Soybean and soy protein.. good or bad?

[Guest guest]

soy is one of the five sacred "grains" of chinese culture, but in

practice it was considered a "lower class" food and typically

reserved for food animals or in farming practices to fix nitrogen -

however, there is a significant tradition in consuming soy, and

certainly the research has shown benefits in regularly consuming

certain kinds of soy products

 

the benefit here is associated with ~traditional~ patterns of soy

consumption, in which the soy is processed in a number of ways to

promote digestibility, and in turn, deactivate/denature a number of

potentially health-damaging constituents like trypsin inhibitors,

phytates, lectins etc (some of which are also found in other legumes

as well, and hence the general indication in ayurveda that most

legumes are hard to digest and increase vata) - nonetheless, it

appears that the estrogenic properties of soy does not diminish with

cooking, and thus the endocrinal effects remain regardless of

processing, and this is the primary concern in regard to its hormonal

effects

 

note however that these endocrinal effects are a double edged sword -

reducing the risk of certain kinds of cancer, but at the expense of

endocrinal disruption - the key is to observe traditional eating

practices in healthy populations

 

however, very few people outside of the orient observe traditional

patterns of soy consumption, such as natto or tempeh, and apart from

eating new foods like soy milk/cheese, many people unwittingly

consume soy and soy products that have been surreptitiously added to

various food products, as an emulsifier (soy lecithin, e.g. chocolate

bars)), flavoring agent (hydrolyzed soy protein, e.g. soups and

sauces), binding agent (soy protein, e.g. in deli meat) etc etc -

this is because the food chemists got a hold of it and the industry

has spent a lot of time and money on how to maximize the industrial

potential of this easy-to-grow crop

 

thus, IMO if soy is to be consumed it should be on the basis of

traditional patterns, and the 'new-fangled' soy foods should probably

be avoided - as far as ayurveda and soy, there us a strong emphasis

upon satmya (what is constitutionally/genetically appropriate), as

well as observing time-honored, traditional practices

 

as far as other sources of vegi protein there are many others besides

mung, including all the other legumes

see: http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/ejones/ufdi/topics/dalrec/ddef.html

 

also, nuts and seeds another excellent source of protein

 

if avoiding dairy however, my opinion however is that vegan diet does

not provide adequate or optimal protein, and certainly isn't

recommended in children

 

organic, free-range eggs are an excellent source of protein and other

vital nutrients, and can be produced sustainably without harm to the

chicken, and can be used instead of dairy as a primary source of

protein - something all vegetarians and certainly those with children

should consider, certainly if dairy is being avoided for whatever reason

 

todd caldecott

 

 

 

On 4-Feb-06, at 7:24 AM, ayurveda wrote:

> Soybean and soy protein.. good or bad?

 

> so now, there's more news on how soy may not be the best thing, esp for women

with hormonal/endocrine problem and soy protein isn't

> easy to digest,

>

> do you know any details of how ayurvedic treats this subject? is

> soy used in india?

> how does our body process it? is it good? or longterm bad?

> given that the primary sources of protein are the GM-hormonal-

> maniac cow-dairy, and soy, what are the other good sources of

> veggie-proteins, besides green mung-beans.

[Guest guest]

YOu have opened a pandor's box. Question can be applied for all

fruits, vegetables and grains.

 

There has been so much propoganda going on on internet and media on

differetent types of suppliments, food items etc. Often, the food

processing companies are brothers to drug companies. Marketing is the

main objective. Ghost written literature also applies here. And

randomised trials too are carried out. The recent propoganda on oils

containing EFA, Omega-3, Omega-6 etc is a case for consideration.

Indians were never concerned with this EFA debate.

 

Little wonder consumers are confused about which foods are good for

them, and which bad, when scientists use methods with almost no

chance of meaningful results.

 

http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?

n=65448&m=2nie202&c=xjnyrprhjjanibn

 

Under these circumstances, one should remember that what supreme

power has given in abundance e.g. green vegetables, fruits can not be

harmful. But the scientists have disturbed this environmental balance

too. Author has given tests for deciding if allegry for a particular

vegetable, fruit exists. If one eats balanced all round diet, balance

of all doshas of body and mind should be the result.

 

You may also see food related files on group website:

http://health.ayurveda/articles

 

Lastly, one more criterion is:

Check how long food remains in stomach. After how much time hunger

returns after foods of constant quantity (by weight) is ingested.

This will tell how easy or difficult the food is for digestion.

Generally carbo hydrates most easy to digest for all. Fats come next.

Protein are last on the list. The toxins produced due to inadequate

digestion too increase in the same sequence. Test every oil, food on

this criterion. Though case is being made that everyone should eat

something of animal origin, there exist people here in India, who

know how to achieve best of health with total vegetarian diet, only

milk being the exception. You are what you eat. While you do not

become chicken by eating chicken, but you become Jersy cow like if

you take Jersy cow milk. When we take mutton from artificially

fattened animals using hormonal injections, we too get subjected to

same hormonal imbalance. Obesity roots are in our food.

 

Jersey cow becomes pregnant by ART, same way now humans also need ART

in upto 15-20% couples. Not only Jersey cow milk, but even Tomatoes

available in India are now no longer old, juicy, naturally ripening

ones, but fleshy, tasteless, vitamin and Iron deficient, but bright

red attractive color and giving large number per tree, without seeds.

Green pea beans too now come in the same modified variety. And

moreover, Papaya, Grapes, Guava, now a days all fruits have started

coming in seedless variety. Any wonder why we too are becoming

seedless? (Reduced sperm counts/motility, PCOS, POF, Amenorrhea etc).

On the other hand, fertility foods are the ones where you see many

seeds, quick sprouting legumes, etc. While we make so much noise on

GM foods, no one raised voice when scientists modified vegetables,

fruits etc. Jagannath are you listening?

 

Dr Bhate

 

 

ayurveda, p s <tightbrwn76 wrote:

>

> Recently there's been some resurgence of the soy-controversy.

>

> Soy came to the limelight due to the overproduction after WW II in

the US and hence became a big export. True to the nature of

capitalism, instead of dumping the bean the various trade orgs tried

to sell this product to the local and int'l market for all the great

things soy can do and some stories too..

[Guest guest]

Todd mentioned the digestability of soy. One of the best ways to do this is by

using soy, especially tofu with either vinegar or lemon juice. This is very

easy to do. The marinating will make the protein much easier to digest.

 

GB Khalsa

 

the benefit here is associated with ~traditional~ patterns of soy

consumption, in which the soy is processed in a number of ways to

promote digestibility,