Browsing August, 2008
Soy- It’s good for you, right?…Wrong!
Soy is very often promoted as a healthy food, whether it is soy milk, soy protein found an an array of protein bars and other foods, or tofu just to name a few. It is claimed to be a miracle food that prevents many illnesses and diseases.
But most people do not realize that soy is actually very bad for us, and in fact is full of very powerful toxins.
For example, Phytoestrogens, which are present in soy, severely disrupt endocrine functions.
Studies show that babies who were fed exclusively soy-based formula have 13,ooo to 22,000 times the estrogen compounds in their blood than ones that were fed a milk-based formula.
To put that into perspective, that would equal the estrogen amount of 5 birth control pills per day. Underdevelopment of boys, and premature development of girls has been linked to the use of soy formula, as well as autoimmune thyroid disease.
Some other conditions linked to soy are infertility, breast cancer, hypo thyroid ism, and thyroid cancer. I am not making this stuff up! Check out these quotes:
“Imagine drugs that are known, by years of scientific documentation, to be both carcinogenic and to also cause DNA and chromosome damage being prescribed and administered through the food supply to populations of many countries around the world without the knowledge or consent of the individuals consuming these foods … with no way to track dosage, individual reactions, or harmful side-effects … and without any concern for some people’s increased vulnerability to these drugs, such as cancer patients. It sounds crazy, but that is exactly what is happening around the world when Soy is added to our food supply. Soy contains the scientifically documented carcinogenic and DNA damaging and chromosome damaging natural chemicals genistein and daidzein.” - True Health, the magazine of Carotec Inc., Naples, Florida. May/June 2004.
“(Soyfoods) are not nutrients. They are drugs.”
Dr. L. White, Honolulu Aging Study.
There is a major misconception about soy as a sort of “spiritual” healthy way of living. This goes back to monks, who would take soy because it would make them infertile.
Almost 15% of white girls and 50% of African American girls are showing signs of puberty by age 8. Age 8!! The use of soy formula has been linked to this premature development.
So why is soy touted as such a healthy food? Simple. It is big business. No, correction. Is is HUGE business. A business with zero regard for the results and consequences of its actions.
This is very unfortunate, but true.
One of the first things my naturopathic doctor told me when I first visited him was, “don’t take soy!” I looked at him kind of funny and went, “huh” I thought soy was good for you?”
Most people think the same thing. Here is a brief summary of the dangers of soy:
- Due to the high levels of Phytic acid in soy, assimilation of calcium, magnesium, copper and zinc is reduced. Growth problems in children can be sue to high phytate diets. Normal methods of preparing food, such as soaking, sprouting, slow cooking doesn’t neutralize the phytic acid in soy.
- Trypsin inhibitors in soy may cause pancreatic disorders and interfere with protein digestion. Soy with trypsin inhibitors was observed stunting the growth of test animals.
- Hypothyroidism and possibly thyroid cancer are caused by soy phytoestrogens. Consumption of soy formula by infants has been linked to autoimmune thyroid disease.
- Soy Phytoestrogens- potential to promote breast cancer in women
- The body cannot absorb the Vitamin B12 analogs in soy, and make the body actually need more B12.
- Soy increases the bodies need for Vitamin D.
- The processing of soy results in toxins and carcinogens
- MSG, a potent neurotoxin, is formed during soy processing.
- Aluminum, which is toxin to the nervous system and kidneys is highly present in soy foods.
So, bottom line: Stay away from soy! Sorry if I just ruined your day and now you need to throw out everything in your pantry.
Peace,
Jamie Hosmer