Equiessence

Recently soy has emerged as the ideal food and drink, which can provide: an ideal source of protein, lowered cholesterol, protection against cancer and heart disease, reduction of menopause symptoms and prevention of
osteoporosis. *

After millions of dollars spent on advertising and lobbying to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) we are led to believe that all soy products are healthy.

If the health claims surrounding soy sound too good to be true I would like to bring awareness to the following undesirable things about Soy which have been gleaned from numerous studies.  Soy products may:

• Increase the risk of breast cancer in women.
• Increase the risk of abnormalities in infants.
• Contribute to thyroid disorders, especially in women.
• Promote kidney stones
• Weaken the immune system
• Cause food allergies.

Soy products also contain:

• Phytoestrogens (isoflavones) genistein and daidzein – these mimic and sometimes block the hormone
  oestrogen.
• Phytates – these block the body’s uptake of minerals.
• Enzyme Inhibitors – these hinder protein digestion.
• Haemaggluttin  – this causes red blood cells to clump together and inhibits oxygen uptake.

Soy can be problematic for small infants.  For those fed soy formula exclusively, it is a bit like receiving birth control pills containing oestrogen every day.

Also, most soybeans are grown on farms that use pesticides and herbicides, and unfortunately some are from genetically engineered plants.

However, the Good things about soy are the redeeming qualities of soy (as above *) and these are found in fermented soy products such as tofu, tempeh, miso and soybean sprouts.  Therefore, get some health benefits from soy by sticking to these forms.

Be informed to make good choices.  Weigh up the alternatives such as Lactose-free formulas as a baby and Goats, Rice, Oat and Almond milk as well as Soy.