The Dark Side of Soy

The Dark Side of Soy …. A health food or detrimental to your health ?! 

With the number of people becoming more aware of what they are consuming in the past decade increasing, it is easy to get confused by all of the information out there telling us what is ‘good’ and ‘bad’.  Most recently a common topic I discuss with my clients over and over again is how they have been converted to Soy products because they believe it is ‘healthier for you’ or that it is a great alternative to dairy products because they have children who are intolerant. “My daughter is allergic to cow dairy so my doctor told me to switch to soy’ ….. Well, I would like to tell you a little bit more about the types of soy products you can get and all the bits that they don’t tell you ……..

In the last 20 years Soy foods literally appeared overnight as this new miracle health food. It was everywhere, and in everything !  According to the Soyfoods Association of North America, Soy Food sales increased from 1992 to 2006, from $300 million to nearly $4 billion. This growth came about due to a huge shift in attitudes about soy, and it was no accident. In fact, it was the result of a massive investment in advertising by the soy industry that’s been hugely successful – for them !

Unfortunately, many people who were committed to a healthy lifestyle and trusted them were manipulated into believing that soy products were good for you. It has been sold to many vegetarians as this fantastic alternative to meat and a nourishing source of protein. What they failed to mention was that there is a difference between unfermented soy products and fermented soy products. Much research shows that the risk of consuming unfermented soy products far outweighs the benefits!! Soy products have become such a BIG business in the last few years that you can now find alternatives to literally everything from soy milk, soy cheese to soy burgers!!

A survey done by the United Soy Bean board concluded that:

* As of 2007, 85 % of consumers perceive soy products as healthy

* 33 % of Americans eat soy foods or beverages at least once a month

* 70 % of consumers believe soybean oil is good for them

* 84 % of consumers agree with the FDA’s claim that consuming 25 grams of soy protein daily    reduces your risk of heart disease

Unfortunately the only ones benefiting from these statistics are the soy industry.

With the number of chronic conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Food allergies and Intolerances, Hormone imbalances on the rise in the past 40 years, people are forever looking for ‘healthy alternatives’ not realising that choosing a product like unfermented soy could do more harm than good and actually make their symptoms worse. Unfermented soy wreaks havoc in your body.

The Dangers of Soy

The vast majority of soy at your local supermarket is not a health food. In fact, it is one of the most common foods that is a Genetically Modified Organism (any organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques) More than 90% of Soy grown in the US is GMO. Most soy that is GMO will not be organic or naturally grown and therefore will probably be contaminated with large pesticide residues. They are allowed to spray the potent toxic herbicide Roundup on them to improve crop production by killing the weeds and then the food processors separate the soybean into two golden commodities—protein and oil. There is nothing natural or safe about these products.

Levels of phytates in soy are also very high. Phytates* are mineral blockers and bind to minerals like zinc, calcium, iron and magnesium and make them unavailable for your body to utilize.

*(Phytates are also in the coating of nuts and oats which is why we recommend you soak them for 24hrs for porridge and nut milks see link in recipes)

Soybeans contain phytoestrogens (a diverse group of naturally occurring nonsteroidal plant compounds) which are known to imitate the bodies oestrogen hormone. This can cause various health issues for men, women and children. It has been linked to hormonal imbalances, infertility, cancers and more. It can cause severe hormonal disruption in infants and can interfere with development. According to the Swiss Federal Health Service Soy Formula provides the equivalent hormones as 3-5 birth control pills a day !!

Soy also contains high levels of goitrogens. Goitrogens are compounds that disrupt the production of thyroid hormones by interfering with iodine uptake in the thyroid gland.

I know what you are thinking ……. Everybody has Thyroid problems today ?! Again something that has appeared overnight ……. Coincidence?! Thyroid problems are so prevalent today, especially for women. 15 in 1,000 women show thyroid issues and 1 in 1,000 men according to the NHS, it’s now as if it’s normal to have thyroid problems.

When you have an underperforming thyroid gland (hypothyroidism), your whole metabolism slows down, you gain weight, lack energy and your entire immune system is weakened.

Dr. Kaayla Daniel, author of The Whole Soy Story, points out thousands of studies linking soy to malnutrition, digestive distress, immune-system breakdown, thyroid dysfunction, cognitive decline, reproductive disorders and infertility—even cancer and heart disease. Here is just a sampling of the health effects that have been linked to soy consumption:

* Breast cancer

* Brain damage

* Infant abnormalities

* Thyroid disorders

* Kidney stones

* Immune system impairment

* Severe, potentially fatal food allergies

* Impaired fertility

* Danger during pregnancy and nursing

What Soy Products are Good For You?

For centuries, Asian people have been consuming fermented soy products as part of a balanced diet,such as natto, tempeh, and soy sauce, and enjoying some health benefits.

Soy can be  beneficial to your health but ONLY if it is a reliable organic source and properly fermented. It’s interesting how most other cultures are familiar with this and traditionally still use methods like soaking, sprouting and fermenting.

After a long fermentation process, the phytate and “anti-nutrient” levels of soybeans are reduced, and their beneficial properties become available to your digestive system.

You may have heard that Japanese people live longer and have lower rates of cancer than Americans because they eat so much soy – this again is misleading because it is primarily fermented soy that they consume, and it has been that way for centuries.

Here are a few fermented soy products that you may have heard of:

• Tempeh a fermented soybean cake with a firm texture and nutty, mushroom-like flavor.
• Miso, a fermented soybean paste with a salty, buttery texture (commonly used in miso soup).
• Natto, fermented soybeans with a sticky texture and strong, cheese-like flavor.
• Soy sauce, which is traditionally made by fermenting soybeans, salt and enzymes; be wary because many varieties on the market today are made artificially using a chemical process.

Please note that tofu is NOT on this list. Most tofu is not fermented