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than done. Isoflavone content varies greatly from one batch of soybeans REFERENCES
to another, much to the dismay of the soy industry, which finds it cannot 1. Westmark CJ, Westmark PR, Malter JS. Soy-based diet ex-
acerbates seizures in mouse models of neurological disease.
reliably minimize risks or maximize alleged benefits. Predicting isofla- J Alzeimer's Dis. 2012 Oct 3. [Epub ahead of print]1–104: 20.
vone content remains elusive because the levels are influenced by many 2. Daniel, Kaayla T. The Whole Soy Story: The Dark Side of
America’s Favorite Health Food (Washington DC, New
factors, including crop year, geographical location, number of daylight Trends, 2005) 251-258, 307-308, 355, 371-372.
hours, temperature, humidity, rain, fertilizers, types of pathogens and the 3. Westmark et al.
Daniel, Kaayla T. The Soy-ling of America: Second Hand
4.
plant’s response to attack or disease. Soy in Animal Feeds http://www.wholesoystory.com/soy-
24
The significance of research on diet and seizures cannot be overstated. ling-of-america-second-hand-soy-from-animal-feeds/This
article can also be found at www.westonaprice.org and www.
The Westmark study provides sobering figures: Seizures occur along with farmtoconsumer.org.
Alzheimer’s disease in 10 to 22 percent of patients; Fragile X Syndrome, 5. For more information about the Israeli, French and German
warnings: http://www.wholesoystory.com/israeli-health-
18 to 23 percent; Down syndrome, 8 percent; autism, 21 to 38 percent; ministry-issues-soy-warning/;http://www.wholesoystory.
and traumatic brain injury, 53 percent.” 25 com/french-government-to-require-warning-labels-on-soy-
foods/;http://www.wholesoystory.com/german-consumer-
Expanding on Dr. Westmark’s warning in Translational Medicine watchdog-organization-warns-citizens-about-the-dangers-
about the risks of high-soy diets during pregnancy, infancy and early 6. of-soy-infant-formula-and-soy-isoflavone-supplements/
Daniel, Kaayla T. The Whole Soy Story, 353-354.
childhood, the current study includes this warning: 7. For more information about the lawsuit: http://www.
westonaprice.org/press/experts-denounce-high-soy-
diet-of-illinois-prisoners; www.westonaprice.org/press/
“High exposure to estrogenic compounds during fetal and soy-in-illinois-prisons-case; www.westonaprice.org/press/
early childhood development through soy-based food products press-release-2008nov18]; www.westonaprice.org/press/
press-release-2009jul13; www.westonaprice.org/press/
could disrupt the function of the natural steroid hormones and judge-gives-green-light-to-soy-lawsuit.
contribute to the high incidence of seizures associated with many 8. Lambert NK, Young QD. Increased prevalence of seizure
disorders among prisoners. JAMA, 1978; 239 (25); 2674-2675.
childhood, neurological disorders including autism and FXS (Frag- doi:10.1001/jama.1978.03280520046016.
ile X Syndrome). Understanding the role of soy constituents, such 9. Westmark et al.
10. www.mayoclinic.com/health/epilepsy/DS00342?
as daidzein, on AβPP (amyloid-β protein precursor) synthesis and 11. Westmark et al.
metabolism and modulation of intake during pregnancy and infancy 12. Ibid.
13. http://www.waisman.wisc.edu/people/pi/Westmark_Cara.
could reduce seizure incidence and prevent neurological damage.” 26 html
14. Westmark, Cara J. Editorial: Concocting the right diet for
brain health. Translational Medicine, 2011, 1:3. http://dx.doi.
Westmark and co-authors furthermore report work in progress in org/10.4172/2161-1025.1000106e
which the data—as yet unpublished—point to higher incidence of febrile 15. Sugiyama K, Ohkawa S, Muramatsu K. Relationship between
amino acid composition of diet and plasma cholesterol level
seizures in autistic children fed soy-based formula. in growing rats fed a high cholesterol diet. J Nutri Vitaminol
27
(Tokyo), 1986, 2, 4, 413-433.
The current study states that more research is needed and concludes, 16. Sugiyama K, Muramatsu K.J Significance of the amino acid
“Thus, a clearer understanding of the environmental factors, such as soy, composition of dietary protein in the regulation of plasma
that modulate synaptic AβPP levels may provide a dietary intervention to cholesterol. Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 1990, 36 Suppl
2:S105-10.
reduce Aβ levels and seizures.” 17. The Weston A. Price Foundation submitted a 65-page peti-
27
What to do in the meantime? Those smart enough to value their brain tion to the FDA asking the agency to retract the 1999 soy/
heart health claim, written by Kaayla T. Daniel, PhD, and
health will say “better safe than sorry” and cut way back on soy! signed by Kilmer S. McCully MD, Mary G. Enig, PhD, Galen
D. Knight, PhD, and Sally Fallon Morell, president of the
Weston A. Price Foundation. It is available online at: www.
The author's gratitude goes to Sylvia Onusic, PhD, for research assistance. westonaprice.org/soy-alert/soy-heart-health-claim.
18. Westmark et al.
19. Ibid.
Kaayla T. Daniel, PhD, CCN, is The Naughty Nutritionist because of 20. Ibid.
her ability to outrageously and humorously debunk nutritional myths. A 21. Ibid.
22. Email from Russell Blaylock, MD, to Kaayla T. Daniel, PhD,
popular guest on radio and television, she has appeared on The Dr. Oz October 7, 2012.
Show, ABC’s View from the Bay, NPR’s People’s Pharmacy, PBS Healing 23. Daniel, The Whole Soy Story, 128.
24. Daniel, The Whole Soy Story, 295-299.
Quest, and numerous other shows. Dr. Daniel is the author of The Whole 25. Westmark et al.
Soy Story: The Dark Side of America’s Favorite Health Food, a popular 26. Ibid.
27. Ibid.
speaker at Wise Traditions and other conferences, vice president of the
Weston A. Price Foundation, and recipient of its 2005 Integrity in Science
Award. Subscribe to her edu-taining "naughty nutrition" blogs at www.
drkaayladaniel.com. Her other website is www.wholesoystory.com, and
her blog posts can be read at www.westonaprice.org as well.

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