With all the loads of scientific data available that soy (even edamame) is not a healthy part of anyone’s diet, it shocks me how many folks are still on the “soy is good for you” bandwagon – even people who should know better like your doctor!
I just got an email from a reader the other day who had been to multiple doctors, both holistic and conventional, and all but one of them were telling her that plenty of soy in her diet would help her menopause symptoms.
I had another shocking conversation recently with a doctor of Internal Medicine who had no idea soy was a potent goitrogenic food and actively suppressed thyroid function.
Be careful folks. It’s dangerous out there! You really need to do your research and be on your toes at all times when it comes to nutritional advice even from someone in a white coat!
For those of you who just sat down because you are so taken aback by the notion that soy is not actually the healthfood you thought it was, here are 170 scientific reasons to back up this assertion.
Fermented Soy Fine in Small Amounts for Some People
Please note that fermented soy in small, condimental amounts as practiced in traditional Asian cultures is fine for those who have healthy thyroid function. Only miso, tempeh, natto and traditionally brewed soy sauce fall under this category. In addition, if you want to sprinkle a few edamame on your salad or have a few small cubes of tofu in your miso soup from time to time, that is fine too. A little soy lecithin in a nonGMO snack food from time to time isn’t necessarily a problem either. Just don’t make it a regular part of your diet!
If you have any sort of thyroid issues going on, however, it is really the best policy to avoid all soy all the time as soy is a potent goitrogen (thyroid suppressor) even if fermented.
Dangers of Soy #1
A 1991 study found that eating only 2 TBL/day of roasted and pickled soybeans for 3 months to healthy adults who were receiving adequate iodine in their diet caused thyroid suppression with symptoms of malaise, constipation, sleepiness, and goiters (Nippon Naibunpi Gakkai Zasshi 1991, 767: 622-629)!
Still think munching on edamame instead of popcorn is a healthy habit?
Dangers of Soy #2
Six premenopausal women with normal menstrual cycles were given 45 mg of soy isoflavones per day. This is equivalent to only 1-2 cups of soy milk or 1/2 cup of soy flour! After only one month, all of the women experienced delayed menstruation with the effects similar to tamoxifen, the anti-estrogen drug given to women with breast cancer (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1994 Sep;60(3):333-340).
Dangers of Soy #3
Dietary estrogens in the form of soy foods were found to have the potential to disrupt the endocrine system with the effects in women similar to taking the breast cancer drug tamoxifen (Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine 1995 Jan;208(1):51-9).
Dangers of Soy #4
Estrogens consumed in the diet at low concentrations were found to stimulate breast cells much like DDT to increase enzymatic activity which leads to breast cancer (Environmental Health Perspectives 1997 Apr;105 (Suppl 3):633-636).
Dangers of Soy #5
The soy isoflavones genistein and daidzein appear to stimulate existing breast cancer growth indicating risk in consuming soy products if a woman has breast cancer. (Annals of Pharmacotherapy 2001 Sep;35(9):118-21).
Dangers of Soy #6
Direct evidence that soy isoflavones genistein and daidzein suppress the pituitary-thyroid axis in middle-aged rats fed 10 mg soy isoflavones per kilo after only 3 weeks as compared with rats eating regular rat chow (Experimental Biology and Medicine 2010 May;235(5):590-8).
Dangers of Soy #7
Don’t eat soy when you are pregnant ladies! Scientific research has shown that the developing male fetus which is exposed to soy phytoestrogens may suffer from higher susceptibility to prostate cancer later in life (Prostate 1994;24(2):67-78).
Dangers of Soy #8
Keep that soy away from your daughters! Dietary genistein (soy phytoestrogen) in developing female rats had the effect of significantly accelerated puberty (Toxicol Sci 1999 Oct;51(2):236-44).
In addition, early exposure to soy is associated with less female typical play patterns in girls at 42 months of age (Environ Health Perspect v. 119(12); Dec 2011).
Dangers of Soy #9
Hey guys! Soy protein powder strips your masculinity! A study of 12 men aged 18 years and older experienced a 19% drop in serum testosterone in only 28 days when supplemented with 56 grams of soy protein powder over that same time period (Prev 2007;16:829—33).
Dangers of Soy #10
Do NOT feed soy formula to your babies! Female newborns who are orally exposed to genisin, the glycosylated form of genistein (soy phytoestrogen) experienced harm to the reproductive system in the form of “delayed vaginal opening… abnormal estrous cycles, decreased fertility, and delayed parturition.” (Environmental Health Perspective 2009 Dec;117(12):1883-9).
More information on the dangers of soy infant formula even if organic can be found in this article.
Convinced yet? I don’t know about you, but ten reasons is plenty for me! Still interested to see the remaining 160 reasons? My friend Dr. Kaayla Daniel, author of the must read The Whole Soy Story, has compiled the rest of the list for you if you click here.
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
Sources and More Information on Women’s Health
The Dangers of Estrogenic Food, Herbs and Supplements to Breast Health
Breast Ultrasound Safer and More Effective than Mammography
When Breast Cancer Isn’t Bad News
Thermography: A Perfect Alternative to Cancer Causing Mammograms?
Even Organic Soy Formula is Harmful for Babies
Birth Control Pill Risks to your Future Child’s Health
Last year our CSA had soy beans one week. They were raw and still in the pod. My understanding is that most soy is genetically modified, so that means raw and fresh soy is still harmful, right? Fortunately they let me make a trade from something else as a special exception, but they weren’t thrilled about it.
The fact that an organism has been genetically modified doesn’t necessarily make it dangerous. The problem with GMOs is that they are drenched in pesticides and other “goodies” because of a more intensive agricultural practice. This article is JUST talking about how ingested soy interacts with the rest of your metabolism. Even the purest most organic natural soy could potentially interfere with other hormones, based on the evidence given in the cited articles.
Correct, organic soy will cause the same problems. GMO soy just adds gasoline to the fire.
Thank you! When my husband and I got married I was eating a very healthy diet and made one additional change, drinking soy milk and using non dairy soy based creamer in my coffee. Within six month my thyroid was pretty much burned out, I had gained over 40 pounds, my hair thinned dramatically, my skin was dry and cracked (especially painful on elbows and knees) and I was tired and depressed. I met with a endocrinologist who immediately asked if I was eating soy. I have a friend who is a pharmacist and he said that he has seen dramatic increases in people needing thyroid medication. I think the over consumption of soy is the culprit, at least for those of us with a thyroid issue in our family tree. The worst thing is, I have to read every food label because soy is in everything.
Hi Kelly,
So what is the current status of your thyroid?
Any improvement?
Thanks.
In my humble opinion, having studied nutrition for over 30 years, I agree that soy is not good for our thyroid and is an endocrine disruptor. I also believe many people here don’t know what they are talking about and sadly, they actually believe their doctor knows best when very few have ever had even a 3 hours course on nutrition in college/med school. Go check THAT fact our yourself.
Most Doctors get plenty more then that, as Nutrition comes up on a day to day basis in my Rheum office. Obvi your surgeon is likely to know much about parenteral and not about soy. Many studies counter-dict each other due to small sample size, or in the case of some of the above mentioned points non-randomized baseline attributes with subjects.
That being said its an odd belief among naturopaths and many members of these boards that U.S. doctors are not trained in nutrition, alternative medications, political pressures on agriculture, etc. etc. For most primary care physicians its our job and passion to know more then medications and disease, but in prevention. 10% of my work day is spent on simply nutrition and diet, and for special cases outside of the scope of my expertise we refer to nutritionists, especially if in depth and rigorous diet and lifestyle changes need to be made in order to intervene before a disease process follows its “natural history.”
That being said, a point that needs to be made is that it is extremely difficult to study effects and differences in GMOs Vs. Natural Organic, because of one simple thing. This silly country has laws in place (or lack thereof) that prevent the proper labeling of GMO products and sources on our food stuffs. Without that, it is difficult to make data bases on long term effects without being able to adequately define the variables being studied.
So, Vote with your pocket book, and with your literal vote for proper food labeling.
To that end, Doctors are squeamish as they should be making sweeping arguments and advice without “proof.” Proof being multiple high quality studies, meta analysis, double blind trials etc.
And finally, I usually err on the side of caution with my patients, avoid GMOs if possible and be cognizant at what you put into your bodies.
I’m sorry, but I disagree with you. I am 61 and in all that time I have had one doctor ever talk to me about nutrition, telling me to lose weight I should stop eating at fast food restaurants. As I kept stressing that I eat organic and haven’t eaten in a McD’s or anything like it in 20 years, he just kept talking. Told me he had to study nutrition in school–20 years ago!!! As all he could talk about was carbs, fats, and protein-and not to eat at fast food restaurants.Three doctors in another practice I went to each talked to me at different times about taking statins. I was 50 and hadn’t even hit per-imenopause yet. Not a one talked about food or exercise. Just take the drugs.
It doesn’t take much to look back in time and see how people ate in the past–the way God designed man to eat.There is nothing wrong with eating grains-the way God originally designed them. Not the new crap out there. God designed cows to eat grass. Not grain. Eat grass fed everything. That is how God designed us. For someone saying that we shouldn’t drink milk. Bull! God told Israel they would enter a land flowing with milk and honey. God doesn’t waste His words. Milk was a great thing, designed by God, for His creation.
You have to look at who is funding all the anti organic soy/tofu articles and who and where exactly they are coming from. Am I going to take advice from a Dr that believes in an outdated food pyramid? No. Is the person giving the advice an advocate of eating animal products? Most likely… even though they know the health benefits of eating plant based only. Just saying …it’s important to pay attention to to the eating habits, beliefs and connections of all these ‘expert’ doctors.
I agree.
Not only who funded the studies, but also the SIZE of the studies. These mention a 6 woman study and a 12 man study…that is a tiny study that in the scientific community means NOTHING. I agree that soy is not good for us in many many ways, including the fact that most of them are GMO which ushers in a whole other slew of issues. But, throwing out meaningless “scientific” studies actually harms the perception and credibility of the view point…
You do realize when it comes to food…. it has a extremely similar effect on every single person. So a small test size compared to disease testing, etc. when each body can react different…. is just fine. Food is just about the only thing we know does the same thing to everyone. Only thing associated with it that differs on people is metabolism.
Food does not have a similar effect on everyone. It depends on your gut flora, absorption, receptors, liver function, digestive enzymes, immunoglobulins, frequency of eating these foods, and so much more.
There are tons of variables that could impact something. Scientific data always has a large sample size in order rule out other factors.
The ladies in my house got me into soy milk a year ago and after a few months I often experienced muscle pain, particularly in the shoulders, I felt older, my hair felt thinner and my sex drive went way down. I felt generally lack-lustre. I wondered if there was a connection to soy and went back onto full cream milk. I tried to avoid soy altogether (they stick it in so many products!). I’m happy to say that 3 months down the track I’m fully restored. My hair is stronger too. To me, soy milk is a garbage product that seriously depletes good health and people should be warned about it.
I’m 32 years old, and people think I’m 23, your story sounds like a commercial, millions of people live healthy without your gross milk!
You missed the point, I think. She didn’t say you should drink full cream milk, that is what she went back to. The point is that she will not drink soy milk and what it did to her.
So difficult to stay away from, it s in everything. Work can t make my own condiments. Mainly because short shelf life.
Make your condiments and ferment them.
The best part of this article is the part that says,”don’t believe everything the guys in the white coats say.” Okay I won’t listen a dr who has studied medicine far longer than the person who wrote this article. The second best part, “don’t feed your babies soy formula.” Hahahaha okay baby you have a horrible reaction to milk so you can starve. All things in moderation people. To much of anything is harmful to our health.
Really? Though I have never heard that we should not eat too much of organic fruits and veggies………
How about breast milk?
Not everyone can breastfeed. I was unable to produce enough milk and went through hell feeling like a failure. My son was highly allergic to all baby formulas except for a special soy based one that a friend of mine recommended. Thank God because my baby was losing weight and I was going out of my mind. He’s 20 years old and doesn’t appear to be any worse for it.I’m not saying it was ideal, but it’s what I had to do.