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.

A recent study involving 1,179 healthy women from rural Nebraska indicates that high levels of vitamin D combined with calcium may help in the fight against cancer.  One group of women was given calcium (around 1500 mg daily) and vitamin D (1100 IU daily) while another group was given a placebo.  Over four years, the group receiving the calcium and vitamin D supplements showed a 60 percent decrease in cancers.

The amounts of vitamin D taken are several times the recommended levels.  The cancer industry opposes these high levels of supplementation.  You would almost think they wanted people to get cancer. Calcium and vitamin D are low cost supplements.  Sunlight exposure also produces vitamin D; we make our own vitamin D when our skin is exposed to sunlight.  Sunscreen prevents the body from making vitamin D; a SPF 8 sunscreen reduces the body’s ability to make vitamin D by 95%.  Of course we don’t want to get sunburn. It is suggested that long walks in the sun without sunburn are possible if your diet is high in anti-oxidant super foods and fresh produce.  Try eating more sprouted seeds, avocado, spirulina, nuts, fresh fruit and vegetables. Increase your sun exposure slowly to avoid sunburn.

It is interesting that dark skin pigmentation blocks ultraviolet radiation.  This means that black people need more sun exposure to make useful amounts of vitamin D.  Perhaps it is no coincidence that black men show high levels of prostrate cancer and black women show extremely high rates of breast cancer.  Surely these simple facts are well known by the medical industry?  The idea that you can greatly reduce your risk of getting cancer simply by walking in the sun, must be a big worry to the cancer industry.

In the body, vitamin D is converted into a steroid hormone, and genes responding to it play a crucial role in fixing damaged cells and maintaining good cell health.  “There is no better anti-cancer agent than activated vitamin D. I mean, it does everything you’d want,” said Dr. Cannell of the Vitamin D Council, a non-profit, California-based organization.

How much sunlight is needed to produce adequate levels of vitamin D?  Only 10 to 15 minutes a day of full body exposure without sunscreen can be enough, but the actual amount needed depends on skin colour and location.  Latitude is the main factor, the further the location from the equator, the longer the necessary exposure time.  Those who receive no regular sunlight exposure must obtain vitamin D from food or supplements.  Multivitamins typically do not have enough and it is impractical to drink three litres of milk a day. A daily supplement of 1000 IU of vitamin D is recommended by many health professionals.

References:

Holick, Michael Dr.  The UV Advantage.
Moritz, Andreas. Heal Yourself with Sunlight. 2003