Soy's Dangers

S

stayfit1

Cathlete
This was in my local newspaper by a holistic nutritionist.

Scientists not funded by the soy industry have found that soy contains many toxins, including phytic acid(blocks the absorption of five very important minerals); protease inhibitors (block the digestion of protein); and high levels of aluminum, flouride, MSG, and manganese (all can have profundly adverse effect on the nervous system and brain).

Soy depletes the body of iodine, thus causing hypothyroidism, leading to exhaustion, weight gain, and constipation. Soy does contain isoflavones, or estrogen, but it can lead to estrogen-dependent tumors on the breast and ovaries.

Soy isoflavones also disrupt the endocrine system. Children who are fed soy formulas are in great danger-babies need cholesterol for their brain stems and spinal cords to develop properly and soy formulas contain none. Baby girls on megadoses of soy formula develop breasts prematurely and the reporductive development in soy-fed boys is delayed. Numerous animal studies show that soy causes infertility.

Asians consume small amounts of soy and use it as a condiment rather than a meat replacement. It is often consumed with sea vegetables, which are high iodine.

Fermented soy products that can be consumed healthfully include tamari (soy sauce), tempeh, natto, and miso.

I urge everyone who is consuming soy to investigate this issue thoroughly. As a holistic nutritionist, I have seen my clients' health improve dramatically after they have removed soy from their diets.
 
I have a good friend who is a lactation specialist and she voices the same concern about soy formula. She absolutely speaks out agains soy forumla and she is nowhere near being consider holistic. There is something in milk that aids in the development of babies brains.

Cheryl
 
I am very confused! I eat soy every day - tofu and soy milk (both of which are organic) so I am VERY concerned about this information. (Also I am hypothydroid.)

How can MSG be in a soy product without being listed on the label - does it occur naturally in soybeans? What about the other chemicals listed? Are phytic acid, aluminum, flouride and manganese all naturally occuring in soy beans or is this something that is added or used to process soy beans?

When it is stated that Asians consume small amounts of soy - what is considered "small amounts"?

My thyroid has stayed stable since I have increased my soy consumption and I have not noticed any problems with the symptoms you have listed.

I am an almost vegetarian (I eat fish) so soy is a very important protein source for me. If you could point me in the direction of the studies/articles on soy I would be very appreciative.

Thank you!!!!
Corrie

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I am sorry, I just don't believe this at all. It's probably the meat and the dairy industry who came up with this to make sure consumers don't replace their products. Why don't we hear about the danger of meat and dairy products?

Honestly we hear so many things, I am always careful because I know a lot has to do with marketing. They always come up with something dangerous, then come up with a product that is better and try to sell it to you. exhaustion? weight gain? constipation? They can study me and I will prove them wrong. I don't need to hear their studies, my experience is the best facts I can get.

Do you know who John Robbins is? Read his books and you will see how it's all controled and not because it's written in a article or many articles that it's true. So many lies to control our consumption has been said.
 
I heard the same thing a couple years ago. I had switched to soy milk from regular skim milk, thinking it was better for me. But since I've got hypothyroidism already, I went back to the moo juice as soon as I read it. Milk is cheaper anyway.
 
I think we all need to consider major changes carefully, and as a vegetarian who consumes a lot of soy, I do try to get a variety of expert input on these issues.

The way the studies are reported, however, is troubling. When considering toxins, we need to ask compared to what? We don't live in a toxin free world -- so we have to compare the toxins found in various meats to the toxins found in soy. Simply reporting the toxins without acknowledging the toxins found in other substances seems like dishonest reporting.

My family is only a sample of five, but the symptoms reported are not represented by us. Though we were not overweight to begin with, we have definately not shown a tendency to gain weight. We are all thinner and leaner since becoming vegetarian/vegan. Without being gross, let me just say constipation is not a problem around our soy-intensive household. Keeping stocked in TP, however is...

That's all to say, these studies have an alarmist ring to them that doesn't seem carefully argued and analyzed.

I do want to learn more about what it means to use a lot of soy, and I think a varied diet is needed -- too much of anything can lead to trouble, I think. And, I agree that a lot of thought and study needs to be done by families who are pregnant and raising children as vegetarians. Just as I wish more thought and study were done by families loading their kids on cholesterol and sugar -- the effect of which is being felt by our medical system right now. So, I'm not afraid of looking at these studies, I just want a more balanced look at things.
 
I definitely avoid concentrated and isolated soy protein (which is what many of these studies are based on). Aside from the possible hazards of it, I find it difficult on the digestion. I switched from soy protein powder, first to pea/rice, then to hemp, and my digestion has loved me for it!

I agree that it's very easy to get too much soy, especially for vegetarians trying to 'replace' meat and hung up on getting enough protein (generally a non-issue). I think soy protein powder and meat analogs (soy burgers, hot dogs, luncheon 'meats') are probably the worst, because they contain the soy concentrates and isolates (I am way of any protein isolate, as anything that is isolated from its natural context can have negative effects since the synergstic elements that it comes packaged with are taken away).
 
>I am very confused! I eat soy every day - tofu and soy milk
>(both of which are organic) so I am VERY concerned about this
>information. (Also I am hypothydroid.)

I think that one or two servings of soy (in tofu or soy milk) are fine. As I said above, I think the concentrated soy products are most problematic.


>I am an almost vegetarian (I eat fish) so soy is a very
>important protein source for me. If you could point me in the
>direction of the studies/articles on soy I would be very
>appreciative.

It's hard not to get enough protein if you are eating a balanced diet. If you are concerned about protein, try hemp, lentils, green peas, etc.
 
I completely agree with WRITER. We have to look at who is publishing and financing these studies in order to determine what their motives are. It is like this with any scientific investigation, especially those conducted for and funded by major drug companies. Do you have any idea what kind of toxins are found in meat, especially non-organic meat? There are tons, yet people have been eating meat for centuries. It is not good to consume one food product in excessive quantities. The best approach is to eat a balanced and varied diet in order to get the benefits of all food types without overdoing anything. Did these studies happen to list the benefits of soy? Basically, all I'm saying is that we have to look at studies in a critical manner, and not overeat from any one particular food-type. I personally have soy milk with cereal, and lactose free cow's milk with everything else.

Take care,

Ady
 
>I definitely avoid concentrated and isolated soy protein
>(which is what many of these studies are based on). Aside
>from the possible hazards of it, I find it difficult on the
>digestion. I switched from soy protein powder, first to
>pea/rice, then to hemp, and my digestion has loved me for it!
>
>I agree that it's very easy to get too much soy, especially
>for vegetarians trying to 'replace' meat and hung up on
>getting enough protein (generally a non-issue). I think soy
>protein powder and meat analogs (soy burgers, hot dogs,
>luncheon 'meats') are probably the worst, because they contain
>the soy concentrates and isolates (I am way of any protein
>isolate, as anything that is isolated from its natural context
>can have negative effects since the synergstic elements that
>it comes packaged with are taken away).

I used to eat a lot more soy than I do now(at times, I'd say my daily diet was about 1/2 soy!) but my diet has changed quite a bit. I still use soy milk, soy yogurt (I just found some unsweetened stuff that reminds me of what yogurt used to taste like before it was sweetened to death!), edamame, tempeh and tofu, and even some 'lunch meats' from Tofurky (which are made with tofu and seitan rather than with isolated or concentrated soy).

I think too much of any one food (whether it be soy or wheat--the latter of which most people get too much of, which can lead to sensitivities and allergies) is not a good idea.
>
 
Kathyrn,
I feed my son the meatless corn dogs and chicken nuggets. Not all the time but I thought that it was better for him than the regular. He doesn't know the difference. Would I be better off not doing that? I am working on teaching him to eat healthier. He doesn't eat them all the time just for a quick lunch or dinner every once in awhile. Thoughts?
LD
 
>Kathyrn,
>I feed my son the meatless corn dogs and chicken nuggets. Not
>all the time but I thought that it was better for him than the
>regular. He doesn't know the difference. Would I be better off
>not doing that? I am working on teaching him to eat healthier.
>He doesn't eat them all the time just for a quick lunch or
>dinner every once in awhile. Thoughts?

I don't think that occasional consumption of them would be that bad. As you say, certainly better than the regular ones. Though all of these 'meat analogs' are highly processed foods, which have their own negatives.
 
Thank you everyone for your input!

I think I will continue eating the way I do unless I start having any problems.

I am not worried about getting enough protein (I still eat dairy, eggs and fish) but I really enjoy my tofu and soy milk!!! I get a tofu that is organic and made locally in my town, Nelson, BC:

"Silverking's tofu production process is based on traditional Asian methods. Organic soybeans, herbs, and garlic, are used, along with a traditional Japanese coagulant, known as nigari (magnesium chloride). The closed-kettle method of production gives Silverking tofu a uniquely smooth and delicate texture. Certified organic by The Kootenay Organic Growers Society (KOGS)."

I generally don't like soy products that are trying to be meat - I have eliminated meat from my diet and fake meat just doesn't taste good to me.

I also love hemp, beans and nut butters and can eliminate soy from my diet if it becomes a problem, but I love the convenience and the wonderful flavours of Silverking tofu.

Corrie

http://www.3fatchicks.net/img/bar-retro4/yinyang02/lb/185/125/140.5/.png[/img] [/url]
 
>I get a tofu that is organic and made locally in my
>town, Nelson, BC:
>
>"Silverking's tofu production process is based on traditional
>Asian methods. Organic soybeans, herbs, and garlic, are used,
>along with a traditional Japanese coagulant, known as nigari
>(magnesium chloride). The closed-kettle method of production
>gives Silverking tofu a uniquely smooth and delicate texture.
>Certified organic by The Kootenay Organic Growers Society
>(KOGS)."

That sounds really good! Like tofu I used to buy in the 70's! I remember a dill/onion flavor and some other ones that included herbs and spices in the mix itself. And so much fresher than anything you can buy in the grocery store!
 
So if I understand correctly those "processed" soy items like for instance my meatless meatballs are undesirable soy products?
 
Kathryn

This tofu is sooo good! I am addicted to their Hot tofu - I stir fry it with a peanut sauce and spinach....I'm drooling just thinking about it! :)

I DO use some of the fake meat products such as fake meatballs and fake nuggets for my kids who are a little tough to convince to give up meat. They do not get these every day, but I generally feel better that they eat the fake meat than the real stuff. I am trying to find more veggie dishes that they like, but it's hard enough getting ANYTHING we can all eat. I am always making something different for myself and tofu is so quick.

I would ideally like my entire family to be vegetarian, but I am realistic and accept that we will most likely be a mixed crew.

Corrie

http://www.3fatchicks.net/img/bar-retro4/yinyang02/lb/185/125/140.5/.png[/img] [/url]
 
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