So, is soy good for you? Soy has become very popular and has been pushed as a health food. We are lead to believe that it is a major component of the Asian diet, but this is not true. In Asian countries, soy is used more as a condiment and only in quantity after fermentation which reduces the danger. Soy was initially grown as a nitrogen fixer in crop rotation and not used as a food.

In 1913, soy was listed in the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) handbook as an industrial product – not as a food.

Let’s look at some of the reasons why soy is bad for your health.

Phytic acid in soy

Soy contains high levels of phytic acid, which is not neutralized by the usual preparation methods. High levels of phytic acid in soy reduce assimilation of calcium, magnesium, copper, iron and zinc. Vegetarians who consume soy as a major source of protein risk serious mineral deficiencies.

Haemagglutinin

The haemagglutinin in soy is a clot-promoting substance that causes red blood cells to clump together.

Vitamin D

Soy foods increase the body’s need for vitamin D. This is serious given that many people are already vitamin D deficient. Vitamin D is need by the body to fight cancer.

Vitamin B12

Soy contains vitamin B12 analogs. These are not absorbed and can actually increase the body’s need for vitamin B12. This is especially a problem for vegetarians who need to be more diligent in obtaining vitamin B12.

Trypsin inhibitors in soy

The trypsin inhibitors in soy interfere with protein digestion and may cause pancreatic disorders. Animal based tests with soy containing trypsin inhibitors showed stunted growth.

Aluminium

Soy foods may contain high levels of aluminium which is toxic to both the nervous system and kidneys.

Accelerated brain aging

A study by Dr White of Japanese Americans living in Hawaii, showed a significant statistical relationship between two or more servings of tofu a week and “accelerated brain aging”. Those participants who consumed tofu in mid-life had lower cognitive function in late life and a greater incidence of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Phytoestrogens

The phytoestrogens in soy can disrupt endocrine function and have the potential to cause infertility and breast cancer in women.

Infants fed exclusively soy-based formula have up to 22,000 times more estrogen compounds in their blood than babies fed milk-based formula. This is the equivalent of at least five birth control pills per day. Premature development of girls has been linked to the use of soy formula, as has the under development of males.

Soy and cancer

The soy industry pushes soy as a cancer preventing food. On the contrary, soy contains toxins such as lysinoalanine and nitrosamines. Nitrosamines are highly carcinogenic. Laboratory rats fed soy develop thyroid cancer, pancreatic cancer and digestive cancers. Note that cancer preventing compounds are found only in fermented soy not in tofu, soy milk and other soy products.

References:

Alarcon P. et. al. Clinical trial of home available, mixed diets versus a lactose-free soy-protein formula for the dietary management of acute childhood diarrhea. Journal of Pediatric and Gastroenterol Nutrition. v.12 (2), Feb 1991.

Berk Z. Technology of production of edible flours and protein products from soybeans. FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin 97, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 1992.

Chandra R K. Five-year follow-up of high risk infants with family history of allergy who were extensively breast-fed or fed partial whey hydrolase, soy and conventional cow’s milk formulas. Journal of Pediatric and Gastroenterol Nutrition. 1997.

Jensen K. Chemical substances harmful for the endocrine system. Report to the European Parliament, July 23, 1998.

Katz S H. Food and Biocultural Evolution: A Model for the Investigation of Modern Nutritional Problems. Nutritional Anthropology, Alan R. Liss Inc., 1987.

Lonnerdal B. et. al. The effect of individual components of soy formula and cows’ milk formula on zinc bioavailability American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Nov 1984.

Palmer G. The Politics of Breastfeeding. Pandora Press, London, 1993.

Setchell K D R. Simmer-Nechemias L, Cai J, Helibi J E. Exposure of infants to phyto-oestrogens from soy-based infant formula. Lancet 1997.

White, L. Association of High Midlife Tofu Consumption with Accelerated Brain Aging. Plenary Session #8: Cognitive Function, The Third International Soy Symposium, November 1999.

The walnut tree can grow to 70 feet or more and may have a span as much as 4 feet round its trunk. The walnut tree has long leaves that can grow as long as two to three feet.

Walnuts are part of the mediterranean diet, well known for its health benefits.

Nutrients found in walnuts

Walnut are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids. In fact 30g of walnuts provides the daily needs of omega-3 fatty acids. Walnuts contain a lot of manganese and copper. Also found in smaller quantities are vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, calcium, iron, phosphorus, selenium, potassium and zinc.

Walnut contains ellagic acid, an antioxidant compound that helps supports the immune system and contains several anticancer properties.

Walnuts for constipation

Walnut has a mild laxative effect, it is beneficial in cases of constipation.

Protect the heart

According to several studies, walnuts have amazing cardioprotective benefits. Research shows that polyphenolic compounds found in walnuts, ellagic and gallic acid, possessed significant antioxidant properties. Further study identifies 16 polyphenols with antioxidant activity so protective it is described as remarkable.

Research shows that inclusion of 30 g of walnuts per day in the diet significantly improves the HDL cholesterol to total cholesterol ratios in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Lower blood pressure

Researchers found that omega-3s from nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils such as walnuts and flaxseed had just as much impact on blood pressure as omega-3s from fish.

Walnuts contain relatively high levels of l-arginine, an essential amino acid, they may be of special importance when it comes to hypertension.

Think better with walnuts

The brain is more than 60% fat. For your brain cells to function properly, the brain fat needs to be mostly the omega-3 fats found in walnuts, flaxseed and cold-water fish. For this reason, walnuts are regarded as a brain food; they even have a wrinkled brain-like appearance.

Protect your bones with walnuts

Alpha linolenic acid, the omega-3 fat found in walnuts, promotes bone health by helping prevent excessive bone turnover by providing a lower ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats in the diet. (Griel et al. 2007)

Add walnuts to your lunch box

Why not have a few walnuts each day with a healthy sandwich for lunch? Walnuts are best eaten raw and unsalted.

References:

Blomhoff R, Carlsen MH, Andersen LF, Jacobs DR Jr. Health benefits of nuts: potential role of antioxidants. Br J Nutr. 2006 Nov;96 Suppl 2:S52-60. PMID:17125534.

Fukuda T, Ito H, Yoshida T. Antioxidative polyphenols from walnuts (Juglans regia L.). Phytochemistry. Aug;63(7):795-801 2003.

Griel AE, Kris-Etherton PM, Hilpert KF, Zhao G, West SG, Corwin RL. An increase in dietary n-3 fatty acids decreases a marker of bone resorption in humans. Nutr J. 2007 Jan 16;6:2. PMID:17227589.

Sabate, J. (1999). Nut consumption, vegetarian diets, ischemic heart disease risk, and all-cause mortality: Evidence from epidemiologic studies. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 70(3S), 500S-503S.

Sabate, J. (1993). Does nut consumption protect against ischaemic heart disease? European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 47(1), S71-S75.

Sabate, J., Fraser, G.E., Burke, K., Knutsen, S.F., Bennett, H., & Lindsted, K.D. 1993. Effects of walnuts on serum lipid levels and blood pressure in normal men. New England Journal of Medicine, 328(9), 603-607.

Tapsell LC, Gillen LG, Patch CS, Batterham M, Owen A, Baré M, Kennedy M. Including Walnuts in a Low-Fat/Modified-Fat Diet Improves HDL Cholesterol-to-Total Cholesterol Ratios in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes Care 2004.

Molasses is made from sugar cane. Juice is extracted from crushed sugar cane and boiled. This causes sugar to crystallise so it can be extracted. The left over syrup is molasses, which is high in minerals and vitamins. This process is performed three times; the syrup from the third boiling is called blackstrap molasses. Blackstrap molasses has the lowest sugar content and the highest nutrient content. Sulphur is sometimes added to molasses as a preservative; look for un-sulphured blackstrap molasses.

Blackstrap molasses contains vitamins and minerals

Blackstrap molasses contains large amounts of calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese and potassium. Blackstrap molasses still contains some sugar, but is much healthier than pure sugar. Two teaspoons will give you 10-20 percent of your daily requirement of these minerals as well as 5 percent of your daily vitamin B6 needs.

Using blackstrap molasses

Blackstrap molasses has a sweet, but strong flavour. Some people use blackstrap molasses in place of sugar in tea or other hot beverages. Blackstrap molasses may be used in baking in place of sugar with varying degrees of success. This probably works best in simple baked food such as cookies.

If you want to take blackstrap molasses as a supplement, but don’t like the taste, simply take a teaspoon twice a day and wash it down with water.

Note that molasses is often fed to livestock as a mineral supplement.

Blackstrap molasses cures

Blackstrap molasses has been said to cure or help with many conditions such as constipation, diabetes, amenia, anxiety, acne, fibroid tumours, insomnia, arthritic pain, high blood pressure, heart palpitations and symptoms of menopause. Some people have reported grey hair returning to the original colour.

Some of these folk remedies are unproven, so do your own research and consult your medical practitioner. As a sweetener that is much healthier than sugar, consider adding blackstrap molasses to your diet in moderation.

References:

Scott, C. Crude Black Molasses: a natural “Health -food”. 1948

Wikipedia