Soy, The Miracle Food or Pandora's Box?

[Guest guest]

http://campaignfortruth.com/Eclub/220903/soy.htm

 

 

Soy

The Miracle Food or Pandora's Box?

Compiled by: Health Action Network Society

 

What has science been telling us?

What does history reveal?

 

 

" Current evidence for the beneficial effects of soy requires a full

understanding of potential adverse effects as well. "

 

Dr D Doerge, scientist from the National Center for Toxicological Research.

___

Quoted here are many of the scientific research studies on soy spanning the

years 1925 through 2001.

 

 

Soy Blocks Vitamin and Mineral Absorption

Studies indicate that soy (organic and non-organic) causes increased

requirements for vitamins E, K, D and B12. Phytic acid from SPI (soy protein

isolate) blocks the absorption of essential minerals and creates deficiency

symptoms of calcium, magnesium, magnesium, copper, molybdenum, iron, manganese

and especially zinc -in the intestinal tract. (2) This may be contributing to

the early onset of osteoporosis in Japan, starting there as early as age 20

versus age 34 in the USA. (1b) Also test animals fed SPI developed enlarged

organs, particularly the thyroid gland and pancreas, and caused increased

deposition of fatty acids in the liver.

 

Soybeans have one of the highest phytate levels of any grain or legume. Phytates

in soy are highly resistant to normal phytate-reducing techniques such as long,

slow cooking. Only long periods of fermentation will greatly reduce soy's

phytate levels, but will not eliminate them.

 

Soy has natural toxins or anti-nutrients.

Soybeans contain potent enzyme inhibitors that block the action of trypsin and

other enzymes needed for protein digestion. These inhibitors are not completely

deactivated during ordinary cooking. They can produce serious gastric distress,

reduced protein digestion and create chronic deficiencies in amino acid uptakes.

In test animals, diets high in trypsin inhibitors also caused enlargement and

pathological conditions of the pancreas, including cancer. (4,5)

 

Soy contains haemaglutinin, which is a clot-promoting substance that causes red

blood cells to clump together, setting the stage for clogged arteries and

stroke.

 

Endocrine-disrupting isoflavones, genistein and daidzein are goitrogenic

components found in soy. In vitro studies suggest isoflavones inhibit synthesis

of estradiol and other steroid hormones. Infertility, reproductive problems,

thyroid and liver disease due to dietary intake of isoflavones have been

observed for several species of animals including mice, cheetah, quail, pigs,

rats, sturgeon and sheep. (5)

 

100 grams of soy protein - the maximum suggested cholesterol lowering dose - can

contain almost 600mg of isoflavones, an undeniably toxic amount. Only 45 mg of

isoflavones taken daily for one month, in pre-menopausal women, reduced hormones

needed for adequate thyroid function. In some of the women, these effects

lingered for 3 months after soy consumption was discontinued.

 

The Swiss Health Service, in 1992, estimated that 100 grams of soy protein

provides the estrogenic equivalent of one birth control pill.

 

Processing of soy adds even more toxins

Much soy is acid washed in aluminium tanks, leaching high levels of aluminium

into the final product. Nitrites, potent carcinogens, are formed during

spray-drying, and toxic lysinoalanine is formed during alkaline processing.

Artificial flavourings, particularly MSG are added to SPI and textured vegetable

protein (TVP) products to mask their strong, " beany " taste and to impart the

flavour of meat. (9)

 

Cancer and DNA damage

Thousands of women are now consuming soy in the belief that it protects them

against breast cancer. Yet in 1996, researchers found that women consuming soy

protein isolate (SPI) had an increased incidence of epithelial hyperplasia, a

condition that preceded malignancies. Additionally, genistein was found to

stimulate breast cells to enter the breast cancer cycle. ( 5,7,8,) Since 1993,

soy has been known to cause DNA damage, chromosome fragmentation and errors in

chromosome orientation. (5,3) (4) Soy products may increase breast cancer in

pregnant women.(3)

 

Soy advertisers collectively claim lower rates of reproductive cancers for

Japanese and Asians eating soy, while ignoring the fact that these people also

have much higher rates of cancer of the esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas and

thyroid, particularly as soy causes these same types of cancer in laboratory

rats.

 

Brain - Aging and learning disabilities

Japanese Americans living in Hawaii show a significant statistical relationship

between two or more servings of tofu a week and accelerated brain aging

(atrophy).

 

Participants in another study who ate tofu in mid-life had lower cognitive

function in later life, experienced greater incidence of Alzheimer's disease and

dementia and looked older. There is strong evidence linking brain damage to

infants using soy formulas. (3) (5)

 

Soy infant formula

Daily exposure of infants to isoflavones in soy infant formula is 6 to 11 times

higher on body-weight basis than the dose that has negative hormonal side

effects in adults consuming soy foods.

 

Approximately 25 per cent of bottle-fed children in the US receive soy-based

formula - a much higher per cent than in other parts of the Western world.

Toxicologist Dr Mike Fitzpatrick estimated that infants exclusively fed soy

formula receive the estrogenic equivalent (based on body weight) of at least 5

birth controls pills per day. By contrast, almost no phyto-estrogens have been

detected in dairy-based infant formula or in human milk, even when the mother

consumes soy products.

 

In the 1986 Puerto Rico Premature Thelarche Study, the most significant dietary

association with premature sexual development was not chicken, as the press

reported, but soy infant formula.

 

Early maturation in girls is frequently an indicator of problems with their

reproductive system in later life, including failure to menstruate, infertility,

breast cancer and possibly uterine cancer. (8) Problems in both sexes associated

with soy-based infant formula later in life also include extreme emotional

behaviour, immune system problems, pituitary insufficiency, irritable bowel

syndrome, asthma, thyroid disorders including thyroid problems in babies and

infantile leukaemia.

 

Thyroid problems

Asians throughout the world have high rates of thyroid cancer. Japanese

researchers reported in 1991 that consumption of as little as 30 grams or 2

tablespoons of soybeans per day for only one month resulted in significant

decrease in thyroid-stimulating hormone. Diffuse goiter and hypothyroidism

appeared in some of the subjects and many complained of fatigue, lethargy and

constipation, even though their intake of iodine was adequate. (5)

 

Soy warning labels, for medical reasons

The USA's FDA ignored two of their own expert research scientists, Daniel

Sheehan, PhD and Daniel Doerge, PhD, who expressed serious concerns regarding

the perceived safe use of soy, if soy was to be granted a 'health claim'. In

their letter of protest they said, " …it is inappropriate to allow a health claim

for SPI….. it could be misinterpreted…. the health labelling of SPI for foods

need to be considered just as would the addition of any 'estrogen' or

'goitrogen' to foods, which are bad ideas. Estrogenic and goitrogenic drugs are

regulated by the FDA, and are taken under a physician's care. Patients are

informed of risks, and are monitored by their physicians for evidence of

toxicity. No similar safeguards are in place for foods, so the public will be

put at potential risk from soy isoflavones in SPI without adequate warning and

information. "

 

Soy protein has not been given GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status

because of its carcinogenic properties; neither has it been given pre-market

(1a,5) approval for its use in food. It is reasonable to ask - is it even legal

to add to our food? (4)

 

'Toxic Load' means that the risk is a function of dose length, dose strength,

and of the physical condition of the consumer. Reference: " The Dose Makes the

Poison: A Plain-Language Guide to Toxicology, " 2nd edition, by M. Alice

Ottoboni.

 

References

1a from The Weston A. Price Foundation. www.Westonaprice.org Also

see update (1b). Both are c 2000 by S. Fallon & M.G. Enig, PhD:

(1a) " Newest Research on Why You Should Avoid Soy "

www.mercola.com/article/soy/avoid_soy.htm>and

(1B) " Tragedy and Hype: The Third International Soy

Symposium, " www.westonaprice.org/soy/tragedy.html

(2) The Gerson Institute, 1572 Second Avenue, San Diego, California 92101,

Phone; 619 685 5353 www.gerson.org/

(3) Optimal Wellness Center, by Dr. Joseph Mercola, and newsletter " eHealthy

News you Can Use " www. mercola.com (In 'search', type: soy)

(4) The 1958 " Delaney Amendment " to the USA FDA Reg.s prohibits the use of any

food additive if it is found to cause cancer in any animal species or man, at

any dose level.

www.iisd1.iisd.ca/pcdf/meadows/delaney.htm

(5) Soy OnLine Service, SOS, are a small group of private citizens from New

Zealand, the United States and the United Kingdom. They have no industry

connections and are not funded by any outside interest groups. Their mission is

to uncover truths about soy and to provide consumers with an alternative opinion

to the information generated from the soy industry. www.soyonlineservice.co.nz

(6) USA Scientists Protest Soy Approval, FDA Lay Out Concerns. Researchers,

Daniel Doerge PhD and Daniel Sheehan PhD are two of the USA's Food and Drug

Administration 's experts on soy who signed a Feb 18 1999 letter of protest

documenting 26 referenced studies that show a link between eating soy and

serious health problems.

www.abcnews.go.com/onair/2020/2020_000609_soyfdaletter_feature.html

(7) Estrogen found in soy stimulates human breast-cancer cells in mice . Three

studies from the University of Illinois, Nov 1, 2001,

www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2001-11 uoia-efi110101.php Abstract EurekAlert

Medical Archives.

(8) Basing infant formula on soy? American Association for Cancer Research,

article " Uterine Adenocarcinoma in Mice Treated Neonatally with Genistein " June

1, 2001. www.cancerres.aacrjournals.org?cgi/content/abstract/61/11/4325

Abstract, Cancer Research, 61:4325-4328.

(9) The Doctor Within, The Magic Bean? Soy-Taintly Not! www.the

doctorwithin.com/articles/magic_bean.html Soybean-Bad

www.rogerkyoung.com/soybean.html.

 

Further details available from Health Action Network Society. www.hans.org

A comprehensive information package on soy is available from The Health Action

Network Society.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

a friend of mine said this as a rebuttal...

 

http://www.vegsource.com/articles/soy_update.htm

 

 

I think I'm still confused about the whole soy issue

 

jen