Page 26 - Spring2013

At candies, is made from beetles, and is very high food supply. In 1971 soy became a fixture in

high doses in aluminum. Both synthetic and natural dyes school lunches when the USDA authorized the
put in food often provoke allergic reactions and use of texturized vegetable protein (TVP) made
caffeine psychiatric symptoms among vulnerable indi- from soy to meet the requirement for two ounces
74
can worsen viduals. of cooked meat for the Type A school lunch. This
allows up to 30 percent soy in finished meat prod-
anxiety and CAFFEINE ucts prepared for young children. (These percent-
The average American drinks over twenty-
ages are 40 percent and even higher in prisons.)
trigger mania six gallons of coffee a year. Coffee contains Under the theme, “Soy Goes to School,” the soy
or psychosis, caffeine and over three hundred other chemicals. industry commissioned a number of articles that

confusion, Cola drinks also contain caffeine along with a appeared in the School Lunch Journal and other
large dose of sugar or aspartame. Caffeine is publications to convince the audience that soy
headache, addictive, increasing homocysteine, dopamine, was a good idea, because it was “high in protein

seeing cortisol, energy metabolism and norephineph- and low in fat.” The effort goes on to this day in
rine, while reducing the blood flow in the brain an attempt to convince the general public that
flashes, and decreasing serotonin levels. 75 children like soy foods. The low cost factor was
81
Caffeine causes insulin spikes and increased emphasized as a “cost breakthrough.” But you
psychomotor blood sugar in diabetics or prediabetics. Caffeine get what you pay for. Adaptations for using soy
agitation and will cause a small rise in blood sugar after meals. in favorite school recipes were provided: chili,

depression. It causes urinary excretion of calcium, magne- spaghetti, lasagna, meat loaf, pizza, Spanish rice
sium and potassium and thus affects brain me-
and chicken pie.
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tabolism. Caffeine is a stimulant and a diuretic. Soy burgers are loaded with MSG, along
At high doses it can worsen anxiety and trigger with artificial flavorings, to give them some sem-
mania or psychosis, confusion, headache, seeing blance of taste. During processing, soy is washed
flashes, psychomotor agitation and depression. 74 in aluminum tanks, which leaches aluminum into
the product. It is well known that aluminum can
SOY IN THE DIET OF have adverse effects on brain development and
INFANTS AND CHILDREN cause antisocial behavior and learning disabili-
Soy-based formula has been in use for more ties. Some processes also use hexane, which is
than thirty years. The average baby on soy-based a toxic carcinogen. 82
formula receives the equivalent of five birth Soy is considered one of the top five aller-
control pills a day. 77 genic foods, not a good choice for a child who
Excessive estrogens fed to rats during the already has food sensitivities. Babies who are
fetal period leads to aggressiveness, problem fed soy-based formula are already at risk for be-
behaviors and hyperactivity, all precursors to havioral problems, food allergies, early puberty,
violent behavior. Excessive estrogens in baby asthma, gynecomastia (male breast development)
boys may lead to problem behaviors later in life. and thyroid disease. 83
Babies on soy formula develop a zinc imbal-
ance. Zinc has a role in metabolism of fatty acids ALCOHOL AND VIOLENT BEHAVIOR
in the brain and in the myelination of neuronsns. The consumption of alcohol increases the
Low levels can cause a deficiency in essential likelihood of violent behavior and is involved
fatty acids. When zinc and EFAs are deficient, in half of all murders, assaults and rapes. Binge
there may be more chance for brain injury. drinking―consuming four or more drinks in one
There is also no cholesterol in soy-based sitting for females and five or more drinks for
formula. Cholesterol is needed for the architec- males―causes thinning of the pre-frontal cor-
ture of the brain. Soy-based formula is also tex, the section of the brain related to functions
78
extremely high in manganese, a mineral that can such as paying attention, planning and making
cause aggression and violent behavior in later decisions, processing emotions and controlling
years. 79 impulses leading to irrational behavior. Binge
Soy, like sugar, is a major ingredient in the drinking causes insulin resistance and has spe-
26 Wise Traditions SPRING 2013 SPRING 2013 Wise Traditions