Craig Burton asked:


Soy “stops cancer and baldness” (1)

“Soy foods can stimulate the growth of oestrogen-dependent tumours and cause thyroid problems.” (7)

“Boosting your Soy intake could reduce your risk of ****** cancer.” (5)

“A British Government report concluded that there is little evidence that soy foods protect against ****** cancer or any other forms of cancer. In fact, soy foods may result in an increased risk of cancer.” (8)

Confused?

This article on soy will examine the following:

- History of the humble soy bean

- It’s role in the Asian diet

- It’s role in the Western diet – where is it lurking

- Critical questions regarding its safety

- The guinea pigs

Soy Beginnings The soy plant was initially used as ‘green manure’ or a cover crop plowed under to enrich the soil, and it became known to the Chinese as ‘the yellow jewel’. Soy did not become human food till late in the Chou Dynasty (1134-246 BC), after the Chinese developed a process of fermentation to make it into soy paste, called miso, with the run-off liquid called soy sauce. Tofu came after miso and in Japan, and China it was rarely served as a main course except in monasteries where it was eaten with miso or fish stock. Around 1000 A.D fermented soy foods, natto and tempeh entered the food supply. Modern soy products such as soy-protein isolate and concentrate made using highly processed methods were unknown in Asia till after World War II. Furthermore neither soy milk nor infant formula is traditional in Asia. The first person to manufacture soy milk was actually an American missionary and physician Harry Miller. “Claims that soybeans have been a major part of the Asian diet for more than 3,000 years, or ‘time immemorial’ are simply not true.” (6)

Soy in the Asian diet According to a spokesman for Cancer Research UK “There’s a lot of research that countries with a high intake of soy in their diet, such as Japan, tend to have lower rates of prostate cancer and some other types, with the active ingredients in soy thought to be isoflavones.” (1). Sounds very compelling, however let’s elaborate how much soy is actually in the Japanese and Asian diet. According to the soy industry’s own figures Asians eat very little soy; around 9.3 to 36grams per day in China, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, and Taiwan. In comparison a cup of Tofu is 252grams, or soy milk 240 grams (6). More importantly the quality is hardly comparable, with the Asian countries generally eating their soy already fermented like miso soup, not as tofu, sausages or meat replacement foods. According to Sally Fallon from Weston A Price foundation (leading independent health group) approximately 65% of Japanese calories come from fish while in China the same percentage from Pork. So it is far from the backbone of their diet (8).

Soy in the Western diet Apart from the obvious where else is soy lurking? Research estimates that soy is present in 70% of all supermarket products and widely used in Fast Food chains. Soy is used to bulk out and bind many processed foods such as sausages, lasagne, beef burgers and chicken nuggets (food firms can then put a higher protein value on them). Even the husk is used for fibre in breads, cereals, and snacks. The big one is in vegetable oil- soy is the most consumed vegetable oil in the world and is used in margarines, salad dressings and cooking oils. Food labels simply list soy oil as vegetable oil As well as that 90% of the 200 million tonnes of soy produced annually is used to feed animals (3).

Soy and the Thyroid According to Mary Shomon editor of http://www.thyroid-info.com (9) “Soy products increase the risk of thyroid disease. And this danger is particularly great for infants on soy formula…More than 70 years of human, animal and laboratory studies show that soybeans put the thyroid at risk.” Dr. Mike Fitzpatrick, an environmental scientist and phytoestrogen researcher who has conducted in-depth studies on soy, particularly the use of soy formulas published in the New Zealand Medical journal. Dr. Fitzpatrick makes it clear that soy products can have a detrimental affect on both adults and infants. In particular, he firmly believes that soy formula manufacturers should remove the isoflavones — that part of the soy products that act as anti-thyroid agents — from their products (2) How do researchers induce thyroid cancers in laboratory animals? They use thyroid-inhibiting foods like soy in combination with thyroid boosting drugs like Synthroid. (6) How much soy can impair thyroid problems? Perhaps as little as 30 mg or less than a glass of soy milk. (4)

Soy and reproduction Here is an interesting fact. Tofu is consumed by Buddhist monks to reduce libido. Humans and animals appear to be the most vulnerable to the effects of soy estrogens prenatally, during infancy and puberty, during pregnancy and lactation – all the major phases of hormonal shifts with growth and development. How powerful can soy be to the hormone system? One landmark study showed “that as little as 45mg of isoflavines could alter the length of a premenopausal woman’s menstrual cycle.” (4) Obviously it’s harder to find a cause and effect relationship as there are many potentially triggers to hormonal imbalances and reproductive problems. However in animals this has been more thoroughly tested. According to Dr Mary Enig (world renowned lipid and hormone specialist) female pigs can only ingest it in amounts no greater than 1% during lactation phase or face developmental problems in the piglets (8).

Soy and the environment Soy was previously considered a good source of protein which attracted vegetarians looking for meat alternatives. But it’s a double whammy for environmental and health conscious vegetarians as the effect of soy farming on the environment is dramatic. It is predicted that 10,000 hectares of forest every year in Argentina (20 football fields an hour). If this continues at this rate in fives years time the country’s native forests will have disappeared. Similar scenarios are being played out in Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia all thanks to companies like the genetic engineering giant Monsanto. The World Wide Fund for Nature published a report recently calculating that 22 million hectares of forests and savannah in South America (an area the size of Great Britain) will be wiped out by 2020. Crops have also triggered soil erosion, and the widespread use of pesticides and chemicals are destroying some of the world’s most delicate habitats. (3).

Soy Business Soy is traded as an international commodity, like oil and gold. It’s a multi-billion dollar industry. “The reason there’s so much soy in America is because they [the soy industry] started to plant soy to extract the oil from it and soy oil became a very large industry. Once they had as much oil as they did in the food supply they had a lot of soy protein residue left over, and since they can’t feed it to animals, except in small amounts, they had to find another market.” (2)

Conclusion So Soy’s reputation as a health panacea is now badly blemished. It still has some supporters, but it is important to examine their background to ensure they are not just PR mouthpieces for a very powerful Soy industry. Big Soy, like big pharmaceutical, has been a powerful force shaping an attitude to nutrition and health. Given the mounting evidence that does not support Soy as a health food I believe we need to be very nervous about accepting big Soy spin as nutritional gospel.

Your 3d Coach

Craig Burton

References

1. BBC News 2004, Soy stops cancer and Baldness, 14/11/2004

2. http://www.mercola.com/2004/jan/21/soy.htm, Soy: Is it healthy or is it harmful

3. Anthony Barnett, The Observer, They hailed it a wonder food, 7/11/2004

4. http://www.soyonlineservice.co.nz/articles/Shadow.htm, Sean Carson, The shadow of Soy or, How I stopped loving and learned to worry about the bean

5. www.thehealthierlife.co.uk, Soy Health benefits: why boosting your intake of soy could reduce your risk of ****** cancer

6. www.thewholesoystory.com, Whole soy story: The dark side of America’s favorite health food. Daniel, K, T

7. New Zealand Medical Journal (vol 113 Feb 11 2000) Soy Formulas and the effects of isoflavones on the thyroid.

8. www.westonaprice.org, Myths and Truths about soy food

9. http://www.thyroid-info.com, Mary Shomon editor.



Rebecca

Scott Meyers asked:


Beans and lentils are healthy foods. They are sometimes neglected as a good source for health and nutrition because they can be perceived as boring and flavorless. Beans and lentils are nevertheless extremely nutritious and should be included as a part of a healthy diet.

Both beans and lentils are packed full of fiber and protein and contain very little fat. Beans and lentils are rich in antioxidants and phytochemicals, which can be beneficial in fighting a number of chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke, inflammatory diseases, osteoporosis and depression.

Black beans are a source of soluble fiber and are effective in lowering bad cholesterol by as much as 24 percent. A side-benefit of this decrease in LDL’s is to lower blood pressure. The fiber in black beans is able to sufficiently keep sugar levels to within a healthy zone, while damping hunger. Black beans are good for diabetics because they can level out their calorie consumption without elevating their glucose levels.

These same beneficial effects can be found in a number of different kinds of beans. The most popular kinds of beans and peas include chickpeas (or garbanzo beans), lima beans, fava beans, kidney beans, black-eyed peas, navy beans, pinto beans and great northern beans.

Lentils are rich in many nutrients, but are particularly rich when it comes to the B vitamins. These B vitamins can help to prevent heart attacks. Lentils are also very rich in protein, fiber and a variety of minerals such as ones that help support the strength of the immune system. Examples of these are copper, zinc and manganese and iron. Lentils are particularly rich in iron, which recommends them for people with certain kinds of iron-deficiency anemia.

Miso may not be found in many American households, but it should be considered as a healthy alternative, and a great way to increase the number of beans in your diet. Miso is a type of soybean paste that is often used as a seasoning for sauces and soups. Miso is rich in substances called isoflavones which are believed to help protect against the development and growth of ****** cancer because they inhibit the growth of the blood vessels that are responsible fro the rapid growth of tumors.

Also rich in both iron and calcium (when it is sufficiently processed with the salts of calcium) is soybean curd or tofu. Tempeh is another soy product that boasts high levels of vitaimin A, B6, magnesium and zinc. Tempeh has slightly lower levels of fat than does tofu. Other soy products are worth considering because of their nutritional value, including soymilk and other soy beverages such as chocolate soymilk, soy nuts, soy yogurt, tofu (as previously mentioned) and a variety of products made from tofu.

All soy products are derived from soybeans. This means that they all are high in protein content. Protein is made up of all of the essential amino acids that the body needs to function at its healthiest. Soybeans are also extremely rich in all of the B vitamins, as well as fiber, the omega 3 fatty acids, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc and phosphorus.



Vicki

Kevin Pederson asked:


Soya bean has been part of Chinese diet for many centuries. As we all know soy has many health benefits which due to the presence of soy-proteins and isoflavones genistein and daidzein. It is consumed in various forms which makes it even more popular. It is one of the greatest fighters of dangerous diseases. Even though it is rich in fat properties like fiber, vitamins and minerals, protease inhibitors, flavonoids, isoflavones, polyphenols, terpenes, saponins, phytosterols and phytate makes it very useful.

- Benefits of Soya products

• It helps in reducing hormone-related cancers like ****** and colon, capability of preventing osteoporosis and also in dealing with effects of menopause.

• Many of Soya bean products like tempeh (fermented soybean cake), miso (fermented Soya bean paste), tofu (a cheese-like substance), Soya drinks and shoyu (soy sauce) have low content of saturated fat and cholesterol, proving to be very useful for your health.

• Soya beans are mainly used for extraction of Soya oil which is used as cooking oil.

• The Soya bean flakes contain as much as 90 per cent protein which is a very popular in cattle feed in western countries.

• Soya has become popular mainly because of the benefits it provides similar to fish, eggs, meat and milk.

• Soya protein and isoflavones lowers LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and also decreases blood clotting, which help in reducing your chances of heart attack and stroke.

• Soya protein and isoflavones also provides antioxidants which improves your blood pressure and boosts healthy blood vessels.

• The presence of protein also increases your body’s ability to retain and absorb calcium in the bones.

• It is very useful for people with diabetic conditions and kidney problems. The soluble fiber modulates the glucose level and any of kidney filtration.

• Soya beans are a great source of iron, vitamin B12 and protein.

• Soya is very useful for problems like red eyes, red face, high blood pressure, constipation and thirst. As Soya is termed as a cool food it becomes very useful for treating problems like hot flushes and vaginal dryness.

• People who have digestive problems (loose stools, irritable bowel or bloating) thyroid disorders, signs of dampness (mucus, tumors, cysts, parasites or yeast sensitivity) should avoid Soya products.

• One of the constituents of Soya products is the Soya milk which does not contain calcium buy soy isoflavones which reduces your chances of osteoporosis. It is a good source of vitamin E and lecithin. It is also rich in magnesium which is very useful for bones, heart and arteries.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.



Dora

Caren Killtral asked:


For any woman that has suffered the horrible effects of menopause, there is some welcome news on the horizon. In the popular press, there has been a lot of talk about the potential of soy as a treatment for the effects of menopause. While some studies have suggested that soy is not the all-natural solution women have been waiting for, recent studies have shown that the regular consumption of soy can indeed help alleviate the symptoms of menopause.

Soy contains a number of ingredients that have been proven beneficial for optimal health. It has been suggested that the protease inhibitors found in soy could play a critical role in preventing cancer. Soy is extremely high in compounds known as isoflavonoids, which have shown great promise in lowering the risk for osteoporosis and heart disease. This is generally attributed to the biological similarity between isoflavonoids and estrogen.

The general consensus seems to be that ingesting 30-40 grams of soy per day can have a dramatic effect on one’s health. In some studies, soy has been known to lower cholesterol levels by 15 to 20 percent. A recent study conducted in Asia suggests that North American women suffer the effects of menopause significantly more often than women in Asia. Scientists have attributed this to the fact that women throughout Asia consume significantly more Soy products in their diet.

While it may seem like a daunting prospect, there are some simple and effective ways to include Soy in your diet. Soy milk, tofu, roasted soy nuts, and soy flour are some of the most popular soy-based foods. Tofu is simply wonderful, if the proper steps are taken to prepare it. Simply cut it into cubes, and allow it to marinade in soy sauce and fresh herbs for a few hours.

Once the marinade is complete, mix some soy flour and yeast flakes in a bowl and add the tofu cubes. Be sure the cubes are well covered, and then you can pan fry them with a bit of olive oil. Crispy fried tofu is a wonderfully healthy dish that is sure to please everyone in your family. Eat right! Eat healthy! And when it comes to dealing with menopause, just keep on keeping on. Things will get better!

Caren Killtral is a big believer in natural health therapies, and a proud member of the editorial team at menopauseinsight.com – an online guide to women’s health issues with important information about diet considerations, vaginal dryness, hormone replacement therapy and more.



Steven

Michael Dappert asked:


In 1971, a friend of mine invited me to supper. He fixed brown rice with vegetables that were sauteed in a wok using soy sauce. All of this was pretty exotic to me because I had grown up in a working class family in Illinois. During the meal my friend mentioned there were people who ate like this all the time. In fact, there were people who did not eat any meat at all, they were vegetarians. That sounded pretty cool to me and I decided to live that way.

I really do not know why the idea of being a vegetarian resonated with me. I was certainly attracted to anything that, at the time, was labeled “counter-culture.” But really changing something as basic as what and how you eat is pretty drastic. My mother was aghast and figured I would probably die of malnutrition. Looking back at how hard it was to purchase foods that were whole grain and sufficiently nourishing, it is a wonder I was not malnourished, perhaps I was.

To obtain something as simple as whole wheat flour or brown rice we had to drive into St. Louis. There were a couple of places that were then called “Health Food Stores” where you could buy these and other products. I do not recall seeing anything like Tofu, Tempeh, or the array of products that one can find in a Whole Foods Store or the small locally owned food store where we now purchase nearly all of our food. It was several years before a commercially produced whole wheat bread began to be sold in the regular supermarkets in the area.

I did some traveling during the early 1970’s and spent some time in Colorado and California. In Colorado there was a store that sold all the stuff we wanted at the time plus a lot more. They even had a bakery and made the most wonderful little pies. We thought we were in heaven. You could just go in an buy what ever you wanted. Our wants were fairly simple at the time. Mostly we purchased brown rice, some beans, flour, maybe some nuts and seeds, yogurt, cold pressed oil, soy sauce to put on everything.

Whole wheat flour sold for 5 cents a pound. I think brown rice was around 10 or 11 cents a pound. Medium grain brown rice now costs us $1.29 per pound. Beans of various types are about $1.25 a pound. So we bought the raw materials and made meals out of it. For a while I made bread that was just whole wheat flour, water, and sea salt. You had to knead it for a long time, bake it, and slice it. It was substantial and very chewy.

Slowly, over the past 36 years, good simple food has become more readily available. I have spent the last 30 years in a rural area of Illinois. We have done most all of our grocery shopping at a food co-op and then, for the last 10 years or more, at a locally owned store that sells a wide array of products the I would have never dreamed of in 1971. Also, during that same time period, I have become a Vegan, thus no longer eating eggs or cheese or any type of animal products. But, now, if I wanted to, I could go into the local grocery store and purchase a package of Tofu, some organically grown whole wheat flour, and organically grown fruits and vegetables.

Today it is easy to find good food to eat. Lots of restaurants in large metro areas offer some type of vegetarian dishes. But, these dishes may often times not be vegan. I generally seek out ethnic restaurants. Chinese, Indian, and Middle Eastern fare always includes some type of vegetarian choices. The major metro areas have not just little health food stores but medium sized super markets offering products of all types. There are a lot of people who may not be vegetarians but see no need to consume meat at every meal.

Being a vegetarian was quite weird 30 years ago. There were lots of people who simply did not understand what the term even meant. Today the idea of a vegetarian diet is not so exotic or misunderstood and it is a lifestyle that is easy to practice.



Sandra