Is Soy Really a Healthy Food?

Soy foods have been heavily marketed as being good for you. But are they really? Despite heavy industry promotional efforts, the facts shed some doubt.

In North America, we use it as a meat or flour substitute, tofu, as a protein powder, soymilk, cheese, snacks or protein bars, even as a cheap filler in many fast food hamburgers.While there are some studies that point to health benefits, a vast body of research reveals enough question marks and outright risk as to suggest severely limiting or avoiding it altogether.

Here are a few things to consider:

• While soy is sold as a complete protein it is very low in the amino acids methionine and cysteine, reducing its protein profile. Also, lysine, another important amino acid, is destroyed during processing.
• Only 25 grams of soy protein isolate, the amount typically added to a protein drink, contains roughly 50-70mg of phytoestrogens. In one study of premenopausal women, that was more than the amount shown to impair thyroid function, responsible for metabolism. The effects lasted for three months.
• Germany recently joined France, the U.K. and Israel by warning that babies should not be given soy infant formula due to the high estrogenic isoflavones, which mimic hormones in the body. It is essentially equivalent to giving them birth control pills, potentially causing developmental problems. The main phytoestrogens from soy are daidzein and genistein.
• Soy phytoestrogens disrupt immune function, and animal studies shows it actually shrinks the thymus gland, an important component of the immune system.
• Studies report reproductive problems, infertility, thyroid and liver disease due to the dietary isoflavones in soy in such diverse animals as mice, cheetah, quail, pigs, rats, sturgeon and sheep, even into their offspring.
• 99% of soybeans are genetically modified. Animals instinctively will not eat GM foods, a clue to their harm. It also means soy farmers get to use very large quantities of pesticides and herbicides.
• Soy increases the body’s need for Vitamin D.
• Animals in their natural habitat instinctively eat soybeans to curb fertility in times of food shortages. In humans, it causes lowered sperm counts, decreases testosterone and lowers libido.
• Hexane, a serious toxin and a byproduct of oil refining, is used during non-organic soybean processing, of which the residue remains in the final product.
• Soybeans are subject to very high heat during processing which destroys all enzyme activity.
• Soy inhibits trypsin, an important enzyme for digesting protein, potentially causing digestive distress and an impaired pancreas.
• Soybeans contain haemagglutinin, causing red blood cells to clump together. It also contains phytates that impair the absorption of calcium and other essential minerals.

Although traditionally fermented soy such as tempeh, miso and natto are much better choices, they still have some phytoestrogens. One of the biggest myths is that the Chinese and Japanese consume great quantities of soy. In fact, their average daily consumption is about 2 teaspoons daily, mere condiment status.

If soybeans are a regular part of your diet, it might be worth re-evaluating whether the benefits are really there, or just a clever bit of marketing.

Philip Harris is actively involved in the field of Natural Health and Fitness. He has been a Health and Fitness Consultant and herbalist for over 15 years. His most recent venture is a company called Build Your Health Products, dedicated to bringing people products to help them build health in their own lives. Please visit his website http://www.time4naturalremedies.com.

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