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
Here’s what the University of Maryland Medical Center has to say about soy:
umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/soy
And here’s a recent NPR piece on soy and breast cancer:
npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/03/07/519030514/eating-soy-has-benefits-for-breast-cancer-survivors-study-finds
My doctor is completely against soy in any form. If it mimics estrogen, that is totally bad. Too much estrogen caused my cancer. He also said it causes diabetes. What is really frightening about this nasty food is that it is in everything processed. No candy, cookie, pancake,tv dinner ….anything is without it.
Having surveyed the literature there is no recent research indicating that soy products increases the risk of breast cancer. However breast cancer survivors should be cautious. There are products out there that are composed of concentrated isoflavones from soy. Those compounds are strongly correlated with a decrease in the intensity and number of hot flashes in menopausal women.
Dont you think the effects of soy are only so toxic because of all the xenoestrogens we are exposed too? I bet in Japan where they are not exposed to GMO soy and as many xenoestrogens as we are in America (cheap chemicals, unhealthy food/products/checmically processed, genetically modified hit with very toxic pesticides/can be on the shelf 100 years/artificals/food dyes/chemicals chemicals chemicals!!) that Soy is not as bad for them as it is for us. I bet if we did not consume and were not exposed to as many xenoestrogen that it would not affect us and be as bad for us as you say it is. Like in Japan, thyroid issues are not sky high there yet edamame/soy is common place.
Edamame and tofu are eaten but in very small amounts in Japan. Not like here in the USA where soy is ground up and put in everything.
Some of these points seem to contradict others lol
I also find it hard to believe that soy could contribute to cancer… there is a human protein called SerpinF1 which is thought to help hugely with cancer. Soy just happens to have a perfect amino acid( more so than anything else searchable through the internet) makeup to deliver the body all the nutrients needed to create this protein.
I’ve been told by people getting chemo that their oncologists told them to stay off the soy as it would speed up the growth of their cancer.
Hi Sarah, The people of Okinawa are some of the longest lived, healthiest people on earth. They have 80 % lower estrogen related cancers than we do. Yet they eat more tofu ( which is not a ” fermented” soy) than in any other place. Organic, non GMO soy is a great food.
lifeextension.com/magazine/2010/7/is-soy-safe/page-01
You might want to check out the 121 references at the end of this article:
Is Soy Safe?
Busting the Myths of a Nutritional Powerhouse
Very tiny amounts of tofu are consumed in Japan! I’ve traveled there extensively and can vouch for this personally.
In Japan, we do consume lots of tofu. Okinawa people ( south part of Japan) eat even more tofu than main island of Japan. They probably eat more though than another group in the world and their life expectancy is the longest. we eat soy products made from whole soybeans. soybean crops are used to make soybean oil, which is extracted from soybeans using a chemical solvent called hexane. Using chemicals to extract oil from soybeans leaves a chemical residue on the soybeans, so both the soybean oil and soybean residue is tainted. In Western countries, these left-over soy meals from oil production is hidden in processed food. Not to mention soybeans oil is everywhere. So please do not attack tofu. In China, Japan and other Asian countries consume tofu hundreds of years and we are fine. breast cancer, thyloid problem is not our main concern.
Having been to Japan and traveled there extensively in the 1980’s before the soy boom hit, I know that tofu was not eaten in large quantities until very recently. It was always in tiny amounts … perhaps a few small cubes in miso soup etc. And, and increase in tofu consumption in the past few decades is certainly not rooted in Japanese culinary tradition. Perhaps the fertility crisis in Japan is related to this change in dietary patterns with increasing soy consumption?
Currently living in Japan, been here for several years. Your experiences while traveling, if demonstrating that soy – tofu in particular – is not consumed very much, do not line up with your assertions about the diet at all.
Also, you do know that a few cubes of tofu in miso soup isn’t the only soy in the miso soup, right? The main ingredient of miso soup is actually made from fermented soy paste….
I’d like to clear up #9, I’m not a fan of soy as it doesn’t sit well with me but anyhow #9 is a farce, as are most of the studies here that are done in animals and not proven in humans, and when they do come to humans most of the links and the WAPF links seem to be far off, but I have more to go through but when I looked up #9 here’s what I found from the journal..
“Goodin et al. (1) reported a 19% decrease in mean serum testosterone levels among 12 men over a 4-week period in response to the daily consumption of 56 g isolated soy protein. These data are inconsistent with the results of a meta-analysis recently completed by the authors of this letter. This inconsistency, as judged by Fig. 1 in the paper by Goodin et al. (1), may stem largely from the change that occurred in just one subject (SP #2). In this regard, we would ask Goodin et al. (1) to consider reanalyzing the results (or providing the data so that we may do so) excluding this subject, who clearly appears to be an outlier. His baseline testosterone level was more than twice that of any other subject and ∼50% greater than the normal reference range as stated in the paper. Additionally, this subject experienced an ∼40% decrease in testosterone within just 4 weeks and a further 30% or so decrease during the 2-week post-soy consumption period, whereas the mean value for all other subjects increased during this 2-week period. Parenthetically, we are interested in knowing whether Goodin et al. (1) are able to offer a possible explanation for such an elevated baseline level. In addition, for the record, we would ask that Goodin et al. (1) list the correct values for testosterone and luteinizing hormone levels, as the data listed in the text do not match the data in the figures.
As well, it would be helpful if Goodin et al. (1) could provide additional details about the study so we have a better understanding of the experimental design. Specifically, the isoflavone content of the soy product used would be of interest, as would details about the assays used.”
One of the subjects started with double the average testosterone baseline.. and the data was incomplete.. Hmmm.. talk about bias.
This artical makes me cringe. Just because you experienced something bad form soy doesnt mean it’s gonna be bad for everyone else. Look at Asians, enough said. I know, cuz I am Chinese.
Obviously some people should not consume soy. just like some should not consume milk,meat,spinach etc etc .
This article says not to consume processed soy!!!! Traditionally fermented soy as consumed for thousands of years in Asian cultures is fine.
Maybe you should have read the article. I’m sure you would still have cringed, even if you have minimal retention ability. There is no disputing the fact that soy is dangerous to ingest, period, unless done in accordance with the recommendations in the sixth paragraph.
There is plenty of truth that suggests that soy is perfectly healthy. Just because you didn’t do your research and find evidence to this point doesn’t make you any more right. In 1981, Goldberg et al. showed that soybean consumption reduces high cholesterol levels and may provide atheroprotective effects.
Doing a quick skim over the literature afforded plenty of evidence to suggest that soybeans are perfectly healthy.
Didn’t you even read the article? Soybeans are indeed fine, IF eaten in small amounts and prepared the traditional way which modern GMO soy ground up and put in everything most certainly is not!
Decrease in cholesterol is not necessarily a good thing. Cholesterol is an extremely important substance in the body. It acts as a precursor to Vitamin D synthesis, bile salt synthesis, and insulin synthesis. It is also a precursor for all steroid hormones, which regulate blood pressure, blood sugar, and inflammation, among other things. Cholesterol is a healing and regulating substance, and is not harmful to the body, even at levels moderately above the normal range. A reduction of cholesterol is NOT a good thing. In fact, it can be more harmful than helpful to have lowered levels of cholesterol due to the very important role it plays in our bodies.
Please do more research before you start typing next time.
As a side note, NO, cholesterol does not “clog” arteries. Arterial plaques are composed of calcium deposits, and the vast majority of fats present in plaques are UNsaturated fats. Cholesterol is reported at the sight of arterial damage because it is a HEALING substance. NOT the antagonist.
You don’t think asian men are a bit more feminine than other cultures? Just sayin.
Asians have more population than non asians. Are you still sure soya affecting them..
Very interesting article. I use vanilla soy milk in my cereal every morning. What would you recommend I use as a replacement.
Thanks
Jay
Raw, grassfed milk is best followed by coconut milk (with no additives of course).
By recommending milk you open yourself up to a ton of criticism. First off industrial animal agriculture is one of the most unhealthy aspects of our culture. Humans are not meant to drink the milk of another species and a little research would enlighten you to the myriad health and environmental risks. As for soy there are conflicting studies. There are studies showing that the isoflavones in soy block more powerful estrogenic sources therefore reducing breast and colon cancer risk. The fact that you recommend cow milk over soy milk leads me to believe that you are in the pockets of the dairy industry and your articles should be taken with a grain of salt.
How do you tie raw, grass fed milk to “industrial animal agriculture?
Thank you! These Paleo zealots are CooCoo, and LOVE to spread misinformation and half truths!
I have read about the bad results of soy for a long time. 40 years ago when I had my first child I tried to nurse my new baby, but before too many weeks it was obvious that there was a problem. Hot burning diarrhea all day. The Dr had m do this, than that, then finally stop breastfeeding and try goats milk finally, soy. Her bowels cleared up. I went through that process with my next 3 children. All four were reacting to me and any animal products. So, soy was the new milk in our house.
Fast forward years…I am a grandmother of 10. When I went through menopause my husband laughed that I went into the bathroom one day, changed, came out and moved on. No hot flashes, mood changes or any of the common complaints. My mother and friends told me that I hadn’t really gone through it yet, just wait. That was 13 years ago. The only things I had were my periods stopped and I wasn’t as cold in the winter as before.
My father died of colon cancer but other than that, no problems with me or my children.
I agree, blanket statements lack professional strength to me.
A single personal examples don’t mean much against 170+ scientific studies which show that soy is bad news for the hormones.
Almond milk tastes amazing and it’s thick like real milk. It’s tasty!
That’s what I use instead of soya milk which I used instead of regular milk…
I have problems with lactose, and realized that Almond milk was my prefered choice.
The Japanese are the healthiest longest living people in the world. They eat soy nearly every day. Thats good enough for me. I have been drinking soy milk for 30 years.. You must however be careful of the source of you soy and make sure its not GMO
Yes, they eat soy but in small condimental amounts and fermented (natto and miso)!!! Not ground up and in everything like the West.
Tofu isn’t a condiment and is not fermented. And a lot is usually added to the soup as a filler as meat is expensive. I know many families are doing this. Also we drink soya milk and when I was young – I ate a lot of soy beancurd dessert 3 times a week. At least once to twice a month we eat fried tofu. In Singapore, I know a lot of people who eat 1 to 2 times a week at vegetarian soup food stalls consisting mainly of tofu fish cakes, tofu fishballs, fried tofu sticks and tofu stuffed vegetables.
Koreans put soybean sprouts as one of the key ingredients in Bibimbap and sometimes accompanied by a cup of broth with tofu cubes in it and I eat that stuff at least twice a month.
Basically, we Asians, especially the lower-class to middle-class replace meat with more tofu to cut cost. And most tofu we ate aren’t fermented. And found nothing wrong with our health – all my kids were all *unplanned*. We are not overweight (actually, we started gaining weight when we moved to the US and have been eating less soy and more meat since meat is cheaper here).
So I don’t know what to say to this article. Maybe the soy here is evil? Or maybe Americans’ physiology isn’t adapted for soy?
Roundup may have something to do with that. It’s been linked to several metabolic and organ deficiencies and examined on it’s own by independent studies and chemical computer modeling, lasts for much longer than glyphosate (as tested by Dow and Monsanto) does by itself after application- whole growing seasons longer and counting..
Wow! great response filled with lots of helpful information. I’ve recently started eating soy until of course I started seeing articles and so call studies suggesting that it’s not good for you. I’ve been wondering if I should stop eating it but I really enjoy it though; very tasty.
Condiment levels often repeated by the ant-soy brigade is blatantly false. PubMed literature is ful os studies with Japanese using 25+ gm of Soy Protein/ day.
Please cite your sources???
I was fed soy formula for my 1st yr of life in 1951. I got my first period before my 10th birthday, I learned I conceived possibly two dozen times, maybe more when I was younger, but only carried one to 8 weeks before loosing it. I never had children and have been told by several female doctors the estrogen mimicking soy had caused many of the problems I have had over my life, including my hypothyroid and diabetes. When I was 55, I was free from my periods for 362 days, when I bought some soy milk for the first time. Two days later I had a period for three days. I never had one again after that and never drank soy milk again. My brother is a health nut who went on a soy kick 15 yrs ago or so and was also a soy milk baby in 1954. As a child, he had bouts of enlarged testicles, and he too could not produce children. When he began to eat soy burgers, drink soy milk, etc… his thyroid became very enlarged. His doctor told him to stop the soy; he did and the swelling stopped.
If a woman has hot flashes, and takes soy, why then would you allow a baby to drink soy and children to eat & drink soy in any form? I believe it is very dangerous to many people and should NEVER be fed to children as part of their regular diet.