I recently took a quick vacation to Sedona in Northern Arizona with my family where we hiked, relaxed and drank wine like we usually do; however, I ended up making a discovery that has changed my life.
I grew up in Oak Creek Canyon during the summers, so we have some neighbors down there that I consider family. One neighbor in particular is Shelly.
I love Shelly because she lives full time deep in the canyon and grows her own vegetables: garlic, spinach, tomatoes, basil, squash…you name it. She wears no make up and is always outfitted in her teva sandles and hiking shorts, yet she has this natural quite beauty which causes me to probe her on her lifestyle any chance I get. The latest wisdom she gave me was on a 2 mile hike, straight up the canyon wall….
We were on the topic of food as we were enjoying some almonds she had soaked and dried herself. I don’t know quite how it came about but I think I asked her if she drank soy milk, and in the dry, even, “matter of fact” tone she always uses she said “No, soy is really bad for you…”, just like that!! (Shelly actually drinks raw unpasterized whole milk…)
“What!?!!” I was thinking in my mind. If anyone was going to eat soy I was sure it would have been Shelly. Then I felt embarrased to tell her that I consume soy every day…mainly because milk upsets my stomache. So I just let her go on about how soy causes moodswings, elevated hormone levels (this explaines a lot!), cancer, malnutrion in 3rd world countries, thyroid disease etc. etc. ….
I was crushed. So I decided to do my own research, and she was right…
In an article titled “Cinderella’s Dark Side” by Sally Fallon & Mary G. Enig, Ph.D., soy is bashed for containing “giotrogens-subtances that depress thyroid function”, and “haemagglutinin, a clot-promoting substance that causes red blood cells to clump together”. Hmmmm, not cool.
There are tons of articles written about soy, its origin, and why it can be very harmful to one’s health. Here are a couple key facts about soy:
- Soy became a food during the Chou Dynasty when it was discovered how to ferment it to make foods like miso and soy sauce (Cinderella’s Dark Side)
-The Chinese did not eat unfermented soy beans because they contained large quantaties of anti-nutrients, stuff that cancels out the absorbtion of other nutrients the body needs, these toxins are not completely deactivated during cooking (Cinderella’s Dark Side)
-Soy is synthetic…99% of soy is genetically modified and soy contains one of the highest levels of contamination by pesticides (Cinderella’s Dark Side)
-There are studies that show soy may increase the prominance of estrogen dependent breast cancer (mercola.com)
The Weston A. Price Foundation lists their reasons for boycotting soy:
High levels of phytic acid in soy reduce assimilation of calcium, magnesium, copper, iron and zinc. Phytic acid in soy is not neutralized by ordinary preparation methods such as soaking, sprouting and long, slow cooking. High phytate diets have caused growth problems in children.
Trypsin inhibitors in soy interfere with protein digestion and may cause pancreatic disorders. In test animals soy containing trypsin inhibitors caused stunted growth.
Soy phytoestrogens disrupt endocrine function and have the potential to cause infertility and to promote breast cancer in adult women.
Soy phytoestrogens are potent antithyroid agents that cause hypothyroidism and may cause thyroid cancer. In infants, consumption of soy formula has been linked to autoimmune thyroid disease.
Vitamin B12 analogs in soy are not absorbed and actually increase the body’s requirement for B12.
Soy foods increase the body’s requirement for vitamin D.
Fragile proteins are denatured during high temperature processing to make soy protein isolate and textured vegetable protein.
Processing of soy protein results in the formation of toxic lysinoalanine and highly carcinogenic nitrosamines.
Free glutamic acid or MSG, a potent neurotoxin, is formed during soy food processing and additional amounts are added to many soy foods.
Soy foods contain high levels of aluminum which is toxic to the nervous system and the kidneys.
In conclusion, do not give your babies soy milk!! I highly suggest you research a little bit for yourself if you are a soy eater like I was. Visit Dr. Mercola’s site and read about Why Soy Can Damage Your Health.
Here are some healthy protien alternatives if you are a vegetarian and used to getting your protein from soy products like Tofu: Pumpkin Seeds, Chickpeas ,Beans and Legumes, Peanut Butter, Dairy Products, Algae, and Vegetables like Broccoli, Kale and Turnip Greens.
Personally, I think it is ok to eat meat. Just make sure it is a lean meat like Chicken or Fish and that it hasn’t been given antibiotics or hormones. I hope this has been helpful to you.
I am pretty relieved that I don’t have to feel guilty anymore about hating Tofu…
xo
Betsy
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