I've seen so much hype about Soy recently as the vegetarian protein savior. Independent researchers paint a different picture of the innocent soy bean. I will extract the excerpts from studies which include the researcher and the institution. The point is with so many other options like Whey Protein why take the chance with soy. Here is where the big push came on Soy....

In November, 1999 the Third International Soy Symposium was held in Washington, D.C., sponsored by the United Soybean Board, American Soybean Association, Monsanto, Protein Technologies International, Central Soya, Cargil Foods, Personal Products Company, SoyLife, Whitehall-Robins Health-care and the soybean councils of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio and South Dakota. Presentations by scientists funded by these organizations marked the culmination of a decade of research intended to win FDA approval and consumer acceptance of soy products such as tofu, soy milk, soy cheese, soy sausage, and estrogen-like compounds including isoflavones, genistein and diadzen.

As we all know the FDA has got our backs and has everything under control. You also know that big business has no influence what so ever on this agency (does it stink yet). Anyway, review some of the facts and judge for yourself if Soy is worth it.

Dr. Francis Crinella at the University of California described how the soybean plant lifts up manganese in the soil and concentrates it, creating levels of manganese in soy formulas that are 200 times the level found in breast milk. A newborn cannot excrete this extreme manganese load, creating high manganese levels in the blood, liver, kidneys and other soft tissues of the body, including the brain. Manganese overload has been implicated in cases of brain damage and movement disorders.

Dr. Joseph Mercola notes in his newsletter that soy formulas contain high levels of aluminum (1,000% higher levels than cow’s milk formulas) and the phytoestrogen substance isoflavones. He says that a soy-fed baby receives the equivalent of five birth control pills’ worth of estrogen every day. These babies’ isoflavone levels were found to be from 13,000 to 22,000 times higher than in non-soy fed infants. Early onset of puberty in girls and abnormal development of testes in boys have been linked to this unnatural surge of hormones in early life

Irvine C, Fitzpatrick M, Robertson I and Woodhams D (1995). The Potential Adverse Effects of Soybean Phytoestrogens in Infant Feeding. NZ Med J, 108: 208-209. Download letter. (If you are highly technical this is for you) 

• Soy and Osteoporosis: Not a Leg to Stand On, Posted 18 DEC 2006
• Soy and the Brain, Posted 28 APR 2004
• Soy-Based Infant Formula: Birth Control Pills for Babies, Posted 19 OCT 2002

If this isn't enough for you google "soy dangers" and read the thousands of other articles about soy. The fact is these days we are surronded with toxins so why add another burden to our systems if we have other options.

Americans began adding more soy to their diets in recent years because scientific studies suggest that various soy products offer possible health benefits, such as lowering cholesterol and reducing the risk of heart disease.

Studies on the health benefits of soy are promising.

However, soy health claims are not necessarily applicable to all soy foods – just foods containing soy protein. Therefore, only foods identified as containing ";whole soy,"; or foods that specify soy protein, are likely to offer these health benefits. Research is continuing on the health effects of isoflavones, one of the naturally occurring chemicals found in soy beans. It’s important to note that some people may be allergic to soy bean products.

There is a hint that soy can reduce cholesterol and heart tissue deteriortion.

The good news for soybean farmers: Bio diesel performs as well as standard diesel and requires no equipment modifications.

The only note I want to make on the good side of soy is the claims had no references. There is also open discussion about ";Fermented Soya"; some refer to soy as soya.

If you buy it or not it's your choice. Death and taxes are certain, but good health is up to you.

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