SOYBEAN ROAST

Most people do not question if soy foods are healthy to eat and in fact think soy is a great alternative source to animal protein and a Godsend for menopausal women. This misconception has been created by the manufacturers of soy products but is not supported by the scientific research.

Soybeans were first discovered in the Orient around 1134-240 BC not as a food but for crop rotation as a method of fixing nitrogen. Because of the large quantities of harmful substances soybeans contain, the Chinese did not eat it. After the discovery of fermentation techniques safe products like tempeh, natto, miso and tamari sauce were made from soybeans. Later the Chinese scientists discovered that a puree of could be precipitated with calcium sulfate or magnesium (plaster of Paris of Epsom salts) to make a smooth pale curd. These precipitated soy products became known as tofu, bean curd and eventually textured vegetable protein but much of the harmful properties could not be processed out of this group. This process, necessary to even make soybeans digestible, mixes the beans with an alkaline solution to remove fiber then separates them an acid wash that as a side effect, leaches aluminum into the product.

Let’s not ‘forget’ the relationship between aluminum and Alzheimer’s disease. Then these curds are sprayed dried at high temperature and put through a high-temperature extrusion process leaving the protein denatured and unfit for consumption. This protein is also incomplete because it lacks amino acids methionine and cysteine and the processing destroys lysine and glutamine. Soybeans also contain enzyme inhibitors, which actually block the action of trypsin and other enzymes needed for protein digestion. The high levels of phytic acid or phytates found in soy foods inhibit the absorption of calcium, magnesium and especially zinc. Zinc deficiency can cause a “spacey” feeling that some vegetarians may mistake for a natural high from eating lighter foods.

Asian children who eat significant amounts of tofu and soy bean curd suffer a high incidence of rickets, stunted growth, and other development problems. Another commonly advertised attribute about soy foods is it’s estrogenic property. In other words soy contains phytoestrogens that increase estrogen activity. The manufacturers want you to think this a good thing but actually most women and men are suffering from too much estrogen activity, or a deficiency of the hormones testosterone, progesterone, or thyroid which oppose estrogen, giving the same clinical picture. The issue is really an imbalance of the ratio where estrogen levels are high relative to progesterone levels. The most important dietary causation for this imbalance is excess intake of improper vegetable oils and refined carbohydrates along with inadequate intake of trace minerals. Toxic side effects of estrogen accelerates aging, contributes to osteoporosis, causes fibrocystic breast disease and breast cancer, inhibits the thyroid, exacerbates cardiovascular disease, and elevates cholesterol.

Babies fed soy-based formula have 13,000 to 22,000 times more estrogen compounds in their blood than milk-fed babies. This is the estrogen equivalent of at least five birth control pills per day! Soy formula has been implicated in the current trend toward increasingly premature sexual development in girls, and the delayed or retarded sexual development in boys. Tofu was consumed by Buddhist Monks to reduce libido.

Remember the aluminum problem mentioned earlier, soy formula has ten times the amount of aluminum than milk-based formula. Yes, studies show a relationship between tofu consumption in mid life and the occurrence of Alzheimer’s disease in later life for Japanese Americans. Asians consume soy foods as a condiment of about 2 teaspoons per day and not as a replacement for animal foods. Eating as little as 4 tablespoons of soy per day can result in hypothyroidism that commonly causes lethargy, constipation, weight gain, and fatigue.

What you have read so far should be enough reason to not include soy in your diet. There are many more reasons when we include the cancer causing agents. If you feel you need soy foods in your diet to help you with certain health issues please be aware that there are healthier alternatives. Call our office and ask about our metabolic balancing and come to one of our classes on diet, nutrition and body chemistry.