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The majority of people who care about their health, in an effort to live healthily, have shifted to consuming this “healthy” food, which is often promoted as a nutritional miracle. Manufacturers want its consumption to represent the right direction. The reality is a bit different.
Soy and soy products
Experts do not even consider this food suitable for human consumption.
Soy and soy products, including tofu, are not healthy food at all.
If you want to get quality proteins into your body, a much better choice is organic eggs, meat from animals raised on fresh grass and unpasteurized, or homemade or organic dairy products.
What’s problematic about soy?
Unlike in Asia, where people consume only small amounts of soy products made from whole beans, in the West their producers separate them into two very profitable components – protein and oil.
„What they do, however, is neither natural nor safe,„ explains Dr. Daniel.
„Today’s highly developed technologies not only fail to remove from soy the anti-nutritional substances and toxins that occur naturally in it, but the production process even leaves additional toxic and carcinogenic substances that arise during processing at high temperatures.„, He continues to explain.
Substances contained in soy
The worst substances of the worst are broken-down compounds such as soy protein isolate and hydrolyzed vegetable protein. The reason is that these substances contain phytates, which block the absorption of minerals.
In addition, they also inhibit the enzyme trypsin, which is needed for proper protein digestion.
Tofu
Tofu is a little better because it is a product made from whole soybeans, however it also contains the anti-nutritional substances mentioned above.
Possible health problems
- Thyroid problems – including weight gain, lethargy, nausea, fatigue, hair loss and loss of libido
- Cancer – mainly of the thyroid, breast and pancreas
- Brain damage
- Diseases of the reproductive organs
- Soy allergies
Soy and the risk to children
It is also important to know that children and infants in particular face an increased risk from consuming soy, mainly because of its properties that mimic the activity of certain hormones.
A study published in the medical journal Lancet showed that daily exposure to chemicals that mimic the sex hormone estrogen found in soy infant formulas was 6 to 11 times higher than in adults consuming soy.
The concentration of these substances in the blood of children was at levels 13000 to 22000 times higher than the hormone estrogen itself.
Children who are exclusively fed soy formula receive, adjusted for body weight, the equivalent of 5 birth-control pills a day!
Therefore, we ask parents, do not feed your toddlers soy infant formulas, nor older children other soy products.
Study
Meanwhile, Dr. Daniel and colleagues reviewed several studies on soy and found that soy does not lower levels of bad cholesterol in the blood as is claimed.
On the contrary, in many people it increases the level of dangerous homocysteine, which raises the risk of heart disease, stroke and birth defects.
According to Dr. Daniel, soy significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Based on these results, the researchers sent a 65-page petition to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), urging them to ban the claim „Soy helps prevent heart disease“ which they approved in 1999.
Hormonal effects
The hormonal effects of soy are so strong that even pregnant women should not consume it for the safety of their unborn child.
Risks that soy poses to your health
High natural content of toxins known as antinutrients.
This includes a large amount of inhibitors that interfere with protein digestion. These inhibitors are not neutralized by cooking. The result is a disruption of the internal environment in the intestines, chronic deficiency of certain vitamins and minerals and missing amino acids.
All of this can lead to dangerous pancreatic failure or even cancer.
Content of goitrogens that disrupt thyroid function
80% of soy sold today is genetically modified. This type of soy has the highest level of pesticide contamination.
Content of hemagglutinins
These substances cause the formation of blood clots. Cooking partially reduces the problem, but does not eliminate it completely.
Phytates
High content of phytates, which inhibit the absorption of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc. All of these minerals are cofactors for the optimal biochemistry of your body.
How to minimize harm?
If despite the overall recommendation against this food you cannot give up its consumption, then we have at least a few recommendations for you on how to minimize its harmful effects.
There are several types of soy that are safe to consume. All of them involve fermentation.
After a long fermentation process, levels of phytic acid and other antinutrients decrease. In addition, some beneficial substances for your digestion arise, such as probiotics.
Fermentation also significantly reduces the level of dangerous isoflavones, which are structurally similar to estrogen and can disrupt your hormonal balance.
Tempeh
It is a fermented soy cake with a firm texture. It tastes similar to mushrooms.
Natto
Fermented soybeans with a sticky texture and a cheese-like taste.
It contains nattokinase, a very strong blood-thinning substance. It is also the best source of vitamin K2 in the world. It also contains beneficial bacteria Bacillus subtilis.
You can find natto in most Asian food stores.
Soy sauce
Traditionally, soy sauce is made by fermenting soybeans, salt and enzymes.
However, be careful here, because today many types are manufactured artificially using chemical processes, not fermentation.
Miso
Miso is a fermented soy paste with a salty, buttery texture. It is often added to miso soup.
Conclusion
Remember that all processed soy products that do not use fermentation in their production are not healthy.
This includes: soy milk, soy meat, soy cheese, soy energy and protein bars, soy ice cream, soy protein powders and other products.
Also watch out for common baked goods, because today soy flour is even added to them.
The best and often the only way to avoid soy in your diet is to buy basic ingredients and prepare your food yourself from them.
The basis of healthy eating is: unprocessed, fermented and fresh.
Avoid processed foods whenever possible. This applies both to soy and to other types of food. Follow this and you are on the right path to health.
