I am very often asked about the use of soy in talking with my clients. So here is my opinion…..Soy milk has enjoyed an undeserving health label in recent years. According to Dr. Mercola, the Chinese have enjoyed the health benefits of soy for centuries. The difference between the healthy soy that they eat and the soy that we get here in the United States comes down to fermentation. Fermented soy is good and healthy, unfermented soy is dangerous.
Why? Our soy is genetically modified to stand up to poisonous pesticides. The studies are showing that the damage is showing up in 2nd and 3rd generations instead of those who are originally exposed. Even if you have organic soy, (only about 5% in USA), it is dangerous. Soy has estrogen components and phytic acid.
SOY THAT IS OKAY TO EAT
Natto, tempeh, miso and soy sauce are fermented.
Find out what's happening in Three Villagewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
SOY THAT IS NOT OKAY
Over 90% of the soy in the US is not fermented. Shocking to think that soy gets such a good reputation without ever thinking or considering the facts behind the good and the bad! Tofu is not fermented. There are a lot of foods that vegetarians eat, like tofu, edamame, soy yogurt, soy cheese, soy oil, soy burgers, etc. These are not healthy. We also see a lot of Soy Protein Shakes. Watch your labels, it is “soy Isolate.”
Find out what's happening in Three Villagewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The part that seriously troubles me though, is the soy food that a lot of people feed their kids on the advice of their doctors. Me included. What is it? Soy formula. Research finds that the amount of manganese found in soy formula for infants causes brain damage in infants and behavior problems in adolescents. The manganese found in soy milk is 200 times the amount found in mother’s breast milk. Makes me wonder, my son who is ADHD, OCD and riddled with anxiety was my child who was on soy for his first year. Hmmmmm.
I found this on Dr. Mercola’s site….
“The best-selling brand is Isomil (Ross Products Division of Abbott Laboratories), followed by Enfamil ProSobee (Mead Johnson), the one I used, Nursoy (Wyeth-Ayerst) and Alsoy (Carnation).
According to Crinella and Tran, the discovery of potential harm from such products began in 1980 when a federal agency then called the Food and Nutrition Board established safe and acceptable values for manganese in adults, toddlers and infants.” See Dr. Mercola’s Site for further reading.
Some of the illnesses associated with soy are cancer (specifically, prostrate and breast), brain damage, infertility, thyroid disorders, infant abnormalities, immune dysfunction and severe allergy. Soy is an endocrine disruptor and it disturbs regular cell formation.
Think about this, Silk bought Chinese soybeans for years, building a commanding share of the soy milk market, before substantially decreasing its support of organic agriculture altogether. Few Silk products are certified organic anymore, and some are processed with hexane, a neurotoxin. While the green “USDA Organic” seal is gone, hexane-processed soymilk can still be labeled “natural,” and if it contains organic ingredients, the label “made with organic ingredients” is still used.
Because of the way we have “learned” to eat, healthy eating sounds difficult. It is not. All you have to do is break out of the old paradigm of box, can and bag eating and go back to the older values of whole foods. It isn’t hard, it is just different for many of us. Once you do the changeover, you will find, it is worth it and you will be so glad that you did.
If you feel inclined, please share your thoughts on soy I would love to hear from you. After a lecture I heard on this when in school it has been a constant thorn in my side. Let me know your thoughts……..
