Myths & Truths About Soy |
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| Written by Weston A. Price Foundation |
| December 31 1999 |
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Read this article in: Danish | Dutch | French | German | Japanese | Russian | Spanish Myth: Use of soy as a food dates back many thousands of years. Truth: Soy was first used as a food during the late Chou dynasty (1134-246 BC), only after the Chinese learned to ferment soy beans to make foods like tempeh, natto and tamari. Myth: Asians consume large amounts of soy foods. Truth: Average consumption of soy foods in Japan and China is 10 grams (about 2 teaspoons) per day. Asians consume soy foods in small amounts as a condiment, and not as a replacement for animal foods. Myth: Modern soy foods confer the same health benefits as traditionally fermented soy foods. Truth: Most modern soy foods are not fermented to neutralize toxins in soybeans, and are processed in a way that denatures proteins and increases levels of carcinogens. Myth: Soy foods provide complete protein. Truth: Like all legumes, soy beans are deficient in sulfur-containing amino acids methionine and cystine. In addition, modern processing denatures fragile lysine. Myth: Fermented soy foods can provide vitamin B12 in vegetarian diets. Truth: The compound that resembles vitamin B12 in soy cannot be used by the human body; in fact, soy foods cause the body to require more B12 Myth: Soy formula is safe for infants. Truth: Soy foods contain trypsin inhibitors that inhibit protein digestion and affect pancreatic function. In test animals, diets high in trypsin inhibitors led to stunted growth and pancreatic disorders. Soy foods increase the body's requirement for vitamin D, needed for strong bones and normal growth. Phytic acid in soy foods results in reduced bioavailabilty of iron and zinc which are required for the health and development of the brain and nervous system. Soy also lacks cholesterol, likewise essential for the development of the brain and nervous system. Megadoses of phytoestrogens in soy formula have been implicated in the current trend toward increasingly premature sexual development in girls and delayed or retarded sexual development in boys. Myth: Soy foods can prevent osteoporosis. Truth: Soy foods can cause deficiencies in calcium and vitamin D, both needed for healthy bones. Calcium from bone broths and vitamin D from seafood, lard and organ meats prevent osteoporosis in Asian countries—not soy foods. Myth: Modern soy foods protect against many types of cancer. Truth: A British government report concluded that there is little evidence that soy foods protect against breast cancer or any other forms of cancer. In fact, soy foods may result in an increased risk of cancer. Myth: Soy foods protect against heart disease. Truth: In some people, consumption of soy foods will lower cholesterol, but there is no evidence that lowering cholesterol with soy protein improves one's risk of having heart disease. Myth: Soy estrogens (isoflavones) are good for you. Truth: Soy isoflavones are phyto-endocrine disrupters. At dietary levels, they can prevent ovulation and stimulate the growth of cancer cells. Eating as little as 30 grams (about 4 tablespoons) of soy per day can result in hypothyroidism with symptoms of lethargy, constipation, weight gain and fatigue. Myth: Soy foods are safe and beneficial for women to use in their postmenopausal years. Truth: Soy foods can stimulate the growth of estrogen-dependent tumors and cause thyroid problems. Low thyroid function is associated with difficulties in menopause. Myth: Phytoestrogens in soy foods can enhance mental ability. Truth: A recent study found that women with the highest levels of estrogen in their blood had the lowest levels of cognitive function; In Japanese Americans tofu consumption in mid-life is associated with the occurrence of Alzheimer's disease in later life. Myth: Soy isoflavones and soy protein isolate have GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status. Truth: Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) recently withdrew its application to the FDA for GRAS status for soy isoflavones following an outpouring of protest from the scientific community. The FDA never approved GRAS status for soy protein isolate because of concern regarding the presence of toxins and carcinogens in processed soy. Myth: Soy foods are good for your sex life. Truth: Numerous animal studies show that soy foods cause infertility in animals. Soy consumption enhances hair growth in middle-aged men, indicating lowered testosterone levels. Japanese housewives feed tofu to their husbands frequently when they want to reduce his virility. Myth: Soy beans are good for the environment. Truth: Most soy beans grown in the US are genetically engineered to allow farmers to use large amounts of herbicides. Myth: Soy beans are good for developing nations. Truth: In third world countries, soybeans replace traditional crops and transfer the value-added of processing from the local population to multinational corporations.
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written by Sal, Feb 02 2012
Check out "The China Study" Just to be an informed person. Has a bunch of interesting information on the most comprehensive study of nutrition ever conducted. Take this information and do as you please! But if you are not fully informed you can not make an informed decision!
soy is dangerous
written by Amy, Oct 23 2011
I just wanted to add that I thought soy was a health food until it suppressed my thyroid function three years ago. My husband and I became vegetarians and ate soy-based foods constantly. We ate that type of food in large quantities every day for about a year. Six months into becoming a vegetarian, I became overly anxious and stopped sleeping. I ended up being diagnosed with subclinical hypothyroidism. I did research and found out that soy can cause thyroid issues and insomnia. There was a prison that was feeding its inmates soy-based meat and the inmates were complaining of the same symptoms that I had. I've been on thyroid medicine for three years and avoided EVERYTHING that has soy in it, which is hard. My thyroid was recently tested and I'm hyperthyroid and have been taken off my medication. I feel great and haven't felt this good since before becoming a vegetarian.
My husband, after eating large quantities of soy, developed issues with his testosterone levels. So it seems to me there may be a correlation between soy and the health issues the both of us have had. Both of us developed these issues in our early 30s.
2 MORE CAVEATS ABOUT SOY
written by LAURENCE MCFERREN, Sep 10 2011
LET'S NOT FORGET THE HIGH AMOUNTS OF COPPER AND PHENYLALANINE IN SOY, DETRIMENTAL FOR CHILDREN WITH PYRROLURIA AND/OR AUTISM. PHENYLALANINE IS A NEUROMUSCULAR POISON THAT PREVENTS THESE CHILDREN FROM HAVING ENOUGH COORDINATION TO WALK CORRECTLY OR EVEN SPEAK AT ALL. ALSO, I HAVE NOTICED MANY VEGETARIAN WOMEN AFFLICTED WITH THYROID AND BREAST CANCERS (HIGH COPPER RAISES ESTROGEN LEVELS AND IS DETRIMENTAL TO THYROID)
MILK
written by Cornelius, Sep 02 2011
"...we are the only mammals that still drink milk as adults..."
I get so tired of this glib, facile, and specious argument that is so often put forth by anti-dairy people. We may be the only animals who regularly drink milk as adults, but this is because we are the only mammals who possess the technology to do so. Other adult mammals certainly will drink milk, it is just that they are seldom given the opportunity. If you doubt this, put a bowl of milk in front of an adult mammal of any species of your choosing, and watch what happens.
MILK
written by todd wilke, Aug 07 2011
milk is for babies...we are the only mammals that still drink milk as adults...and its milk from another mammal designed for themselves.
rancher
written by Debbie P Davis, Sep 19 2010
I recently heard if soy is cooked, most of the fats that contain phyto-estrogens and trypsin inhibitors are released and cooked out. To counter the phytic acid that is not removed, Phosphorus can be added to animal feed rations. I've never read anything in Sally Fallon's materials that differentiates the nutrient densities between raw and cooked soy. Is it true that most the bad stuff is removed by cooking and what is left can be countered with supplements--or is that just a soy marketing ploy?
Reply to Dan
written by Igor, Aug 21 2010 "I can buy a whole gallon of regular milk for about $4.50. So for those who can't afford the specialty food and have to stick to either cow or soy milk, which one is better?" If you can't afford raw milk, then I wouldn't drink any milk at all (either cow's milk or artificial milks like soy or almond). I personally drink organic cow's milk which is unhomogenized and has been "pasteurized at low temperatures," since raw milk isn't legal where I live, and think it's a good product. However, I went for about 3 days drinking organic milk that was pasteurized and homogenized and had to stop because I started getting sick off it. A good rule of thumb is: if the milk sours rather than going rancid, then it's safe to drink. If you can't find any good-quality cow or goat's milk where you live at a price you can afford, then eat yogurt, kefir, and raw milk cheese. As for your general argument about price, well, one gets what one pays for. How much is your health worth to you? It always amazes me how stingy people are when it comes to diet, which is one of the most important expenses one has to make. I never hear people complain about the high cost of Heinz Ketchup, Coca Cola, Rice Krispies, frozen pizzas, or Big Macs, but Heaven forbid that one should have to spend $5 for half a gallon of something that is actually good for you and that costs quite a bit more to produce than those other items.
Second reply to David Buchanan
written by Igor, Aug 21 2010
"All of these animal hormones and antibiotics are transferred to humans, especially in the 'real milk' you promote, but also in other milk products, like cheese, butter, yogurt, etc."
Hey hothead, maybe you should actually read what the WAPF means by "real milk" before going off on a rant like that. If you knew what they meant by real milk, you'd know that real milk doesn't come from animals that have been shot up full of hormones and antibiotics.
Reply to David Buchanan
written by Igor, Aug 21 2010
"All African-Americans, American-Indians and Asians are born allergic to cow's milk."
All Asians? Is that why milk and dairy products are a staple of the Mongolian diet? "Billions of people worldwide are allergic to milk lactose." So what? Does that mean that those who aren't should avoid it?
Read the ample research provided on this site
written by Cornelius, Jun 20 2010
Wow, so many "Soy is good, because, well, it just is, and you guys are bad!" posts. This article is just a summation of other articles that are also posted on this site. And this site is here, in part, to help you shed some of the misinformation you have been fed in the past by people who have an agenda, not to promote another one. Look around before you start throwing stones.
Read the other articles that are presented on this site, which reference and in most cases provide links to the actual studies. Read the reasons that some of the pro-soy studies are biased, or poorly conducted, and therefore not good science. Read actual studies that were conducted using good scientific method in an effort to learn, rather than to promote a cause. The truth is here for you to discover, if you have the courage to let real science challenge your myths and suppositions.
none
written by mike, Jun 14 2010
Interesting article and comments. I agree with the one guy that the way the article is presented makes it sound as if Soy products are similiar to cigarettes. Which strikes me as ridiculous. Plus, the article does not distinguish between different soy products. Tempeh is traditional...it's fermented...so is this ok? No answer. Plus they say the "average" consumption in asia(including Japan and China) is such a low amount. Well, if you include the Chinese, where most of them exist near poverty levels and maybe certain types of soy are to expensive to purchase. What if you just looked at Japan? I enjoy the site for the questions it raises, although the logic is far from air air tight.
Hmmmm.... Suspicious
written by JM Wong, May 23 2010
It's kinda dubious that almost ALL of the myths are positive and the truths are negative about soy. Is this site a soy hater? or an animal's milk promoter? At first, I wanted to believe in it but as I read along, I got bored because it seems that they are saying SOY can kill you... like cigarettes.
Some studies to consider before trusting in "facts" regarding soy
written by Gary Clack, May 02 2010
http://scholar.google.com/scho...as_sdtp=on
Strange that worldwide research, outside of US agri-business interests seems to indicate the protective and healing effect of soy products with regard to cancer rather than support your "facts".
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written by not-rocket-science, Apr 26 2010
I gave up eating meat about 3 years ago- while I still consume eggs, and dairy products, I have found that it is folly to rely too heavily on any one source for what my diet is now missing.
While soy probably does have its fair share of adverse effects, I would imagine that further study into almost any food would result in similar finding. There are no 'magic' food. Some things are better than others, but to claim anything besides balance will result in 'health' is foolish. Our bodies require moderation and diversity. Be smart about what you put into your body, obviously something that humans haven't 'messed around with' (read: processed) is going to be better for you than something they haven't. But ultimately it is up to you to make sure your body is getting everything it needs. I look at people like my parents, who spend countless hours reading, talking, and thinking about their finances- but won't give their diets or health a second thought until their doctor warns them of trouble. Are soy beans a perfect vegetarian staple? definitely not. But can they contribute toward a balanced diet for someone lacking animals? hope so. ps- don't forget a multivitamin or two
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written by Candace Beringer, Apr 23 2010
I want to know if eating Tempeh... a fermented soy is safe, does that have a Phytic Acid reaction like processed Tofu?
Tofu has calcium carbonate (a binding agent)added in... which upon further research found it is "Plaster of Paris" which explains why it has constipating results. Thanks for the years of research.
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written by Emily and Laura Matthews, Apr 19 2010
Edward, the survey cited by Weil was on MEN, not boys. To give soy formula to babies or to growing boys is to give them equivalents of birth control pills! Would you give your growing boys oral contraceptives?
funding
written by stephanie, Apr 05 2010
It would be illogical to say that there isn't any research out there that supports soy and its amazing "health benefits". However, and this is an important point, this expensive research has to be funded by somebody. There is a huge link between who funded the research and the conclusion of that research. (see one example of that here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pm...ool=pubmed) Be discerning. Then avoid soy!
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written by marti klever, Apr 03 2010
Whenever I read across-the-board negatives about any product, I am always suspicious.
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written by Dan, Mar 20 2010
I included the discussion about this topic on my blog. Check it out. I want to learn more about this topic. Please discuss and comment.
@Beto
written by Dan, Mar 18 2010
Your arguments made sense until you started addressing the bovine estrogen and hormones issue. Just because Weston A. Price Foundation has a long history and is more trustworthy than other places doesn't mean that this organization is always right. They are indeed run by humans and therefore not infallible. Then you started talking about raw milk and how great it is. However when I looked up the price of raw milk from the only place in NYC, I was taken aback by how expensive raw milk is: $5 for 1/2 a gallon!(goat milk is even more expensive)
I can buy a whole gallon of regular milk for about $4.50. So for those who can't afford the specialty food and have to stick to either cow or soy milk, which one is better? Even though more research is still needed, lets say that indeed soy has the harmful effects stated in this article. But cow milk has its own set of evils. So I believe the real question is which one is the lesser of two evils?
The superpositional state of nutrional truth: If it works for anybody, it works for everybody.
written by Edward, Mar 16 2010
I'm an avid consumer of health and lifestyle information and I've come to realize that every viewpoint imaginable has educationally pedigreed , sophisticated, and erudite proponents. A case in point concerning soy is the following excerpt taken from Dr. Andrew Weil's response to a question regarding whether soy can cause the feminization of boys:
"In March 2002 the Journal of Nutrition published results of a survey of men consuming soy foods or supplements containing 40-70 milligrams of isoflavones (the phytogenic components). None of the studies showed that consuming soy had any effects on reproductive hormones or semen quality, both changes that you might expect to see before any overt "feminization" would occur." How does one explain these discrepancies? Obviously the Price Foundation is utterly convicted concerning their viewpoints and with scientific studies galore to back them up. And Dr. Weil and others are similarly armed as well, I'm sure. So what the hay?! The answer to this dilemma seems to be this: try it and see. If you feel better, look better, perform better and are happier then it must be working. There's something that these studies seem to ignore and that's that the heterogeneity of the human response to input. Medications are an excellent example of this: some medications work almost across the board and some just don't. Same with food: there are across the board prescriptions such as eat fruits and vegetables and stay away from transfats. But beyond this, any categorical dietary presciption for the entire human race that doesn't acknowledge the heterogeneity of the human response seems provincial to say the least.
Former Herbalife distributor
written by Ryan , Mar 01 2010
What about JAMA's recent finding that soy decreased the risk of reoccurring breast cancer in women? JAMA Dec 09
@David Buchanan, Feb 18 2010
written by Beto, Feb 27 2010
"I agree that soy protein isolate products should be removed from the market, they are full of artifical ingredients. But if you include a soy protein concentrate in this catagory, you are wrong."
OK, David, where is your scientific evidence of this statement? Perhaps soy protein concentrate is not "full of artificial ingredients" but ALL unfermented soy products contain thyroid suppressive and estrogenic compounds, protein inhibitors, mineral disruptors etc etc. And this does include soy protein concentrate as well, David. "No one has developed diabetes, heart disease or cancer from eating concentrated soy protein with fiber, but they have from dairy products." Again where's your scientific proof, David? I will say that the overwhelming majority of the scientific studies done with animal flesh and dairy, are done using commercially produced products that are vastly inferior and dangerous compared to naturally fed & pastured organic &/or wild products. "Milk proteins have long been associated with triggering diabetes". – New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of Pediatrics. However, "50% of all children in the U.S. are allergic to cow's milk". – Natural Health, July 1994, Nathanel Mead, MD." Well, goat milk & goat yogurt/kefir have loads of health benefits & none of the allergenic properties of cow's milk. I've friends who were truly "allergic" to pasteurized, homogenized commercial or even organic cows milk,cheese who have no issues w/ raw, organic pastured full fat milk, raw cheeses and yogurt. See any patterns here? Commercial dairy & meat/poultry products are not anything close in comparison to their organic, free-range, pastured, wild alternatives. "All African-Americans, American-Indians and Asians are born allergic to cow's milk. Billions of people worldwide are allergic to milk lactose." And more people worldwide consume goat's milk daily than cow's milk. Some Africans like the Maasai do drink cow blood(live!) and raw milk daily, and have done so for many generations, and they gain strength & longevity from these crucial sources of calories, proteins, fats and enzymes. And non-muslim Africans, African nomadic tribes with camels and horses, and Mongols too. My point: there are/have been some Africans and some Asians who have consumed raw milk (& blood) to survive and thrive. www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hematophagy http://www.taa.org.uk/TAAScotland/LivestockasfoodforpastoralistsinAfrica2001.htm "Congress has passed legislation to allow dairy farmers to inject Bovine Growth Hormone (BVH) and Bovine Estrogen into dairy cows to increase milk production. Dairy farmers and cattle ranchers also use pig and bovine (BN-99) insulin to make their cattle gain weight for slaughter. A calf grows from 100 lbs to over 1,000 lbs. in 180 days eating genetically modified corn. These cows develope diabetes and require hugh amounts of antibiotics to kill infections. All of these animal hormones and antibiotics are transferred to humans, especially in the "real milk" you promote, but also in other milk products, like cheese, butter, yogurt, etc." C'mon, get real dude! This site, westonaprice.org, has for many long years been promoting highest quality animal quality flesh and dairy products, which are healing/strengthening for the humans consuming them, and less damaging for the planet from low impact, green practices on such farms & businesses. I've always had mucus coating my mouth,& in my sinuses & throat after consuming commercial cow's milk and cheeses since childhood. And I drank LOADS of commercial milk until age 15 throughout my entire childhood. When I was in India for 6 months in 1997 @ age 32, I noticed the fresh, unpasteurized, non-homogenized daily milk and curds(yogurt) I consumed caused me ABSOLUTELY NO MUCUS and was an important and yummy part of my daily diet there! Unfortunately, most Indians are consuming mass produced dairy products similar to ours and the family cow has largely disappeared. Though it can be searched for & found obviously there. I was vegan/vegetarian for 17 years, and I got weak, thin & pale from deficiencies. Now I eat a modified Primal diet I can live happily with: I eat a lot of veggies, some nuts,some coconut & olives and olive oil, some fruits and very little grains. I eat generous amounts of avocados, wild seafood, organic organ meats, some raw dairy, and loads of organic spices and medicinal mushrooms. I am happy and healthier than when I was in the latter part of my veganism.
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