skin and hair, and ease aging-related hormonal changes. Today, researchers are examining whether those traditional claims hold up under scientific scrutiny, while Thai consumers weigh benefit against safety.

In northern and northeastern Thailand, Kwao Krua Kao is more than a remedy; it is a cultural symbol of renewal. Traditional use links the root to hormonal balance and vitality for both men and women. Modern readers will find it referenced as a key ingredient in rejuvenation tonics, teas, and topical products sold across the country, from markets to pharmacies. Data from local health networks and research groups indicates ongoing public interest in phytoestrogen-rich plants as natural alternatives to hormone therapies, though results remain nuanced.

For centuries, the thick, gnarled roots of Pueraria mirifica have been unearthed from the misty forests of northern Thailand and lovingly brewed into potions or dried into powders with a singular promise—youthfulness restored. Known locally as กวาวเครือขาว (Kwao Krua Kao), this fascinating member of the legume family occupies a unique niche in both traditional Thai medicine and the budding landscape of natural health supplements worldwide. But what is the science behind its enduring popularity? And how does the legend of an ancient “elixir of youth” meet the scrutiny of the modern laboratory?