Long and Profitable History

For more than 5,000 years, soy has been a food staple in several Asian countries. Even tofu can trace its roots to second century China. Europe was introduced to soy in the 1700s and the U.S. in the 1800s. It was during World War II that soy began to be cultivated on a large scale in the U.S. where it continues to be grown in large quantities. According to SoyStats (2007), soybeans were planted on 75.5 million acres in 2006, producing a record 3.188 billion bushels of soybeans. The total 2006 crop value exceeded $19.7 billion. U.S. soybean and product exports were $8.9 billion in 2006. Domestically, soybeans provided 75 percent of the edible consumption of fats and oils in the U.S. It is therefore no exaggeration to say that the soy industry is a billion dollar industry that is both well-organized and well funded.

A Difference of Opinion

If you were to ask the American Soybean Association, they would reiterate what they have posted on their website in regards to soybeans and that is their belief that it is a “miracle crop” –the world's foremost provider of protein and oil. Soy is not only used in animal foods, but in human foods as well. Baby foods, breads, pancakes, noodles, cereals, cheese, gravies and mayo are just a handful of items that contain soy-based ingredients.

Speak with the people at Soy Online Services (http://www.soyonlineservice.co.nz) and you are likely to walk away with a completely different view of this so-called miracle crop. According to this independent group (and many other health professionals and scientists), soy is not fit for human consumption. In fact, it can prove to be downright toxic to your well-being.

Toxic to Your Health

Over the past decade, more and more research has surfaced regarding the dangers of soy. Soy has been linked to a variety of conditions including infertility, breast cancer, hypothyroidism, thyroid cancer and brain aging (atrophy). What is more surprising is the fact that you do not have to ingest large quantities to put yourself in harms way. In many cases, as little as 30 grams (2 tablespoons) per day can cause major health problems.

What’s wrong with soy?

Soy contains high levels of phytic acid, trypsin inhibitors, toxic lysinalanine, antithyroid agents and highly carcinogenic nitrosamines. Each brings with it their own unique set of issues. For instance, phytic acid reduces the body’s ability to assimilate calcium, magnesium, copper, iron and zinc. Trypsin inhibitors interfere with protein digestion and may lead to pancreatic disorders. Phytoestrogens disrupt endocrine function and have the potential to cause infertility and promote breast cancer in women. Antithyroid agents cause hypothyroidism which can potentially lead to thyroid cancer.

Unfortunately, soy’s negative effects do not end there. Other health concerns related to soy include:

• Increases the body’s requirement for Vitamin D.
• Vitamin B12 analogs in soy are not absorbable and actually increase the body’s requirement for B12.
• Soy protein processing results in the formation of toxic lysinalanine and highly carcinogenic nitrosamines.
• Contains high levels of aluminum which is toxic to the nervous system and kidneys.
• And the list goes on and on…

The Scientific Evidence

While the soy industry would like consumers to believe that soy is healthy, the scientific evidence is mounting and pointing to a very different conclusion. Here are just a few of the studies regarding soy:

• Hawaiian study of Japanese Americans conducted by Dr. Lon White in 1999 established a significant relationship between two or more servings of tofu a week and accelerated brain aging (atrophy).
• Japanese researchers in a report published in 1991 found high rates of thyroid cancer in Asians who consumed as little as 30 grams (2 tablespoons) of soybeans per day. They found that within as little as one month, test subjects showed a significant decrease in thyroid-stimulating hormones.
• The Swiss Federal Health Service issued a warning regarding soy baby formula after finding it contained the dose-equivalent of an adult woman taking up to ten birth control pills a day. That means within the first year of life, a baby consuming soy baby formula will have a total anti-fertility dose of 100 Pill-equivalents.

How much is too much?

As the research suggests, as little as 30 grams per day can have a significant and negative impact on the health of an adult. For babies and children, soy should not even be ingested in any form. Adults still attached to their soy products should be aware that 30 grams of soy isoflavones is found in as little as a:

• 0.3 to 0.7 oz. serving of soybeans and soy flours
• 1.8 to 3.9 oz. serving of Tofu
• 5.3 to 8.5 oz serving of soy milks
• 1.2 to 1.6 oz. serving of Miso
• 2.8 oz. service of soybean sprouts

Like the old football adage, the best defense is a strong offense. Block the possible harmful effects of soy by educating yourself to the potential dangers. Read your food labels and avoid or severely restrict soy-based foods whenever possible. This is not always easy since many products contain soy, but more and more soy-free foods are hitting the market every year.

It’s easy to get discouraged when reading about food dangers such as these, but do not become disheartened. Eating right and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is possible. Hopefully one day, it won’t be as challenging and food manufacturers will finally wake up and smell the coffee, but until that day comes we will just have to persevere and remain diligent in what we eat.