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By Kate Crosby, B.S., C.N.P Have you ever wondered whether
the current craze for SOY is healthy? Once a client declared, as she raised her ubiquitous white and green paper cup, "This
is decaf coffee with SOY MILK. I just wanted you to know." She was assuming I thought that was a good way to drink coffee.
And yes, it was great that she left behind the flavored syrups with high fructose corn syrup and the fake creamers with trans-fats,
but what about that soy milk? Let's take a look at soy. Originally, soy was used in Asia as a cover crop to enrich soil. It was
much later that Asians used it to season and enrich their meals. In the West, soy was used first by industries to make paper
coatings, glues and even as a fire-fighting foam. Around the 1950s, food companies started producing soy isolate and soy lecithin.
Currently, you can find soy in many foods including soups, imitation meats, non-dairy creamers, infant formulas, cereals and
protein powders. If you are allergic to soy, you know just how difficult it is to find foods that do not contain soy. It is
everywhere. Health Claims about Soy Some sources have suggested that soy is a good source of protein that can reduce cholesterol and
diminish hot flashes. Let's look at these claims more closely. - Soy has been advertised as an inexpensive protein alternative,
especially for vegetarians, because it is high in protein and it contains all the amino acids, making it appear to be a complete
protein. However, we cannot use soy to make our muscles, bones or hair as well as we can utilize meat, eggs or fish.
- In 1999, the FDA approved soy as a food to reduce cholesterol
and heart disease; however, to get these results the FDA recommends eating a pound of tofu daily (a serving size is 3 ounces)!
In 2005, the American Heart Association officially disagreed with that claim after reviewing many studies claiming soy's benefits.
This panel also found that soy was not effective at reducing hot flashes or reducing cancers of the breast, uterus or prostate.
- It was believed that soy could reduce hot
flashes, but Reuters (Reuters, May 17, 2010) reports that after an analysis of nineteen studies using soy to reduce hot flashes
in post menopausal women, the evidence is inconclusive.
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Soy is also used in formulas for infants who are sensitive to cow's milk and are not being breastfed. There are concerns that
soy infant formula may be contributing to the early puberty in girls and the late puberty in some boys. Studies also show
that using soy formula may stress our immune systems later in life. In light of these findings, in 2005, Israel joined France,
New Zealand, and Australia in recommending limited use of soy in young children and if possible, avoiding it all together.
Health
Concerns about Soy At Nutritional Weight & Wellness, we recommend that our clients are cautious in using soy for
several reasons. - Soy is difficult to digest, which can cause gas, bloating and general discomfort. Fermented
forms of soy, such as miso, tempeh or soy sauce are more easily digested than non-fermented soy foods.
- Ninety-three percent of the U.S. soy has been genetically
modified--a process whereby a crop is altered by a virus or bacteria with a desired trait, such as resistance to
a weed killer. We have only been using genetically modified (GM) foods for the past decade so we do not know the long term
effects of these foods on our health. One concern is an increase in allergies.
- Soy can interfere with thyroid function, which may affect your metabolism.
- Soy contains phytoestrogens. These are the chemicals
that can mimic estrogen in our bodies. I mentioned the concerns about soy's effects on puberty and on the immune system that
parents of newborns have. However, adults have other reasons to be wary of the phystoestrogens in soy.
- The phystoestrogens in unfermented soy can block the absorption
of minerals like calcium, magnesium and zinc. That soy milk, those protein bars and protein powders that so many of us use
to improve our health may in fact be preventing us from building strong bones (calcium), relaxing (magnesium) or preventing
the flu (zinc).
- According to Cancer Research,
phytoestrogens may be carcinogenic--raising questions about the safety of consuming soy.
- Soy decreases sperm counts and testosterone levels. In 2010, Dr. Chavarro, M.D.
from Harvard University, reported in the Journal of Human Reproduction that there was a strong association between
men's consumption of soy and decreased sperm counts. Others have noted that testosterone levels decrease with soy consumption.
Let's
summarize these findings. Soy can interfere with thyroid function. It is difficult to digest and does not allow us to fully
absorb minerals. Soy has an estrogenic effect-reducing fertility in men, it does not conclusively reduce hot flashes or protect
us from reproductive cancers. And as an infant formula, soy may cause early puberty in girls or late puberty in boys or stress
our immune system. It really is not a complete protein that works in our bodies. So, soy milk in your coffee may be doing
nothing beneficial for you and may have some serious unwanted effects. Traditionally soy was used as a condiment in its fermented forms-as
soy sauce, or miso in soups or small amounts of tempeh with rice and vegetables. Asian cultures use soy sparingly and traditionally.
Soy milk, soy powders or protein bars do not exist in their diet. Research reveals that soy's benefits are inconclusive and
may in fact prove to be harmful. If you like soy, use it sparingly, as a condiment or according to the recommendations of
your nutritionist.
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