Soy milk question

[rjroubi]

Carolyn,
I've read that a while back as well;-) ...unfortunately, as of yet, it doesn't make me any less leary (not that I believe "everything" she claims in the book...but she does have quite a bit of evidence to support many of her claims). Thanks for the post anyway

Right now, as I see it, even Dr. John McDougall, a big Vegan advocate, says the real bottom line is that not enough research has been done to allow us to fully understand soy and its effects on the body. I agree. There is just way too much controversy and I don't want to play russian roulette with my body... since I only have one.

I'm sure if we wait 5 years, they will say hamburgers, steak, shakes and french fries are really healthy foods }( :9 Until then I've decided to stay away from them and limit my soy intake as well

Just my thoughts,
Robin:

 

[rjroubi]

>Isn't the bad talk about textured soy proteins (like in baby
>formula) more than it is about the actual bean? I have read a
>lot of things that convince me that TSP is bad, but I cannot
>be convinced that tofu, tempeh, miso, and other soy products
>are bad when there is an entire region in the world who eats
>30x more soy than westerners do and has less reproductinve
>cancers, heart disease and lives longer (Japanese women live
>longer than anyone else in the world at 85 years!). I just
>started reading about fermented/unfermented soy products and
>can't wait to see what that turns up, but until then I am
>cautious of a lot of what I read because you don't know who is
>paying the researchers/slanting it (dairy farmers who are
>taking the hit, perhaps?).
>
>I am not trying to be argumentative either, I just don't want
>to hop right on when centuries of living evidence may suggest
>otherwise.
>

Missy,
I thought the same was true as well but most other countries only eat a very small amount (a few tablespoons of tofu) on a very limited basis....not anywhere near what "new" vegetarians may eat believing they are consuming something healthy (tofu and tempeh included). Kaayla Daniel, the author of "The Whole Soy Story", also addresses the issue of proponents of soy stating that soy is a staple food in Asian Countries when actually it only accounts for 1.5% of the calories in the Chinese diet compared with 65% from pork. She does go into much more detail about its history and usage, but that is just to give you a general idea.

Of course, I am not planning on giving it up entirely....(I won't give up cookies either...LOL)...but I will be much more cautious of all soy based products in the future. It will definitely not play a major role in my diet...that's for sure. Heck, if the experts can't decide if it is safe and have to call upon the National Institute of Health to look in on it....I think I should probably should stay away from it (I did for so many years anyway). There are other healthy safe food choices anyway

Robin:9

 

[kathryn]

> "The whole Soy Story" is a well reasearched book with stories
>of real people. It is quite an enlightening book as I said
>which makes me very hesistant to add soy back into my diet.

Do they make any distinction between whole soy foods (tempeh, edamame) and soy extracts/isolates/concentrates? I avoid the latter, and I've really decreased my use of soy in general (a year or so ago, I'd say that 1/3 - 1/2 of my daily food intake had some kind of soy in it!).

 

[BeckyU]

As someone with hypothyroidism, I very much watch my soy intake (per my MD's instruction). I will eat some tofu, tempeh and edamame, but the rest I don't consume. I also don't give very much soy to my children as they are unsure how it can affect pre-adolescent girls.

Interesting topic.

Becky

 

[rjroubi]

>Do they make any distinction between whole soy foods (tempeh,
>edamame) and soy extracts/isolates/concentrates? I avoid the
>latter, and I've really decreased my use of soy in general (a
>year or so ago, I'd say that 1/3 - 1/2 of my daily food intake
>had some kind of soy in it!).
>

She states all soy in general should be really limited to tablespoons infrequently (she does consider some soy more natural than others but not necessarily any better for constant consumption). I believe she is really more concerned with the overselling of soy to everyone as a health food and that it is being added to so many of our other food products unknowingly when it is in her opinion a health risk. She also discusses each of the second generation soy products in detail as well as the antinutrients and toxins in the plant itself. It makes for a fascinating read and it is very well documented. If anything, it will make you think twice about all your soy consumption

Robin

 

[rjroubi]

>As someone with hypothyroidism, I very much watch my soy
>intake (per my MD's instruction). I will eat some tofu,
>tempeh and edamame, but the rest I don't consume. I also
>don't give very much soy to my children as they are unsure how
>it can affect pre-adolescent girls.
>

Yes, soybeans contain goitrogens that block the synthesis of thyroid hormones and the isoflavones in soy can inhibit the action of thyroid drugs.

Kaayla Daniel also spends a chapter on how soy can cause thyroid damage in susceptible individuals.

Robin

 

[Beavs]

Sorry--no soy in my house. Only cow's milk. In fact it's delivered to my doorstep from the local dairy who I am quite happy to support, fresh and delicous.

 

[meredith]

Well, I hate the taste but I am drinking it for the isoflavones. I drink it fat-free, I'm sure the full fat version is divine but I won't go there, trying to maintain my "low-down" weight.