THE TRUTH ABOUT SOY
by Lynn Foutch, C.M.T.

Today many people are looking for new ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle through changes in diet, etc. One very popular way is replacing conventional dairy products with soy-based products. Eating tofu and drinking soy milk is healthful, right? After all, every time you open a magazine or health conscious publication, soy is constantly touted as a cornerstone of the modern healthy diet. Well, set down your glass of soy milk and read on, because recent research and facts will change your mind about really how healthy that soy product is and how health officials and soy producers sometimes “alter” the facts about soy products and health.

Probably the most common misconception about soy is: Soy is the cornerstone of the Asian diet. The role of soy products in the Asian diet is regularly exaggerated, by everyone from health and fitness magazines to dietitians, not to mention the actual manufacturers and producers advertising.

In the Orient, people actually, on the average, only consume approximately 10 grams (two teaspoons) of soy per day. In actuality, soy is primarily used as a condiment, like we use mustard or relish in this country. Soy is not used as a replacement for an animal protein source or as a meal. In addition, the type of soy consumed is different than the way it’s eaten here in the west. In Asian cultures, soy is fermented, not consumed raw. So many of the problems listed below, with the exception of the phytoestrogens, are thus eliminated.

The soy we eat in the U.S. is actually unhealthy. Yes, even though all of the advertising and mainstream media constantly talks about soy helping to “prevent osteoporosis, heart disease and cancer,” the reality could not be farther from the truth. The key difference is fermentation. Unfermented, or raw soy, actually contain what we could call “anti-nutrients.” The anti-nutrients contained in soy are phytates, trypsin inhibitors and phytoestrogens.

The following is the resulting actions from these anti-nutrients in soy: Phytates reduce the assimilation of the minerals copper, iron, calcium, zinc and magnesium, creating deficiencies. Trypsin inhibitors can make digesting proteins problematic and can lead to pancreatic disorders. Phytoestrogens are potent anti-thyroid agents that can interfere with the endocrine system, along with causing menstruation problems in women. Also, phytoestrogens, along with PCBs and DDE, have been known to contribute to premature pubescent development of girls and in boys, can retard sexual development and even cause learning disabilities.

Other recent studies show that the high amounts of phytoestrogens in soy can be a potent anti-thyroid agent and endocrine disruptor, resulting in problems like low thyroid function in women during post-menopausal years. In addition, cancerous tumors that require large amounts of estrogen can also feed off of the phytoestrogens contained in soy, causing more rapid growth and spreading of cancer and pre-cancer cells.

In conclusion, soy has been touted for many years as the secret ingredient of natural health and wellness. Its uses and benefits have in actuality been highly exaggerated and its dangers and shortcomings seemingly ignored. The untruthful marketing claims, as with so many other health “fads” and misinformation campaigns by producers, manufacturers and associations leave many people unnecessarily unhealthy, with medical problems that are difficult to treat. Bottom line: Soy really isn’t the fix all-cure all it’s promoted as. But, don’t just take my word for it, do the research yourself, ask the important questions and never forget to check on who funded the research and for what ultimate purpose.

Lynn Foutch is the founder of Natural Healing in Motion and Natural Health Supplements Direct. For over 10 years, Lynn has studied and accumulated extensive experience with various forms of natural (alternative) therapies, treatments, supplements and remedies, including, but not limited to, the following therapies and treatments: Acupressure, Aromatherapy, Bach Flower, Chinese Herbs, Diet and Weight Loss, General Health, Hands-On Healing, Homeopathy, Japanese Hot Stone, Medicinal Massage, Meditation, Men’s Health, Reflexology, Western Herbs and Women’s Health.

Natural Healing in Motion has three offices in Bad Axe, Harbor Beach and Grand Blanc, Michigan, as well as a Mobile Therapy Unit, which travels to various locales providing therapy “on-site.”