Soy Alert
By Jane Sheppard
Is soy really the perfect food it's made out to be? I thought so
until I began to investigate. I was shocked to find that much of
the information we are given about soy is based on half-truths and
flimsy facts. The multi-billion dollar soy industry has gained consumer
acceptance of tofu, soy milk, soy ice cream, soy cheese, soy sausage
and soy derivatives, particularly soy isoflavones, the estrogen-like
compounds found in soybeans. After looking into the health effects
of feeding soy products to children, I have stopped giving my daughter
soy milk and tofu.
Soy infant formula is the most cause for concern, since the daily
exposure of infants to isoflavones in soy infant formula is 6 to
11 times higher, on a body-weight basis, than the dose that has
hormonal effects in adults. It is estimated that an infant exclusively
fed soy formula receives the estrogenic equivalent (based on body
weight) of at least five birth control pills per day!
Here are some of the detrimental effects of feeding soy products
to children:
o Soybeans contain large quantities of natural toxins or "antinutrients",
including potent enzyme inhibitors that block the action of trypsin
and other enzymes needed for protein digestion.
o Soy also contains goitrogens - substances that depress thyroid
function.
o Soybeans are high in phytic acid, a substance that can block
the uptake of essential minerals - calcium, magnesium, copper, iron
and especially zinc - in the intestinal tract.
o Soy phytoestrogens may disrupt endocrine function
o Fragile proteins are denatured during high temperature processing
to make soy protein isolate and textured vegetable protein.
o Processing of soy protein results in the formation of toxic lysinoalanine
and highly carcinogenic nitrosamines.
o Free glutamic acid or MSG, a potent neurotoxin, is formed during
soy food processing and additional amounts are added to many soy
foods.
Visit the following websites for more information about soy:
http://www.westonaprice.org/soy/infant.html
http://www.westonaprice.org/soy/soy_alert.html
http://www.soyonlineservice.co.nz/
|
Use the information provided on this site as an educational resource for determining your options and making your own informed choices. It is not intended as medical advice or to diagnose, prescribe, or treat any specific illness.