Soy Myth
You've heard about the research touting soy's benefits, but some experts
say you haven't heard the whole story.
ON THE LAND OF HEALTH FOODS, SOY IS KING. It's considered a near-perfect
protein, one that's packed with compounds that can fight disease and
promote health. Soy's plant estrogens--isoflavones--are said to prevent
cancer, cut cholesterol, reverse osteoporosis, and wipe out menopausal
symptoms. Earl Mindell, Ph.D., a registered pharmacist and author of
Earl Mindell's Soy Miracle (Simon & Schuster, 1995), joins many
nutritionists and doctors when he says, "Anyone who wants to live
longer should be eating this food."
Yet a few scientists think the coronation of soy as a miracle food
is premature. They claim that while some soyfoods offer distinct health
benefits, others pose health risks, particularly to people who consume
large amounts of soy. Critics cite four main potential dangers associated
with eating too much soy or too much of certain kinds of soyfoods:
- Soyfoods can disrupt the functioning of the thyroid gland.
- Soyfoods can interfere with the digestion of proteins.
- They contain substances that rob the body of minerals.
- Soy's isoflavones may upset hormone balance.
The above is excerpted from: http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m0NAH/2_29/53929987/p1/article.jhtml
There are some undeniable benefits to eating soy. It's high in protein.
Low in saturated fat. It's easy on the stomach for some folks--especially
babies. And, it's a tasty meat and dairy substitute.
But like Dr. Jekyll's flip personality, soy has a dark and possibly
dangerous side that few people know about.
To start, unlike other legumes, soybeans aren't safe to eat when picked
fresh. They're actually toxic. And in laboratory tests in animals, soybeans
have been shown to cause everything from cancer to birth defects.
In order to remove the harmful toxins mentioned above, manufacturers
must use harsh chemical processing. The beans are subject to acid baths
and extreme heat, then they're spray dried to produce a high-protein
powder. Next, to improve the taste of the soy powder, artificial flavorings
are added.
But manufacturers don't stop there. Carcinogens called nitrites are
also added to soy products during the spray drying process. These harmful
chemicals are found in hot dogs and other fast foods. . . and they've
been known since the dark ages to cause cancer.
Plus, after all that, despite nearly a 1/2 billion dollars in funding,
nobody's figured out how to remove all the toxins from soybeans. That's
right. There's not enough money in the world that can make soybeans
as safe to eat as black beans.
The problem is, manufacturers can't get rid of all of the soybean's
natural toxins. One especially dangerous toxin, called a trypsin inhibitor,
can interfere with digestion and could theoretically cause cancer in
humans. And, it's been proven to slow the growth of rats in laboratory
tests. The big question still looming for experts is. . . does it inhibit
growth in children? Scientists can't say for sure yet. But it makes
you worry doesn't it?
Processed soy powder also contains residual phytic acid; a substance
experts know blocks the absorption of calcium, magnesium, zinc, and
other essential minerals in the intestinal tract.
In feeding experiments, a soy-based diet requires supplementation with
vitamins E, K, D, B12, and creates significant DEFICIENCIES in cooper,
iron, zinc, magnesium, and calcium. This revelation is especially important
for post-menopausal women. By eating quantities of soy, you could be
putting yourself at risk for serious nutritional deficiencies and osteoporosis.
You may have heard that eating soy can protect you from developing
breast cancer. There's research to say that's so! But, in one significant
study completed in 1996, researchers found that women who ate soy protein
had an increased incidence of epithelial hyperplasia, and early form
of malignancy. A year later, a chemical found in soy was shown to encourage
breast cells to metastasize.
You may have heard that soy contains beneficial substances called isoflavones.
They're thought to improve symptoms associated with menopause. But isoflavones
can also wreak havoc on your hormonal system. Here's how. . . . One
hundred grams of soy protein daily--the amount recommended by a national
soy organization--provides the estrogenic equivalent of taking the birth
control pill. Some experts believe this excess estrogen can lead to
thyroid problems, learning disabilities, and even premature sexual development.
In 1991, Japanese researchers found that as little as two teaspoons
of soy protein a day caused goiter and hyperthyroidism in some patients.
Isoflavones were believed to be the culprit.
One of the most shocking discoveries about soy came to light at the
Third International Soy Symposium in 1999. One researcher presented
his three-decade long study of Japanese-Americans living in Hawaii.
It showed a significant statistical relationship between eating two
or more servings of tofu a week and "accelerated brain aging."
Individuals who ate this amount of tofu in mid-life had lower cognitive
function later in life and a greater incidence of Alzheimer's disease
and dementia. Again, researches believed isoflavones were the offenders.
Excerpted from promotional material for Dr. Jonathan V. Wright's, Nutrition
& Healing magazine (P.O. Box 925, Frederick, MD 21705-9913)
