The truth is that unless the soy is properly fermented and prepared, it is not fit for human consumption and can create many health risks. Traditionally, the Chinese only ate products made from whole soy beans. When the bean was split into oil and protein, the oil was used as a kerosene type fuel and the protein was used as a fertilizer or animal feed. It was actually only used as animal feed when the goal was to fatten up the animals.
Here are some interesting facts about soy -
- It is one of the top 8 allergens
- People have died from soy allergies and people that have an allergy to peanuts are especially vulnerable to soy allergies.
- Soy has been linked to digestive distress, thyroid dysfunction, cognitive decline, reproductive disorders, infertility, birth defects, immune system breakdown, heart disease, cancer and malnutrition.
- Soy is NOT a miracle food
Soy contains high levels of phytic acid which reduces the assimilation of calcium, magnesium, copper, iron and zinc. Phytic acid in soy is not neutralized by ordinary preparation methods such as soaking, sprouting and long, slow cooking. High phytate diets have been known to cause growth problems in children.
Trypsin inhibitors in soy interfere with protein digestion and may cause pancreatic disorders. Soy phytoestrogens disrupt endocrine function and have the potential to cause infertility and to promote breast cancer in adult women.
Soy phytoestrogens are potent anti-thyroid agents that cause hypothroidism (under active thyroid) and may cause thyroid cancer. In infants, consumption of soy formula has been linked to autoimmune thyroid disease.
Vitamin B12 analogs in soy are not absorbed and actually increase the body's requirement for B12. Soy foods increase the body's requirement for vitamin D
Fragile proteins are denatured during high temperature processing to make soy protein isolate and testured vegetable protein. Processing of soy protein results in the formation of toxic lysinoalanine and highly carcinogenic nitrosamines.
Free glutamic acid or MSG, a potent neurotixin, is formed during soy food processing and additional amounts are added to many soy foods. Soy foods contain high levels of aluminum which is toxic to the nervous system and the kidneys
The problem with most modern soy foods is that they are not fermented to neutralize the toxins in the soybeans and are processed in ways that denature the proteins and increase levels of carcinogens.
Soy foods do not provide a complete protein because, like all legumes, they are deficient in sulfur-containing amino acids called methionine and cystine. Modern processing also denatures the fragile amino acid known as lysine
Many vegan and vegetarian diets include soy as they believe it is a way to get enough vitamin B12, however there is a compound in soy that mimics B12 but cannot be used in the human body; in fact, it causes the body to require more B12
As mentioned above, trypsin inhibitors inhibit protein digestion, affecting pancreatic function and causing stunted growth, as well as pancreatic disorders. Soy foods increase the body's requirement for vitamin D, which is needed for strong bones and normal growth. Phytic acid results in reduced bioavailability of iron and zinc and lacks cholesterol, which are required for the health and development of the brain and nervous system. The phytoestrogens in large doses from soy formulas have been determined to be the cause of premature sexual development in girls or retarded sexual development of boys, which seems to be an upward trend in today's society. Because soy foods cause calcium and Vitamin D deficiencies, it will not prevent osteoporosis.
So, why did we think soy was good for us? Well, documentation about the soybean dates back to 3000 B.C., when the Emperor of China wrote about how the soybean plants were instrumental in the regeneration of soil for future crops. However, he touted the root of the plant,not the bean. Even in these ancient times, it appears that the Chinese knew that the soybeans, in their natural form, were unfit for human consumption. We are now realizing, 5000 years later, that the soybean has antinutritive qualities, unless it is properly fermented.
It was discovered, about 1000 B.C. in China, that when a mold was present on the soybeans, it destroyed all of the toxins and made the nutrients available to the body. That is when they recognized "fermentation" as the process that created foods such as tempeh, miso and natto, which are still popular today.
Several hundred years later, the process was simplified to prepare the soybeans for human consumption. This involved lengthy soaking and cooking, then treating the beans with nigari, which is a substance found in seawater. The result of this process was tofu or bean curd, which the Chinese used as an effective remedy for dieseases, as well as a nutritionally important food.
In the natural state, soybeans contain the phytochemicals, toxic to humans, as nature's way of protecting the soybean plant so that it can live long enough to effectively reproduce. These three major anti-nutrients known as phytates, enzyme inhibitors and goitrogens, are basically the plant's immune system, which protects it from the sun's radiation and from invasions of bacteria, viruses, insects or fungi. These toxins make the plant unappetizing to animals and although all plants have some sort of anti-nutrients, the soybean plant is particularly rich in these properties. If they are not removed by extensive preparation such as fermentation or soaking, they are actually one of the worst foods a human being can eat.
There is so much more information on the dangers of soy, but it takes a lot of time to write it all. I think that I have covered most of the high points here and hopefully cleared up any confusion that you may have. There are many nutritionists and natural foodists out there that think that soy is the way to go for a healthy, plant based diet. Based on this research, they are sadly mistaken. Many people believe that the negative information circulating about soy, originates from people in the dairy industry to scare people into staying away from these products in hopes that they will revert to dairy products. I have read numerous articles about soy and the information just makes way too much sense to be made up.
I am a believer that we should eliminate dairy from our diet anyway, but soy is not the answer for a replacement. There are so many other things available such as cheeses and milks made from nuts and seeds. Many of the whole food stores carry these products or you can learn to make your own. There are many great books available about raw foods and these foods are delicious and actually very easy to prepare. It's like with anything new....it's a change. I find change to be exciting and I look forward to learning more and more. Change is fun!!
6 comments:
Dear Kim,
Thanks for this post. I'm in agreement that soy is not a good food to ingest for humans and maybe just as bad for those who eat meat to eat the animals that eat soy and corn as well.
I appreciate also what you had to say about how the ancients learned to utilize soy in a safe manner. But I have heard that even in fermented form, soy can still be an allergenic food and hypothyroid. I have tested positive with a moderate soy allergy and have thyroid problems. I see that you are using the Sunrider protocols and have heard many good things about it from friends. I am cautious about starting this as I know there is soy in it. I know I cannot ask for a medical diagnosis and am not, but am curious as to your take on fermented soy as a safe product.
I see that you have more info on soy and would be interested in future blogs on that.
Thanks.
I'm so sorry that I haven't gotten back to you. I have been away for awhile and haven't been working on my blogs.
Thanks for your comments regarding soy. I have also been tested for a moderate soy allergy and have thyroid issues.
However, through a naturopath, I was cleared of the allergy and since using Sunrider products, combine with other raw foods, including some sea vegetable, I am completely off of my thyroid medication.
Believe it or not, my regular medical doctor is the one that took me off of it. She had a wrinkled brow when she read my test results and said she wasn't sure why my tests came back the way they did, but told me to stop taking the meds now! I've been off of them for almost two years.
I attended a Sunrider event this weekend, hosted by one of the top Sunriders and she brought up the issue of Soy. She wanted to clear up any misconceptions about it. Prior to Sunrider, she was a naturopath with a huge practice in Southern California, with a 6 month waiting list. She is very knowledgeable.
The question, Is Soy Bad? Her answer, "not if it's in whole form or properly fermented". The key there is "properly fermented". The Asians have been doing it for hundreds, if not thousands of years and the Japanese are the longest living people on the planet. Their daily fare consists of a great deal of soy.
Further, soy is dangerous when it is broken apart and for whatever the reason, the good stuff is put into the feed for animals and the rest of it goes into soy protein powders and other vegan and vegetarian foods to be sold on the market.
The problem with this is that is an isolate and once an isolate, it is no longer considered a whole food. It is a genetically modified product, which falls into the same category as a "chemical". It is no longer the way nature intended it.
The Asians ferment the whole food and they do it in the appropriate conditions to avoid any type of bacteria or fungus growing in it.
When we consume the isolated soy that is contained in a lot of the foods on the market today, we experience a severe imbalance in our endocrine system. Estrogen and other hormones are completely trashed.
When we consume the whole soy, it lowers bad cholesterol, reduces inflammation, is high in the good protein and fiber, not to mention a whole list of other major health benefits.
Sunrider does contain some soy, but let me assure you, it is in it's whole form and it is soy that has been grown, harvested and prepared in the most pristine conditions available.
Sunrider has been the best thing that I have ever put in my body. I cannot imagine being without it. I will be honest. I resisted it in the beginning because I was just sure I was being lured into another MLM and was being SOLD another "herbal" product that didn't work.
Sunrider is different than anything out there. The difference is owner expertise, years of research, highest quality plants, FOOD GRADE HERBS not medicinal and certainly, above all it is whole, organic and LIVE!! Most of the so-called health foods and supplements are not whole, not live, contain all kinds of fillers and are isolates! They are expensive and they do not work.
By the way, most vitamins and minerals, as well as health food products are privately labeled by a company that will buy bulk items from a manufacturer or distributor. They have no idea where the products came from or how they were prepared, processed or manufactured. They just buy stuff and slap a label on it. You have no guarantees.
With Sunrider, you do have a guarantee that you are getting the highest quality and the most concentrated foods available.
I would be happy to give you additional information and would be ecstatic to get you started on Sunrider.
Email me at kmcdermott11@cox.net if you are interested and if you provide me with a phone number, I can give you a call. You can call me at (480) 515-9478.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Kim
Diet is not the only way to make your body perfect.You have to work out harder for it.
- protein powder
Papadeah ~
Thanks so much for your comments.
I agree that the fermented form of soy can still be a problem for people that have a sensitivity to soy and when not properly fermented.
In it's raw form, such as edamame, it should be fine for anyone. It is a very healthy food right from nature. When people take the whole food (this goes with any food) and they break it down to isolate certain parts, such as protein, they are destroying the synergy of the entire food. Alone, the isolated soy protein is not good for you, as it is more difficult for the body to assimilate and it contains the phytoestrogens, which will throw off the balance of our endocrine system.
As for Sunrider, some of the products do contain soy, but it is in it's whole form. Sunrider is all whole foods. They do not put an abundance of soy in their products because it is not a main ingredient. There are so many other food sources such as coix fruit that are much more important.
I apologize for taking so long to respond to you, but I have not been on my blog site for a month or so. If you would like to discuss Sunrider, please email me at kmcdermott11@cox.net and I can give you my telephone contact info or I can call you. I am also available by Skype.
Hope to hear from you soon. Sunrider is a wonderful thing and it will change your life.
Thanks, Kim
John ~
You are correct. Diet is not the only way to make your body perfect. Exercise is important, too.
One thing that I feel most people overlook is the effect that our "issues" have on our body.
Our body is made up of trillions and trillions of cells. Each cell holds memories of experiences over our lifetime(s), whether it is a good experience or traumatic.
Every thought, belief, emotion and experience transmits a measurable vibrational frequency. Every cell in our body has thousands and thousands of sensors that receive these frequencies, recording it into the cellular memory. These memories, stored within our cells, will have a direct effect on our health, success and happiness.
When strong emotions are attached to an experience, belief or thought, the cellular memory is stronger and has a more powerful impact on your life. When you have an experience or form a new belief, it is imprinted and stored as a frequency in your cellular memory throughout the entire body.
Although we cannot change our past, we can release it from our cellular memory, where it no longer serves us by recognizing it and letting go of the emotional attachments to the experience.
Releasing these blocked energies, eating a healthy, alkaline, preferably plant based diet and proper exercise will bring us optimum health. The body is our intelligence. It knows what to do. It just has to be given the proper care in order to take care of itself.
You really don't have to work hard to achieve this.
I am not only a hypnotherapist and nutritional coach, I am a QuantumPathic Facilitator at the QuantumPathic Center of Consciousness in Scottsdale, AZ. We work with individuals in private sessions and we teach classes that allow you to learn how to do this yourself.
I invite you to visit our website at www.quantumpathic.com and read all about this incredible energy method. If you find that you or anyone you know is interested in attending classes, please contact our center to make arrangements. We are available by Skype if you are unable to travel to the center.
Thanks,
Kim
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