The Truth About Soy

For the past year, I have been a wreck! I am post-menopausal and the hot flashes and emotional ups and downs were making me feel like I was losing it. I wanted to edure this and go all natural, figuring this was a natural part of my body's process...I could not take this one more second. I went to see my Dr. and begged her for HRT's...anything to give me relief. She is a huge pill pusher so I was rather shocked when she told me to dring soy milk. I asked her about bioidentical therapy and her reply was, "drinking soy milk is bioidentical"... I know there will be those who disagree, I can only speak for myself. I started drinking about 8 oz of soy milk right away. For me, it has been nothing short of a miracle. I feel like a human being againl. The depression is gone and so are the hot flashes. If I do feel one coming on, I run and get about 4 oz in me and they immediately subside. I cannot tell you what a blessing this has been. I have not experienced one negative side effect. If this helps just one person who is suffering like I was, please give it a try.

Its been found that soy products cause multiple types of cancer and many other health problems. If you use soy, even in smaller amounts STOP!!! Do not give your babies soy formulas either. Every study done on this has proven to be hazardous to your health. Please heed this warning and dont use soy!!!

Some people are allergic to soy and soy is not good in that instances. But whether it is dangerous for all human consumption is another matter. I am aware of Mercola and most of the points he raised is not substantiated in pubmed.org. I don't have time at the moment to go point by point. I do use soy in many serious medical conditions such as cancer and osteoporosis, so it helps if you just do a point by point search in medical journals at pubmed. All clients here in Bangkok are pro soy since there were greatly helped. In any case what works for you doesn't work for someone else. My time right now is greatly limited to very grave disease and should you have time to visit me in Bangkok I can go point by point very easily.

Ted

It is because soy mimics estrogen that I take two capsules day. Before this for many years I had severe depression, anxiety, bad fibromyalgia giving me a lot of pain, bad memory and brain fog and insomnia that meant that I dreaded every night as I would be awake tossing and turning most of the time longing for time to get up. I also had problems with my metabolism where if I ate very little I still put on weight. Then I read about serotonin and found that helped. Then I read about how estrogen is necessary for serotonin to work and be part of the body, so I started to take these capsules and within a few days my mood was better, my aches and pains, and I went to bed and slept properly. Wonderful. I am 65 and had my menopause many years ago and had been this way ever since. I had a total hysterectomy recently. Yes I know I must think about breast cancer, but I take brazil nuts regularly for the selenium so that cancels that out.

Ted is correct in distinguishing between fermented and non-fermented soy. 93% of soy in the USA is non-organic, hence the natural confusion for consumers who don't know the difference. In fact, there are 10,000 species of soy which adds to the challenge to evaluate it properly.

The National Cancer Insitute spent $20 million and concluded that soy when fermented had the most anti-carcinagenic properties.

When processed at a low temperature and hydrolyzed and nitrogenated into a beverage it has been a very effective alternative for treating advanced cancer patients as well as Crohn's disease, and other auto-immune illnesses.

It is a powerful immune booster and harnesses the body's natural healing powers more than most realize.

regards,
Steve Becker
Atlanta Ga

Some brands of tofu products was not properly processed and sugar should not be added to get the benefits. There was a documentary on how to live to 101 which mentions that scientist found why 100 year old Japanese was different from the rest of their Japanese ancestors living in Hawaii. The reason was that their long lived Japan were eating tofu and carries a tradition of eating only half of the food they considered to be full. It should be noted that I also try to regularly consume tofu, because it just gives me more energy.

Ted

Hi Meddy. I was relieved to see your post. I am 65 and have had a lot of problems since my menopause many years ago. I was getting hot and cold flushes, brain fog and memory, depression and anxiety, terrible insomnia, and struggled to maintain my normal weight despite eating very little. I researched and kept seeing about serotonin, then I kept seeing that serotonin does not get into the body and work for you without estrogen. I got soy capsules and within about 24 hours I had my first proper nights sleep for years. I also found my mood improved. So did many of the aches and pains I had because of fibro where this can often be related to lack of serotonin. I was suicidal before this. I could barely move some days, or had to just sit around or lay around and could not do my chores, did not enjoy anything, could not even go for a walk, and then at bedtime could not sleep! It was a nightmare. So everyone is different.

I'm glad Ted cleared this up about soy. I used to consume soy milk and other soy-based products on a regular basis, until I started reading negative press about soy and its potentially harmful effects. I realize now that it was just special interest propaganda to discourage sales of soy products. I have since gone back to eating soy in all forms.

I drank soy milk for 25 years because I was lactose intolerant and was led to believe it was a good source of calcium. In actual fact it clogged up my digestive system and unbeknownst to me I wasn't ingesting any of the nutrients I was eating. I had a bone density test done 12 months ago and I have lost 20% of my bone. I would not recommend soy milk to any one. Research any thing new before you try it, from an outside source Google is an endless supply of truth on anything you want to find out about. No soy No way.

Just like everything else, moderation is the key. EVERYTHING is bad for you if you take it repeatedly every single day. Most of the problems that arise from soy occur when it's taken with extreme frequency. We rarely see this with other food groups and they would probably have their own health drawbacks. Pure oxygen is actually bad for you, but since we breathe it in a mixture of gases our bodies can take it and it becomes not only extremely beneficial, but vital- moderation.

Another good point is that everyone's body is different. If something is making you sick you should stop having it. Dairy gives me stomach problems but I'm not going to assume suddenly that it's poisonous for everyone. There are so many diet fads and extremist views that people "swear" by with food when the reality is you need to just use common sense and eat intuitively. I personally love soy, I eat tofu or drink a glass of soymilk often and I've never experienced any health problems from it. Also, if we examine diets of other cultures, Japan is known for the longevity of its people (outliving Americans on average by nearly ten years) and they have a diet that's rich in soy. That may not be the reason why they are living so long, but it's clear that soy isn't killing them off.

Clearly, there is conflicting research, but the backlash against soy is sudden and extreme, much like, well, a fad. It's very "in" right now to hate soy, just like back when it became very "in" to love soy when it became popular in America.

Hello Ted and all. Although I really appreciate you Ted and the Earthclinic site for all of the invaluable information that has helped me and countless others in our quest for excellent health and well being, I have to strongly disagree with you on your stance on soy and that soy is overall good for you and safe. I am of the belief that for the most part, soy is not good for us, in its natural state (very toxic and has to be highly processed for people to consume). Isoflvones have been shown to be estrogenic. It is not just the dairy companies that slam soy as their ulterior motive is obvious. There are so many natural, holistic, naturopaths, sports nutritionists, alternative scientist and others who are saying the same negative things about soy and some of them have the actual clinical studies to support this. But my own personal negative experience with soy, which was validated in such a way by a well known chiropractor/naturopath whose main supplement he sales is a soy formula. Some background. I used to be a personal trainer and a natural, drug free bodybuilder(before the show, you are put under a polygragh and urine is tested for steroids and performance enhancing drugs) , fitness model, etc. Well at one point, I remember hearing from my TCM (Traditional Chinese herbalist) to eat more tofu and soy as well from this well known natural chiropractor to reduce amount of animal protein and eat more soy. Well, I did this, I switcehd to a soy based protein meal replacement... About 4 days in using this, I felt like crap and my drive (all of my drives) drive for life, energy, libido, all of that was gone as if never existed. This was shocking as I have a natural strong drive and a go-getter. I was doing some research and stumbled upon many articles on how soy mimics estrogen and negatively effects testosterone in the body. I immediately stopped taking soy and went back to egg protein, grassfed beef with the fat and noticed almost overnight how my testosterone levels and drive went back to normal. Going back to this well know chiro, who promoted an anti-cancer/disease program and whose main supplements was soy protein. I was one of the biggest seller of his products, books etc in the country but after my experience with soy and all the research I did, I questioned him about this and his response or lack of response was even more proof to me, that soy is not as good for us as we have been led to believe... I had dinner with this natural doctor and he was willfuilly answering all of my questions until, I asked him about soy and the negative effects on testosterone and increased estrogen and why as a man, I would want to take anything that would increase estrogen in my body. He simply stopped chewing his food, put his fork down and paused as he was thinking on how to respond. He then replied, "No comment" and kept eating as if the question was never asked. I took this as a yes, there is validity to the negative effects of soy (fermented soy like soy sauce, etc is not as toxic but in excess still negatively effects the hormones) as well as years of my own research especially with athletes and sports doctors, etc.

Go to www.mercola.com or drwongradio. com (Naturopathic doctor who has podcasts about alternative health much about dangers of soy and estrogen excess); Dianne Gregs site: http://hiddensoy.com/ etc., Ori Hoffmekler author of the Warrior Diet and The Anti-Estrogen Diet. They all can't be wrong coming from the alternative and holistic community but I encourage anyone curious about soy on whether or not it is right for them, to do their "due diligence" and research both the pros and cons and then make an educated decison...

so, thanks again Ted for keeping us informed and I appreciate this site in where we can freely agreed to disagree...

T

Tybrid is absolutely correct, stay away from soy products. My experience with it was very regretful. Never give soy products to infants or children. Thyroid and other problems with the glandular system can occur.

i became a vegetarian and started drinking soy milk at the age of 16..i started using it in everything...i got up to the point of drinking about 1 ltr every day 1.5 days...i loved it!! i was addicted to drinking tea with creamy original soy...i had it on everything...

At the age of 25 my period started slowing down in frequency, between the age of 25-30 i was only having about 3-6 "clotty" 2day periods a year and i developed a big thick chunk in the middle of my neck "swollen thyroid", i had ultra sounds on it apparently it was "normal" "its just more visible due to your slim neck"...i saw many doctors and had tests but they all told me i was fine and to just go on the pill if i wanted to regulate my period...this was not an option for me...i started worrying about my fertility, would i ever be able to get pregnant.
Then at the age of 30.5 my mum read an article about the bad side of soy milk and she told me to get off it quickly....

So i switched to rice milk and 28 days later i got a 5 day period and 2yrs on i have been getting them every 28days..my swollen thyroid has even slimed down :-)....oh and within 5 months of stopping soy milk i got pregnant.

For me this is proof enough...the oestrogen in the soy was messing up my natural cycle...

well thats my story.

Hi Claudia, (in addition to Ted's advice)

you may want to consider adding Natto to your diet. Especially for your Mom. There are studies linking it's use to increased bone density. http://www.isoflavones.info/isoflavones-abstracts.php?article=menaquinone
I buy mine from a local Japanese store and purchase organic which hopefully ensures non GMO.
(there are videos on youtube showing is preparation)

There are a lot of ways to process soy. Traditional fermented soy foods are healthy - miso, tofu, shoyu, etc. I think the more modern uses of soy, such as meat substitutes, isolated or hydrolized soy protein, etc. are more problematic.

Also, remember that in the USA at least, a huge proportion of (non-organic) soy products are made with genetically-modified soy, which is very allergenic and messes with the immune system.

I use Silk a lot so I wrote the company to ask about an email on your site. I got this back from the company and if it is something you can use, you might put it on the site.

----------------------------

Thank you for your recent e-mail to Silk®. We appreciate your interest in our products.

Until recently the terms Genetically Modified Organism (GMO), GMO-Free and Non-GMO were used to help identify foods that contained genetically altered ingredients. These terms are no longer recognized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and therefore cannot be used on food packaging.

According to the National Organic Standards, products that are certified organic by definition cannot contain genetically modified ingredients. At Silk, we use only Non-GMO soybeans. Look for the biotechnology statement on our packaging, under Nobody makes soymilk like we do: "We take extra care to select only the best beans, grown without genetic engineering right here in North America."

Thanks again for contacting the Consumer Affairs Department.

Sincerely,
________
Consumer Response Representative

Since I changed my lunch meals from bread to soy my metabolism seems to have been supported. I used to be so fatigued after lunch that I stopped eating lunch and just took a couple of cookies & chocolate as they gave me quick energy without draining me. Well, the long-term health effects of this idea were detrimental as it brought my hormonal balance into chaos. So I tried to find a substitute and went for tofu. This helped my overall health a lot. In between I was nearly stopping to eat soy because of the extremely bad press - so I am pleased to have read Ted's comment and stayed with my common sense as I thought millions of much healthier looking Asians can not be wrong! So thanks a lot [the only thing which I have to exclude are some sticky soy milk brands they caused within 2 days constipation and eczema - perhaps toxic soy is used or some additive which is not natural... anyhow whoever has problems with soy should try to change the brands - it might be as simple as that].

BSM [blackstrap molasses] is good stuff. However, if you wish to use milk, use raw milk. Raw cow's milk does not have the problems associated with pasturized, homogonized milk. Also, please be aware that soy is not the wonderful thing the soy industry would have you beleive! If you have hypothyroidism, unfermented soy is the worst thing you can ingest! Almond milk and any seed milks are very good. We drink goat milk when we have milk. BSM would fit in with goat milk very well.

Is soy toxic? Well maybe yes and maybe no for some people. In general it is good for you, but there are exceptions!

I have devised a simple tests decades ago as a part of a research study on allergy and communicable disease during my studies in microbiology that you can conclude yourself.

This was later confirmed in that this simple test can prove to you if soy is good for you. Remember, no medical fact can prove you otherwise if it simply isn't working for you!

Here is a remarkably simple tests (that doctors also secretly used they call it the patch test, but this is simpler).

In science we must use a control and experimental group, but in this case we use milk and soy as a comparison, while your friend is a "control" which he or she DOES NOT DRINK ANY MILK.

1. Prepare a standard milk and soy. We first start with the soy or milk it is up to you.

Assuming you drink soy, keep it in your mouth for about 1-2 minutes then swallow. Drink more, such as about 500 cc to 1 liter of soy milk throughout the day.

2. After about 15-30 minutes, notice if there is bad breath coming in your mouth. You can ask a friend if you are not sure. However I am sure the sticky slimy feel you can tell.

3. The next day, observe if you are coming down with a cold or a rash, or allergy. Most pathogenic bacteria tends to be observable in symptoms after 24 hours of consumption.

4. The next day you can do the milk test. Repeat the procedures 1-3 but using a standard cow's milk. The common symptoms for people with lactose intolerance on cow's milk is diarrhea, allergies or getting colds will come in the next day. If you aren't sure, use your friend as a "control" or reference point.

You can do this in using sundae ice cream or your other favorite choice of suspicious food. It works better then the patch test doctor do, since you are doing it one at a time instead an array of allergens on your arms.

The ones I am asking you to investigate is fried chickens, microwave cooking and french fries. The quantities it must be consumed are about what you alway consume with regular food, in bulk of course, but only this time you will be eating JUST only one type of food - monolithic diets. This is how I learned which food raised my blood pressure, allergies, or even get "the blues".

The best judge for whether the soy works for you or not is yourself. However, based on my own test soy with many people, at least here in Asia, soy works. On the other hand, 90% of all Asians are actually lactose intolerant. However a similar figures are found throughout all ethnic groups but with different percentages. Therefore it doesn't work for everyone! Cheers!

Is soy toxic? Simple. I read through medical literature, or you can go through pubmed. Do a search and read every literature on soy. It is quite positive. The only negative thing about soy is it can't be used in infant formula, the same is also true for cow's milk. I only read first hand information, most information on soy toxin as claimed are positive. Asians is the world's largest consumer of soy. We Asians have been consuming soy for centuries. We also use soy protein to accelerate plant growth. China also consume soy and have very low incidence in cancer, they also recently begun a switchover to cow's milk and now the cancer rate is starting to rise. In fact, try a chemical analysis of the cow's milk you are drinking, it is high in vaccines, antibiotics, and growth hormone. Remember I am speaking from a country that is already one of the world's largest consumer of soy for centuries.It has only been in recent years (about 10 years) that the switchover is to cow's milk, with devastating consequences, such as obesity (cow's milk is high in hormones that forces the body to increase fat). You can find this information yourself, but the government are afraid to admit this fact. People who are allergic to something can be allergic from soy to cow's milk. I went to check on soy toxin, nothing much. You can debate me on it! I have more than enough ammunitions to back up my claims.

Dear Victor: Yes, soy is high in oxalates. Many high protein diets are high in oxalates such as meats, dairy products, vegetables, milk, nuts, beans, seafood products are also high in oxalates. But vegetables, such as spinach, green peas, broccolli, and many others are also high in oxalates. If you think what you drink is safe, well consider chocolates, cocoa, and tea are also high in oxalates. My guess is if you avoid rich oxalate food, you are depriving yourself or a lot of nutrients.

People who get cancer, infections, viruses, fungus infection or lowered immune system have LOW oxalates. It is also true that people with high oxalate may get kidney stones. Few people also know that certain foods and supplements will rid or dissolve your body of oxalates.

The real secret is not avoiding oxalates, or eating foods high in oxalates, or even finding the middle ground as to how much oxalates you are eating by getting those RDA (Recommended Daily Allowances) of oxalates. They don't exist.

So where do we get the answers? Do we need more high tech knowledge to find such an answer? Look no further then a gorilla raised in the wild. They don't get kidney stones! Gorilla raised in the zoo do! So I guess a Gorilla does not have to get a Ph.D. to know the RDA for oxalates! People get kidney stones for a very simple reasons. If the body's bicarbonates or buffer is insufficient in the intestines, the oxalic acid rich foods, goes right through your intestines and directly into the blood. The oxalic acid will then react with the body's calcium usually in the bloodstream to form calcium oxalates. This is then slowly accumulates in your kidney to form calcium oxalate stones. Calcium oxalate stones is relatively insoluble, whenever your kidney's pH remains at a level below 6. It is more soluble at a more alkaline pH such as 7.

Assuming on the otherhand that your has sufficient levels of bicarbonate or buffer. What happens is this: the body's bicarbonates reacts directly with the oxalic acid in the intestines to neutralized the acid to form sodium oxalate, which prevents any further reaction from becoming calcium oxalate and safe.

You can do this experiment at your own home to prove to you why a urinary pH acid causes calcium oxalate, which is one of the common components of the kidney stones. This is a small experiment I devised sometime ago in the beginning of this year (2006) to resolve the oxalic rich food paradox. I will be first to admit, this is not an exact science, but with the resources that I have quite limited!

Prepare a fresh urine sample in a cup. Get 1/4 teaspoon of oxalic acid and dissolve. The urine will become instantly cloudy. Precipitates will form. There you have it, instant kidney stones!

Now perform another experiment, get 1 teaspoon of baking soda and put it in ANOTHER, fresh urine sample cup. Now add 1/4 teaspoon of oxalic acid. The baking soda will react with oxalic acid to form sodium oxalate, instead of reacting with the calcium in your urine. The ending urine sample will be clearer then the one without the baking soda. So a person with plenty of bicarbonates is unlikely to get kidney stones!

So the cure for kidney stones, or the nemesis of oxalic is simple: baking soda. No need to avoid oxalate, or determine the RDA for oxalate diet and you now have a way of preventing kidney stones! Of course many other supplement will also dissolve kidney stones: citric acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin C. So the reason to avoid the soy on oxalates is unfounded. as you can easily get them from other foods too. The secret is something that covers so many illness is baking soda.

In defence of soy - I have been having some really atrocious hot flushes as I enter menopause. For the last 12 months I have simply endured them, thinking they will just go away eventually.

In desperation last week, I bought a bulk pack of soy beans (non GMO)and have been making my own soy milk. The taste is absolutely terrible of course(no sweeteners or flavouring added), but frankly, I'd drink battery acid if I thought it would help.

Well, it has - no, not the battery acid! I got my first full night's sleep in over 12 months last night and the hot flushes have not recurred since the first 24 hours of drinking my home made soymilk.

I have to add however, that I am on the bicarbonate soda/ACV mix as well, and tried oil-pulling with sesame oil for the first time two days ago. The bicarb/ACV drink did help in terms of severity of the flushes, but adding the soymilk to the whole protocol really did the trick, as far as I'm concerned. The difference is amazing and I can't believe how much more energised I feel. I feel as if some heavy horror has been lifted and my outlook on life is now really positive. I find it hard to believe how much the whole menopause thing had affected my vitality and enjoyment of life. I now have my rather immature and much enjoyed sense of mischief back!

I'll keep up the soymilk along with the bicarb/ACV. Despite the taste!

So I am sure that there are no alterior motives pushing soy? No certain interest groups, multinational companies or goverments who might benefit from more soy being sold?

If you are going to post something like this on the internet at least be non biased. I dare you to find five studies that just as staunchly will tell you how bad soy is. Just because you can copy and paste is no excuse to think you are right.

I was just reading this little tid bit before I ran accross this.

http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/content/23/11/2584.full

Funny how if you only look at papers supporting your point of view, you end up looking right. Be the devils advocate to your own point of view.

I understand where you are coming from Jordan.... I have never understood how we have come to be in this place. We live in a society where no one seems to know anything anymore! Everything can kill you or be of great help, amazing! From all I have read I won't touch unfermented soy and I am very sorry that I gave soy formula to two of my daughters when they were babies, is Ted right? I have no clue but as I don't really feel like trying out soy and I don't drink milk anyway for me it is not a problem! But too bad we live in a society where no one seems to be able to make up their minds on anything, leaving people not know what to do! It is like playing Russian roulette....

My two cents worth on soy - 1) The soy that is good for you is formented soy (miso is one example) - 2) Why is soy in the ingredients lists of thousands (... Hundreds?) of products? Because the people who grow soy are the same people who grow corn (think high fructose corn syrup). Soy is cheap to grow so it gets pushed as being a health benefit and is now hard to avoid.

25 years ago I had allergy testing done. I was told that I was allergic to soy and peanuts. So I stopped eating them. I started reading labels and found, even then, that soy, at least, soybean oil, was in EVERYTHING! You are right, Tvo.

So, I guess I started to do what Mmsg was suggesting, I fixed everything from scratch. I lost 20lbs without even trying. (It was 20lbs I had gained when I had started a new job and was also eating out a lot.) I don't know if it was soy or something else in processed foods. I wasn't even trying to diet and hadn't increased my exercise. It was an interesting benefit from giving up soy.

~Mama to Many~

I see where Bill from the Phillipines said "NOW" lecithin is GMO... My question is does anybody know where I can find out exactly what lecithins products are and are NOT GMO products? It would help with everybodys health...

I heard 90% of all soy products are GMO and that ALL soy in this country is sprayed with agent orange... This came from a very good source...Thank you

I did some googling and found this link re the top 10 genetically modified foods ("GMO") to avoid eating :

http://www.naturalnews.com/035734_GMOs_foods_dangers.html

However, this was not my actual question; which concerns whether soy products are really as healthy as the food industry likes to portray them? The main principle lies in the amount, because too much is unhealthy, as you always say.

Basically soy is a high-quality plant protein in which Isoflavones are also contained in large quantities in the form of phytoestrogens. Nevertheless, the protein and the Isoflavones, as well as other substances of soy, are in no way harmless. In particular with long-term consumption of large quantities, the Isoflavones effect the hormone balance quite critically.

However, all the other soy substances are not harmless either, which is why they should be used as food only with sufficient caution or not at all. In particular no kind of food for children should contain any soy products at all, because with regard to the Isoflavones, especially the health of babies, toddlers and adolescents is impaired by soy products and in other respects health is seriously damaged. Already less than one quarter of a milligram of Isoflavones per one kilogram of body weight per day can cause very bad and irreparable health defects in children of every age, namely in relation to consciousness activity, the brain, the intelligence, the world of thought and feeling, the psyche, the physical body and the behaviour pattern etc.

If pregnant women consume soy products it can lead to heavy and irreparable damages to the foetus' body, limbs, nerves, cerebrum and muscles as well as to body deformations. More than a quarter of a milligram of Isoflavones per kilo of body weight should not be given to babies and toddlers under any circumstances.

Said with easy and generally understandable words and concepts, soy products of all kind, because of their toxic ingredients, in larger quantities are even capable of impairing the health of strong adults and to cause serious damage, which can lead to growth of tumours, respectively cancer and to the fostering of brain-, consciousness and behavioural disorders, personality changes and to infertility.

Especially breast cancer in women and men is often caused by soy products, as well as depression and Parkinson's, namely in particular when a hereditary disposition exists for it. Also Alzheimer's and dementia can be results of an excess of the Isoflavones, as well as an impairment of eyesight, the taste buds, the ability to concentrate, the moral balance and various other important life factors.

Then what ought to be the amount of soy that the adult may take? The quantity depends on the concentration of Isoflavones, of which a person should consume no more than half a milligram per kilo of body weight daily if he does not want to be impaired toxically. This means that a person of 70 kilograms of body weight should not consume soy products that exceed 35 milligrams of Isoflavones. However, with soy consumption this amount is reached very quickly.

This is indeed the case, because already a normal soy drink of 2.5 dl in size contains about 30 milligrams of Isoflavones.

And what is the case with drugs made of soy respectively concerning their Isoflavones? Such drugs are in no way recommend, if, on one hand, they are not adjusted for the body weight, and, on the other hand, are taken for too long a time, or if the person is especially susceptible with regard to Isoflavones

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/3513607.stm

I recall reading somewhere that tofu, miso etc (the fermented types of soy) are safe and that's why Asians have no problems with their consumption of soy. It's really only the western world that has decided to include soy in so many products (canned tuna for instance) and this is where the problems lies. Check the labels in your pantry and you'll be amazed at how much soy we're consuming, to our detriment!!!

Hello Everyone..

I am not writing just because we manufacture Non-GMO Soy Lecithin but because I am reading many articles that Soy is very allergic, Not good for health and etc.. It may be but kindly go to the reports and also the environment and the patients health also..

Because in India and other South-Asian countries max you can say 95% people eat Soy or bi-products from age below 5yrs. Then why there is no such Allergy in India? Why people are still healthy when taking or consuming Soy in their regular diet?

Kindly don't follow blindly anything which is published without any studies.. Kumar Reddy

Dear Kumar,

I am from south india. Your fact is totally baseless, there is no data or truth that 95% of the children below 5 years are eating SOY or soy based products. Let me explain.

Before the globalization and advent of foreign companies in India, specifically quoting the 'Software Boom'. Most of the population were on the rural sides of the States in India. Including Hyderabad, Bangalore, chennai.

A child after birth is raised in the following ways, hope you would agree that.

For the first 3 months, the infant is given only mother's milk that build the total immunity of the child.

After 3 months, may be from the 4th month the infant is still given THE WHITE GOLD MOTHER'S MILK. And slowly introduced with solid foods, that are traditionally made. Like rice porridge, mashed IDLI, curd rice, nicely boiled DAL rice Sambar(without spice) - (for other country people, these are made with rice and lentils only - traditionally grown). And some suplement milk products that are wholely made with milk.

Usually, a mother breast feeds her child till one and a half years some continue till 2 years.

After 1 year, each and every child only eats only the home made food, rice, sambar, dosa, idli, vada, porridge, boiled vegetables. till the age 5. soy was not part of the food culture in india till 2000, (even till date)

In 1970's there were no SOY products in india, SOYA was not even cultivated in 1 percent of the lands. If you know about it. There were few milk supplement products India in 1970's that where made with non-homogenized milks. Lactogen, Farex, Cerelac, Nestum. And most of the milk produced were from the exotic breeds from south india. Not the western Holstien Freezian , Redden, Jersey's (Jersey's milk is good when compared to Holstiens).

So literally no allergens in the food, before the introduction of GMO foods. And even if there are allergens, the immunity developed by the MOTHER'S MILK given for nearly 1-2 years takes care of it.

Well after 2000, still most of the population resides in the VILLAGES of India, not in cities. If you exactly count the type of foods eaten by the people. It will be NON-GMO foods. There is only little amount of GMO FOODS is eaten by the children and people mostly by the city people.

Moreover, South Indian food culture has balanced foods. For Sambar(made with lentils) is nutritious, Curd Rice(Rice mixed with Yoghurt) is probiotic, Rasam or Thilli Saru (made with tamarind Juice, is an excellent digestion enhancer and detoxifier).

So, I would say the food culture, food habits and Cultural Breast Feeding Habits takes care of allergens, so there is less allergy.

With respect to SOY, SOY has complex protein chains. So the East Asian people, only use the SOY after fermenting it. They never consume it cooked. TOFU, SOY SAUCE, NATTO, MISSO are all fermented soy that what they use it most.

Only in recent times, SOYA is promoted in India. GMO foods are certainly allergic, but the allergic reaction is determined by the IMMUNITY of the people consuming it.

If you think consuming SOY(raw and cooked) is not affecting one's health then just wait for another 5 years and see the results.

The total consumed food by the Indian population is NON-GMO that is the reason there are less allergies(there are other factors too like - pollen, steroid injected broilers, too much of vaccines, enzyme activated washing detergents, perfumes, deodorants).

Now indian government has allowed testing of GMO foods in their lands. Well God save this land.

Fortunately, State of Tamil Nadu has banned any types of GMO crops to be tested or cultivated in the lands of Tamil Nadu. I wish other States follow the same.

Good Health.

Thanks for the education Ed2010.

I came across this article on the dangers of soy being hidden in our foods. I think everyone should read it. It says that soy is high in antrinutrients and blocks nutrients being digested in the digestive tract. It can affect masculinity and drive down fertility. Women eating large quantities of soy can experience hair thinning amongst other things. Consumption can according to the article lead to thyroid disfunction.

It certainly is getting harder to try to avoid getting very sick these days and it is hidden using various names in most processed foods. Along with MSG and aspartame you wonder what Governments are doing to the worldwide population.

No wonder our kids minds are being turned to mush. I would be interested in others thoughts on this.

http://www.justmindpower.com/Soy.html

Christina from Queensland: You are right. I used tau fu, etc. for years till I came upon an article from someone in New Zealand opening my eyes.

He was breeding fancy birds and when their food was changed to soy, their offspring were deformed. He personally had health problems and it took him years to flush the poison out.

An RN nurse told me that infants at the hospital are fed soy but they don't do well on it. She was prohibited from mentioning it to parents.

When the NZ man and others tried to alert the public the soy corp. harassed them so they had nervous break downs and had to go into hiding.

Meanwhile we know that soy narrows fine arteries, causes aging and affect even one's DNA adversely. There is tons of research by now. I see, among the gmo-ed oils soy oil is put into a lot of common grocery foods. In China, soy oil is not used for cooking, I was told. Namaste, Om

Christina, you are so right. I drank soy milk for about 6 months and when I went for my annual physical, my TSH (thyroid test) was through the roof. Not a good thing. I asked the doctor why the sudden change and he had no idea, just mentinoed someting about aging. I started taking the levothyroxin he prescribed. I think my low thyroid would have cleared itself up by stopping the soy milk. This all happened before I discovered EH and became more enlightened. I want to stop the levothyroxin. Has anyone had success with stopping thyroid meds?

I have the exact same question as u do.

Sandy, I wold encourage you to check out the section on Iodine. There is also a Yahoo group whose members supplement with iodine. I have read on that group the stories of several people who have reduced their use of thyroid meds. The iodine protocol requires a number of companion nutrients be used as well. Also Dr. David Brownstein's Book, Iodine Why you need it, Why you can't live without it

The general rule of thumb I use for soy ... As Ted has said, fermented soy is the good stuff. non fermented is the bad stuff.

Omji, Ted has recommended non GM Soya Lecithin on this site and also I have read on this site about dark soya sauce to be good. Fermented soya of course is good. What is your say on that.

Since Ted is back I would request him to take some time and please write on Soya and clarify our doubts. Baldev

Hey everyone: Can someone tell me once and for all if soy sauce (kikkoman for example) is not good for people who are hypothyroid? I use this sauce in everything I cook and am worried now if it should be off limits for people who have thyroid disease because of the soy. Help please!!

Soy sauce is not created equal most have only a very small percentage of fermented soy and the rest is soy (usually GMO soy), wheat, colours and salt. It is very rare that the salt is the good sea salt. Traditional soy sauce is called Tamari (or at least in Australia it is) and it contains only soy beans, water and sea salt and is naturally fermented. As you are using it every day it would be worth getting the organic tamari. It would also pay to make sure you are getting enough iodine.

Lanos wrote: 02/21/2011: Lanos from Socalifornia, Usa writes: "Tybrid is absolutely correct, stay away from soy products. My experience with it was very regretful.
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Hey, Lanos - Maybe you should just pray to God over it, and then take it anyway. Refering to your other post, and your condescending attitude.
GOD BLESS.

I was an avid soy/tofu/tempeh eater & soy-milk drinker, however that changed completely in 2006. I began having extremely heavy menstrual cycles, cramping and headaches during every cycle which went from 6 days to 10 days.

The final threat was an incident at work while on my cycle, I got up to walk to a colleauges office and as I stoood approximately 2 to 3 cups of blood poured out of my body. I now know that to be "flooding".

My GYN doctor immediately put me on Progesterone hormone therapy, which worked temporarily. The progesterone was to aid in balancing my hormone levels of estrogen & progesterone.

She advised that the fibroids had grown very large (the size of a 6 week pregnancy) in my uterine walls.

I learned that Soy has high traces of estrogen and this is what aided to the growth of fibroids.

Sadly, I had to have surgery in 2008. It was very traumatic and I even ended up with a large keloid scar.

After the surgery, I limited soy and replaced soy-milk with almond milk.

In December 2010, I decided to become vegan and again increased my soy/tofu/tempeh, again, my fibroids are back and my doctor has advised that I will need to have surgery again.

I am convinced that the soy products added extra dosages of estrogen which contributed to the growth and regrowth of my fibroids.

It's obvious that all people do not react the same to foods and/or drugs. But, similiar to medications and the listed possible side effects, the same should always be stated with any reference or suggestion to natural remedies or supplements.

Thank you.

I just wanted to comment on the dangers of soya milk for the infants. I didn't read closely about the dangers of soya milk products because as a family we do not really consume them. However, my son who is now 7 years old and who had been on soya formula since the age of 4.5 month till perhaps 22 month. At about two years of age he started drinking cow's milk with no problems. Before had terrible intolerance to it and this soya formula was the only way for me to get him fed. Well, I did listen to the doctors (sadly) and had no idea that goat milk could be a substitute. In my family we are usually all healthy with good genes. In my husband's more or less also. With this in mind, I was taken aback when my son got pneumonia at 2 y.o. Then a few month later it reoccurred. Second time he needed oxygen mask as well. And this condition reoccurred again soon after. I became desperate. In the end we got it under control with salbutamol. The diagnosis wasn't asthma. But some kind of bronkho. . . Spasms. We had been using salbutamol constantly till he was 4 y.o. Then all of a sudden this breathing problem of his was gone. But soon came a new one - heavy allergy to mold that resulted in him no longer being able to properly breath through the nose. It also made him so susceptible to developing severe cough as soon as got a cold. He is otherwise fine - intelligent, very fit and tall. But he does have very strange behavior sometimes. I even thought of taking him to see a psychologist. He likes to annoy every one in the house, cannot find occupation for himself on his own - he craves attention all the time! I've got another boy, 2y.o. who I breast-fed till he was 15 month. Of course, I compare the two often. The younger one is much healthier - no pneumonia, allergies, coughs or bronkho spasms. No attention cravings! And is just as fit, tall and strong and a clever one too. God, if I had only known then what kind of long-term harm I would cause my child with this soya formula!

I am also a mother of two children who were fed with soy formula because they were lactose intolerant. I had no idea of the risks or else I wouldn't have done it. The oldest who had lactose free formula had no problems, the two youngest, fed with soy formula had a lot of eczema, the youngest had severe respiratory infections during the first year of her life and now has asthma. I have no idea whether this all comes from the soy formula but I have read that they can have hormonal problems through their lives. I really feel bad about this as I have always tried to give my daughters a lot of love and the best of care! They were also given fluoride tablets by the doctor and used them for a number of years when they were small! This is not done anymore though...But that doesn't help my daughters. I have heard that soy formula is nowadays only prescribed under doctor's supervision (maybe they should ban it alltogether...)

Francisca,

I was fed soy formula as an infant, and I do not know of any health problems that I have ( I don't have many) that are connected to soy. That being said, knowing what I know now, I certainly would not give a soy formula to an infant, but I wouldn't worry about the past too much. By the way, you have said that you grew up in Portugal and now live in France (correct?), but your English seems flawless. What's your secret?

Hi Elsaeasterly, thanks for your kind words about my use of the English language! Funny enough I only lived in England for a few months when I was 18 (now 53) but my husband is British and we have been together for almost 5 years. Still, when I went to live in England at 18 they considered my English so good that although there was no place for me to study English in Harrow College they were prepared to let me do the course. Being 18 I decided that I didn't feel like it (very silly, I know... ). I started learning English at school when I was 12 and read mostly in English from then on, many, many books. One of my daughters started speaking English fluently at the age of 7 (in Holland) and even translated for the teachers at school when a Canadian girl moved there. She had never had a lesson. Thanks again for your words.... I surely do my best...