Far from being a Superfood, as we all thought it was in the 70’s and 80’s, soy is something I now ask all my patients to avoid.
So what’s wrong with it?
Soy contains a cocktail of substances that interferes with many bodily systems.
Among other things it contains trypsin inhibitors which interfere with protein digestion and may cause pancreatic disorders. In animals these inhibitors actually lead to stunted growth.
Phytoestrogens which disrupt endocrine function and may cause infertility in both men and women.
Potent antithyroid agents (in plant oestrogen) causing an underactive thyroid and possibly thyroid cancer. In babies drinking soy formula has been linked to autoimmune thyroid disorders.
High levels of phytic acid which reduces the uptake of calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, zinc. Soy phytic acid is not neutralised by the usual methods for beans like soaking them, sprouting them or long slow thorough cooking. And worryingly, high phytic diets can cause growth problems in children.
Vitamin B12 analogues which are not absorbed and increase the body’s requirement for B12.
Fragile proteins become denatured during high temperature processing to make soy protein isolate and textured vegetable protein, none of which is edible.
Toxic lysinoalanine and carcinogenic nitrosamines created in soy processing.
Free glutamic acid or MSG, a potent neurotoxin formed during soy processing.
High levels of aluminium, toxic to the nervous system and believed to contribute to both dementia and alzheimers as well as being toxic to the kidneys.
Cancer on a plate?
As the result of recent research Israel, advised by a panel of oncologists, nutritionists, paediatricians and other specialists who took a year to examine the evidence, have advised their whole population to be very cautious about their use of soy products. Women eating soy to avoid breast cancer can develop the very disease they are trying to prevent. Soy is associated with a lowered risk of stomach cancer but a higher risk of of death from colorectal cancer.
There are four alarming studies linking soy oestrogens to infant leukaemia. Soy has been associated with a a two to three fold increase in bladder cancer risk. Besides this we are bombarded with oestrogenic mimics in our environment so soy only makes this accumulation in the body worse.
So where does it hide?
It hides in fake foods like soy burgers, cheese, yogurt, milk and ice-cream. So Vegans, get your protein from beans, use olive oil and try natural sorbets. Ever frozen a peeled banana and put it through the liquidiser? Sensational!
Please no soy milk for babies or children. High levels of oestrogen feminise boys and accelerate sexual maturation in girls.
Soy masquerades under TVP (textured vegetable protein) or HVP (hydrolysed vegetable protein) often found in stock cubes.
Soy is often found in preformed hamburgers, meat loaves and spaghetti sauces. Read the labels!
It hides in vitamin pills like vitamin E and D oil based tablets.
Asprin cochleates contain soy.
SPI (soy protein isolates) give soy lasagne and chili their minced meat texture and contains 38 petrol derived compounds. Yum?
Low carb foods sometimes use Soy protein in place of traditional flour.
If you really must
Stick to miso, tempeh, natto and tofu made by traditional fermentation processes, which properly pre-digests protease inhibitors. It also gets rid of mineral depleting phytates. Don’t eat ’silken’ tofu. It contains more of the unwanted anti nutrients. Ensure you use traditionally made shoyu or tamarin. And never more than once a week. Everything else is a horrible chemical stew of hydrochloric acid, sugar, colouring, glutamic acid, sodium carbonate and even gene changing agents.
Make your own nut milks. Soak a cup of nuts overnight in enough water to cover. Rinse and add two/three cups filtered water and liquidise well so the nuts are finely pulped. Strain through butter muslin, squeezing hard. Use the nut pulp in soups or stews. Put the milk in the fridge in a glass jar. It’ll be good for 3/4 days.
Nuts are fabulously good for the heart and macadamias, hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds and pistachios put the brake on colon cancer for all sorts of sound reasons.
