The skinny on soy

comments from our community

• 
  Posted by EverybodySafe Thu Jul 16, 2009 5:06am PDT

  Marie, Thanks for posting the facts on this. There are a lot of myths and conflicting reports regarding soy. To me, balance is the key. Yes, I'll eat soy, but it's not all I eat either. I try to maintain balance with everything in my diet. Chocolate would not be good for me if I ate it all day, but it would certainly taste good :-) Kris

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by Chelsea Sun Jul 19, 2009 6:44pm PDT

  I have heard that cancer myth a lot- thanks for the facts.

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by Kimbot Mon Jul 20, 2009 5:13pm PDT

  I afraid I must politely disagree with the idea that soy actually reduces the levels of estrogen in the body. There have been many studies conducted regarding infants being fed soy based formulas, & the results I've seen clearly show amazingly high levels of estrogen in these babies, which decreases drastically when the soy is eliminated from their diets. I myself was riddled with uteral & ovarian fibroid tumors 6 months ago. After researching, & choosing to put off surgery to remove them, I came to the conclusion the estrogen in the soy I was eating (in moderation, I might add) was "feeding" my tumors. The only change I made in my lifestyle/eating habits at that point was to virtually eliminate soy from my diet. The tumors, including one the size of a baseball, died within 1 month. I find it very difficult, if not impossible, to explain that any other logical way. :~)

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by oser.marie Tue Jul 21, 2009 3:01pm PDT

  Thank you for your comments. I am happy that you have experienced such a remarkable, spontaneous recovery. However, regarding your assessment of soy infant formulas, I respectfully disagree. Certainly, breastfeeding offers the absolute best nutrition available during the first year or two of life. That being said, the issues you reference are at best, theoretical. Other than in lab animals, there are no accepted, case-controlled studies that demonstrate a relationship between abnormal development and infant soy formula. In fact, a major study published in the August 2001 Journal of the American Medical Association* (JAMA) found that “Exposure to soy formula does not appear to lead to different general health or reproductive outcomes than exposure to cow milk formula.” The study evaluated 811 men and women between 20 and 34 years of age who had participated in soy and cow's milk studies as infants. No significant differences were found between the groups who were evaluated in more than 30 areas of health. *Brian L. Strom; Rita Schinnar; Ekhard E. Ziegler; Kurt T. Barnhart; Mary D. Sammel; George A. Macones; Virginia A. Stallings; Jean M. Drulis; Steven E. Nelson; Sandra A. Hanson Exposure to Soy-Based Formula in Infancy and Endocrinological and Reproductive Outcomes in Young Adulthood JAMA, Aug 2001; 286: 807 - 814.

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by Jack Burton Tue Jul 21, 2009 3:02pm PDT

  Good to know - Soy was an acquired taste for me but was sold on the 'health benefits' until friends said it increased the risk of cancer - thanks for the tip!

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by Lazaro Gonzales Tue Jul 21, 2009 3:20pm PDT

  I've heard the Alzheimer's myth, and I admit thinking twice about eating anything with soy in it. I love tofu and this article has made me feel a little more confident about my soy consumption. Thanks for busting the myths!!!

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by Kimbot Tue Jul 21, 2009 6:04pm PDT

  oser.marie, thank you so much for your kind comments regarding my recovery. My fear is this article giving a false sense of security to some regarding soy products. Many more long-term studies are required to determine the lasting effects of soy on the human body, that is indisputable. Personally: #1. Just because the government/medical community says something is "safe", doesn't necessarily make it so. #2. Myself as well as my children will not be used as guinea pigs while the long-term effects of anything are being determined. That being said, it seems the study cited omitted certain information: http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/extract/286/19/2402 and: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2001/09/15/soy-formula-part-two.aspx As EverybodySafe mentioned, for most, balance is key. No matter what, always listen & respond to what your body is telling you. Namaste :~)

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by oser.marie Tue Jul 21, 2009 8:09pm PDT

  Namaste` I appreciate the opportunity to clear up the confusion caused by a vicious smear campaign meant to discredit soy. As you may have heard, replacing unhealthy animal products with plant foods is good for you and good for the planet. More than 5,000 years of Asian history, where a hale and hearty population consume soy in its many forms daily, stand as a testament to the safe and nutritious nature of the mighty soybean. Do not believe those who say that Asians do not eat much soy. The URLs you suggest are not linked to peer reviewed studies or credited expert comments. For instance: http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/extract/286/19/2402 does not indict the widely respected scientific study in question, but instead is a link to an obscure letter to the editor. (no signature). http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2001/09/15/soy-formula-part-two.aspx is a page that does not allow the viewer to read the content on the page unless they subscribe to Dr Mercola's newsletter. (turn-off) I was able to see a reference to Mary Enig of the Weston Price Foundation, an organization that was founded in 1999 and named for a long deceased dentist, Weston A. Price, DDS (1870-1948) whose life work was in studying the diet of primitive peoples, and tooth decay caused by introducing processed foods into the diet. The Weston A. Price Foundation is led by Sally Fallon and Mary Enig and has been a singular source of the ongoing campaign to discredit soy with unfounded claims and misinformation, while promoting a dietary regimen high in dairy and meat consumption as healthful and nutritious. They have made soy-bashing their personal cottage industry and promote dietary guidelines that include : Eat only foods that will spoil, but eat them before they do. This is what bestselling author John Robbins has to say about the Weston A.Price Foundation, "The more I’ve gotten to know the Weston A. Price Foundation, the less I’ve felt that it is actually carrying on the spirit or the work of the man in whose name it purports to function. For one example, Price never once mentioned the words “soy,” “soybean,” “tofu,” or “soy milk” in his 500 page opus, and spoke quite positively about lentils and other legumes, yet the foundation has taken it upon itself to be vehemently and aggressively anti-soy, calling soy foods “more insidious than hemlock.”

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by Farmer Rich Wed Jul 22, 2009 3:41am PDT

  You didn't mention what I consider to be a big isssue for soy - that 80% of soy on the market today is genetically modified. The current genetic modification allows roundup, a herbicide, to accumulate in the plant without killing the plant. However, the long term effects on humans are poorly tested by our loose regulations. In the US, the regulations say 'prove it causes harm before banning it' but in Europe and other countries, a more cautious approach is taken. Our GM crops are banned in many countries, so it seems to me hard to compare 'Asian' soy with US soy in our diets. Could you research this further for future articles? Perhaps an expose of FDA's regulatory approach? See www.futureoffood.com, www.seedsofdeception.com www.responsibletechnology.org www.ucsusa.org among many other sources.

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by camo2pac Wed Jul 22, 2009 7:37am PDT

  Balance, balance, balance. Growing up my mom always stressed that our dinners pass the "color test" - meaning not every item on the plate could be the same color, creating a diverse and balanced meal. I believe that soy is an excellent protein alternative to meat and is versatile in the kitchen, it can be served in any number of ways. Now that I'm in college I try to incorporate my mother's cooking advice when I prepare food for myself, and like her, soy is a cornerstone of my diet.

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by camo2pac Wed Jul 22, 2009 7:45am PDT

  An underlying point of this article that I never knew about was that "soy bashing" actually exists. I had never heard of any smear campaign against soy, or that dairy and meat proponents are actively against soy. I mean the financial benefits for the dairy and meat camp to run such a campaign against soy are clear, I had just never noticed it before. It's too bad that industries stoop so low as to making up lies about soy that involve cancer, a disease that has touched everyone in some degree in such a personal and emotion way. Preying upon America's fear and vulnerability is not a positive way to increase the popularity of 2%.

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by Melanie Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:02am PDT

  Interesting, I had never heard of people talking negatively about soy. I am a vegetarian and my doctor told me I should eat soybeans as a snack to increase protein levels. I've been eating them ever since and haven't noticed any negative side effects.

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by Stephanie Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:07am PDT

  I've relied on soy as a meat-alternative ever since I went vegetarian due to health reasons (high cholesterol). To me, it's a great meat alternative, provides protein, and if prepared well tastes good too. I switched my kids from chicken nuggets to soy nuggets and they don't even know (shhhhhh)!

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by Justin Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:17am PDT

  I've heard some negative rumors about soy before but never really believed them. There are also a lot of issues related to soy cultivation. it requires heavy pesticide and herbicide use, and there has been tragic deforestation to grow soy. 86% of commercial soy in america in 2006 was genetically modified. good article.

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by oser.marie Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:57am PDT

  The GMO issue is an important one with regard to all produce. Any crop that is not organically grown can contain pesticide residues. Conventionally grown soybeans may likely be genetically modified, however by definition, organic soybeans cannot be genetically modified. At the very least, always look for the non-GMO label.

  Report Abuse