If you follow what the more than 40 billion dollar soy industry keeps telling you, you may still believe that soy has some health benefits and that it’s a good idea to consume at least some. After all, what could be bad about the innocent soy milk or tofu?
Watch out! Soy is in protein bars, baked goods, cereals, soy burgers, soy cheese, soy yoghurt ice cream, soy milk, protein powders, meal replacement drinks, tofu, tofurkey, even baby infant formula!Soy products have made their way into many processed foods on the market so it is important to read your labels. Soybean oil is very cheap to produce and is found on the labels of many packages. Especially look out for things like “soy protein isolate” as it is a very concentrated form of soy that may cause exaggerated negative effects.
Soy is high in anti-nutrients.Lectins: Plant proteins that damage intestinal linings, and bind to nutrients, inhibiting normal digestion.
Oxolates:A compound found in certain plants, this binds to minerals and stops their absorption. Oxolates also contribute to ‘leaky gut”, chronic pain, neurological issues, and can be a factor in the body’s creation of kidney stones.
Phytates:Phytates bind to minerals like zinc, calcium, iron and magnesium and make them unavailable for you.
Enzyme inhibiters:Compounds that bind and block key enzymes needed for optimum metabolic and neurologic function.
Goitrogenic effects of soy:Soy contains high levels of goitrogens, compounds that inhibit the thyroid’s ability to utilize iodine correctly which could lead to hypothyroid problems.Thyroid problems are so prevalent today, especially for women, that it’s now as if it’s normal to have thyroid problems.There is definitely a known connection between soy consumption and thyroid problems. If you’re on thyroid medication, please stop soy immediately.
Protease inhibitors:Soy contains protease inhibitors, also called trypsin inhibitors. These toxins block the action of enzymes that have the responsibility of digesting certain proteins, but it can also lead to a host of other problems.
Soy and estrogen:This is a big issue. Soy contains plant estrogens in the form of isoflavones which effectively raise your estrogen levels and therefore lowering your testosterone levels. These hormones are in competition so more of one means less of the other.Altering your estrogen levels can have far-reaching effects for men and women as well as children and newborns.
Is soy a good protein powder option?Does soy protein raise IGF-1?
Concentrated soy protein and isolated soy protein, found in many protein powders and vegetarian burgers, is not health food. These processed, fractionated and concentrated soy foods are problematic. Supplementation with soy protein powder can increase insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in the blood.IGF-1 is primarily is linked to an increased risk of cancer.https://www.nature.com/articles/s41698-017-0017-y People have been led to believe that unfermented soy is a beneficial food, when there’s actually tremendous evidence to the contrary. Processed food manufacturers love soy because it’s cheap to produce and easy to tout as a supposed “health food” when it most certainly is not.
Yours in health,
Dr. Stan Gale
